. . . . . . . . . . . . .ZIGGY RAMO
releases highly
anticipated third album
HUMAN?Available Now
MEDIA PRAISE
“Ziggy Ramo is one of the most important artists in Australia” Junkee
”Rather than moralising, he [Ziggy] encourages conversation. He exposes contradictions within Australia’s national identity, asking his audience to weigh up the facts and reach their own conclusions.” GQ Australia
“Outspoken and refined as ever, Ziggy Ramo is at his strongest on Human?.” Beat Mag
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Multi-dimensional artist Ziggy Ramo has released his eagerly awaited new album Human?. Part of a three dimensional project encompassing an album, book and art exhibition, the highly anticipated release has been in the works for many years and is one of Ziggy’s most important albums to date.
Praised by Beat Mag for Ziggy’s “unflinching, important work”, Human? has drawn support from the likes of Rolling Stone Australia, NME and GQ for compelling singles “Shame” and “Banamba”. The album’s cathartic feature track “Sorry” continues to encapsulate the significance of Human? in its entirety.
Over nine powerful tracks, Human? recounts the experience of growing up under the weight of colonialism, confronting listeners with our nation’s biggest lie whilst inviting a conversation about change and privilege.
Ziggy says of the album, “Human? Is a record that is a labour of love. It is unlike any music I have made before. It is an offering of my most sincere reflections, stripped raw. It took me years to refine and articulate this body of work and I am beyond grateful to share it with you all. It is harder to hurt someone when you know their story. Inside these 9 songs are a collection of my humanity. A reminder of who we are, and what is at stake. Thank you for coming on this journey and I will see you in August”.
The album includes acoustic versions of “April 25th” and “Stand for Something” from Ziggy’s debut 2020 album Black Thoughts as well as the highly revered 2021 rework of a Paul Kelly classic in the form of “Little Things”.
Human? introduces us to four brand new tracks that unpack different aspects of Ziggy’s identity and generational trauma as a Wik and Solomon Islander.
PURCHASE VINYL / BUY BOOK
“Chameleon” sees Ziggy grapple with his identity as he explores the multiple faces he must wear to conform in a society that rejects him. On “Hopeless”, Ziggy mourns the loss of his family and looks to them for guidance whilst wanting to lift the weight of their trauma.
Focus track “Sorry” touches on the futile apologies and unkept promises of Australia’s history, proving meaningless without actionable change. Featuring an excerpt of Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology speech to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, we sit with the idea that performative apologies are too little too late.
Closing with “Human”, haunting strings and electric guitar encourage us to strip back the layers of self to reconnect with our empathy.
You and me, we aren’t so different
We’ve been poisoned since we were children
You and me can make a difference
If you’re scared to change, just be human againOnce again, Ziggy is a catalyst for change and a powerful voice for the oppressed, delivering neglected truths to strip back the lies we’ve been sold and recognise the humanity we all share. Human? is an unflinchingly raw call-to-arms, evoking change through education and open dialogue.
In May, Ziggy released his revered debut non-fiction book of the same name. Praised highly by industry, peers and fans alike, Junkee Media applauded Ziggy’s ability to connect and create important conversations, citing him as “one of Australia’s most important artists”.
Winning FBi Album of the Year for both his 2020 debut Black Thoughts and 2023’s Sugar Coated Lies, Ziggy Ramo continues to floor the industry with his vital and powerful messages, commanding the attention of listeners and commentators around the country. A true visionary, Ziggy Ramo draws upon his lived experiences to offer a vulnerable insight into the effects of settler colonialism and institutional racism, grappling with what it means to live on stolen land.
The underlying themes of these albums have been mirrored on the small screen, with Ziggy making his acting and composer debut, starring and scoring in the Stan original series Black Snow, produced by Goalpost Pictures. Black Snow is a gripping six-part mystery drama set in North Queensland, with deep ties to the Australian South Sea Islander community.
Sugar Coated Lies was Feature Album on triple j and RTRFM, Album of the Week on FBi Radio, took home the Record of the Year prize at the FBi SMAC awards, and made the Best Albums of the Year lists for Rolling Stone and Happy Mag.
A visionary in all areas of his art, Ziggy’s rendition of Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)” featuring icon Christine Anu floored the triple j Like A Version studio, before sharing the mic with Wergaia/Wemba Wemba woman Alice Skye for their release “Sugar Coated Lies”.
Ziggy Ramo’s debut book Human? is available now via Pantera Press. Stay tuned further details on the accompanying visual art exhibition, crafted by Ziggy’s sister and renowned artist Brydi Fatnowna.
Available 9 August 2024
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My nickname is “The Amnplifier”. Why? Because around here my focus is on being a conduit for providing greater outcomes that people come here for. My day to day “work” is living in the moment, and I love helping others concentrate on finding their connection to themselves through their experiences.
Why start a music environment? The truth is I love music, I love writing, and I love life. I work with musicians every day, and I feel certain that I will be until they put me in the ground. I have been managing people in businesses of some sort for over thirty five years so along the way I have developed some “wisdom” from my regular and constant “observations”.
Amnplify your experience. That is what we want you to do here, and if you want to let me know why you do, or don’t, shoot me a message on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy yourself here and find something that hits you somewhere.