Andrew Gurruwiwi Band is a high-energy, 8-piece funk band who have honed their chops on the beach at Birrtjimi and in the dirt of Yirrkala, a remote NT community in North East Arnhem Land. Led by Andrew Gurruwiwi, a shy-but-extravagant, blind, keytar-wielding Yolngu elder with a passion to make people dance while sharing his culture, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band write real funk jams in their native tongue, Yolngu Matha.
Their sound is truly fresh - Yolngu Funk - a style only hinted at previously on the impossible-to-find pair of 7-inches cut by George Rrurrambu & Birdwave, that now go for hundreds of dollars on Discogs.
In July 2024, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band released their highly anticipated debut album, 'Sing Your Own Song'.
Visionary, joyful, eclectic and impossible to stop dancing to. Welcome to Sing Your Own Song, the debut album release from multi-talented Northern Territory musicians, the Andrew Gurruwiwi Band. The band hails from one of the most remote corners of Australia, in northeast Arnhem Land, but that hasn’t stopped them assembling a world-class ensemble to pull together the most exciting release from the north since Yolŋu surf rock combo King Stingray’s self-titled debut album in 2022. Sing Your Own Song is laden with infectious grooves and impressive musicianship, destined to take Australia’s festival circuit by storm in 2024 and 2025. Gurruwiwi’s influences are wider than the Arafura Sea – among his inspirations are the rhythms of Africa, Jamaica, India, Mexico, blues, rock and flamenco.
“It’s about making our own sound, our own music,” Gurruwiwi says
“Every time when we play music, we listen for the big sound – then we change it. Do it a different way. Different style. Whether it’s the bass, or the keyboard, or the guitar or the bongo, we change it ‘round, until we can get the right beat, the right rhythm. Our sound.”
The Andrew Gurruwiwi Band has been playing together for around four years, having earned a loyal following for their vibrant live shows and booty-shaking songs like 2023’s Gatjumak. Sing Your Own Song is also something of an extended family affair – recorded in Sydney’s Parliament Studios, the sessions in late 2023 saw the band joined by acclaimed guitarist Frances Diatschenko (Gurrumul/The Sheikhs), the horn section from Kiwi dub fusionists Sub-Tribe, founding Yothu Yindi bassist Stu Kellaway, the exemplary stylings from Mali’s guitar maestro Moussa Diakite, violinist QVLN and production wizardry by global instrumentalist Julian Belbachir. Guitarist and co-producer Andrew Grimes said the band was incredibly excited for the world to finally hear what’s destined to be one of the most impressive debut albums of the year.
“To get to a point where we’re now putting this body of work out, where every song is so different, but you can tell it’s from the same band – we love that,” Grimes says. “It’s our own, and we’re very proud. In our hearts, we knew the answer lay along this path, by going our own way. Singing our own song.”
In 2023 Andrew Gurruwiwi Band performed their dynamic live show to VIVID Sydney, Garrmalang, Parrtjima, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Golden Plains, SXSW Sydney and QPAC’s Clancestry Festival where they captivated crowds and had them on their feet dancing the night away instantly. In 2024 they made legendary appearances at Barunga Festival, East Arnhem Live, Garma, and a powerful headline performance at QPAC’s Clancestry Festival.
PRAISE FOR 'SING YOUR OWN SONG'
“A veritable winter warmer, from whoa to go...a dynamic set based largely on ancient Yolngu traditions, but one that crackles with modernity”
- The Weekend Australian
“bursts with vibrant rhythms and joyful tunes that celebrate their culture”
- Rolling Stone
“a strong sampling platter of the band's many strengths”
- Double J
“Sing Your Own Song is an innovative, high-energy funk, rock and reggae record, and bottles much of the live performance energy the band have become renowned for”
- 2SER Feature album
"Utterly extraordinary"
- Koori Mail
"Bound to make you move"
- 4ZZZ (album of the week)
“Andrew Gurruwiwi is an exciting new voice in Australian music”
- ABC Radio National
* * * * four star album review + added as track 9 on 'Top of the World' CD
- Songlines (UK)
'Sing Your Own Song' was selected as feature album on Triple R, PBS, 2SER, RTR FM, 4ZZZ, AMRAP and Apple Music (NAIDOC week special).
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