Kardajala Kirridarra Release Single ‘Ngurra (Rain Song)’

“..ambient electronica..” – i-D

“..an enchanting listen.” – PILERATS

“..ethereal..” – PURPLE SNEAKERS

“..spellbinding..” – MUSIC FEEDS

Set to showcase at BIGSOUND 2017 and with the news they’ve received two MusicNT Song of the Year Award nominations, Kardajala Kirridarra reveal their new single Ngurra (Rain Song). A song about how they connect to the country through rain, the track is taken from their debut self-titled album out July 7 and follows on from first single Ngabaju (Grandmother’s Song). Sung in English and Mudburra, a rarely heard Indigenous language. Kardajala Kirridarra takes listeners on a journey through the heart of our beautiful desert country, as they tell the story of the importance of women as creators.

From their inception until now, has won a MusicNT Song of the Year Award, played at Golden Plains Festival, Wide Open Spaces, Barunga Festival and were the first all female band to appear at Bush Bands Bash in 2016. The descendants of a mysterious bush woman from the Northern Territory, these compelling women are from the communities of Marlinja and Kulumindini (Elliott) and together with Melbourne based producer Beatrice they form Kardajala Kirridarra.

Kardajala Kirridarra were brought together by the Barkly Regional Council’s National award winning ‘Barkly Desert Cultures’ multimedia program aimed at using music and film to express stories and social issues of young people living in the Barkly Region of the NT. It was here that songwriter and vocalist Eleanor Dixon (Rayella, Desert Divas) met Melbourne vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and electronic producer Beatrice Lewis (Beatrice, Haiku Hands). Later joined by key translator, story-teller, poet and Eleanor’s aunty Janey Dixon; and rapper, MC Kayla Jackson, the groundbreaking collective was formed under the moniker of Kardajala Kirridarra, which translates to ‘Sandhill Women’. Kardajala is the name of the mysterious bush woman from the sand hills behind the community of Malinja, NT.

Recorded primarily in the intense summer months in a hall in Marlinja NT and produced by Beatrice, Kardajala Kirridarra features sounds from the surrounding lands, such as seed pods, thunders storms and clap sticks made by Eleanor’s father. The fruits of these sessions were co-produced, mixed and mastered in Melbourne by Marc Peckham aka Monkey Marc.