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PHOTO CREDIT: Luke Currie-Richardson

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One of Australia’s most celebrated recording artists and performers, ARIA-winner, and proud Torres Strait Islander Christine Anu has unveiled her brand-new single ‘Waku – Minaral A Minalay’ out via ABC Music.

The original concept for Waku was sparked in the early 90’s during one of Christine’s pre-Stylin’ Up songwriting sessions with Don Walker (Cold Chisel).

“When you listen to the words of the song, you’re brought onto the waku, the mat,” Christine shares, “you do everything in your life on that mat, and when you die you’re covered by it – like a blanket. So it’s with you your entire life. And when you look at the colours, they are the faces. When you look at the patterns, they are how we’re all brought together; we’re all kept in this beautiful, bound bit of love and family.”

Listen to ‘WAKU – MINARAL A MINALAY’ HERE

Today the prolific Australian music icon shares the news of her upcoming album, the first original album in 20 years, Waku- Minaral A Minalay is set for release on Friday July 19 via ABC Music.

The album was recorded across Cairns, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Torres Strait Islands and the Solomon Islands; an extension of her award-winning, debut record Stylin’ Up, Christine has teamed up with long-time musical ally and producer David Bridie. This speaks to her wide reach and depth across the Pacific.

The title track of the same name Waku – Minaral A Minalay’s calling card. Sustained strings and flourishes from traditional percussion instruments underscore the album’s lead single, including the Warup [drums], the Urub [shakers] and the Kulap [seed pot rattles], and travelling to Thursday Island to capture soundscapes.

Together with her daughter Zipporah, Christine followed the Samu Clans’ migration from Saibai Island to Mutee Head, to gather visual references for the record. They embarked on the same journey as her grandfather made in 1947 with his young family.

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“This album is about reconnecting with my grandfather as a young father back in post-World War II, in the Torres Strait region. So I sing about a time from long ago… Waku – Minaral A Minalaycreates a landscape, a picture, a soundscape of feeling like you were there listening to these songs when they were being made.”

Waku – Minaral A Minalay is, unquestionably, the most important work of Christine’s three-decade career to date. Thanks to his granddaughter, Nadi’s legacy continues.

“And that’s the beautiful metaphor of me right now: I am someone’s ancestor in the future, the way that my grandad is my grandson’s ancestor. And it goes on and we weave and we weave and we weave. We will continue to weave our songs and our stories.”

Generations of songlines and culture inform Waku- Minaral A Minalay, which can be deeply felt but also visualised. It’s fair to say that Christine has been working on this album for her entire life.

To celebrate the release of the new single and forthcoming album, Christine will be performing at Vivid Festival this Saturday May 25 where fans can expect to see plenty of songs from the new album performed live for the very first time – show details here

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Pre-save WAKU-MINARAL A MINALAY HERE

WAKU-MINARAL A MINALAY
Track Listing:

Gul Melawal 
Koey Dhoerim
Waku – Minaral A Minalay
The Coming Monsoon
Nur Nur
Tobacco and Vicks
When It Rains
Aukum of Saibai
My Popu Nadhi Anu
Laga Saibai
Dhibagaw Gabu.
Seseku
The Crab and the Suckerfish (Gapu a Githalay)
Kole Kolele
Adhibuia
Ari Pudhiz
Laga Wakemab

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Listen to ‘WAKU – MINARAL A MINALAY’ HERE

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AMNPLIFY – DB