BLUE KING - Warp Magazine

10 Music
BLUE KING BROWN
- OvER LAND AND SEA
With countless shows and spots on festival
circuits both here and abroad, as well as
earning radio play and critical acclaim in the
meantime, Blue King Brown are apparently
just getting warmed up. In fact, just a glimpse
of their history since their inception in 2004
suggests a work ethic perhaps unrivalled by
their blues and roots contemporaries. Fans and
those as yet unacquainted with the band will be
able to get in on the action, Blue King Brown
having recently embarked on a new string of
dates. Founding member Natalie Pa’apa’a is
excited to be back on the road again.
“We love (touring) and the tour has just
started... we have dreams and goals and we
are very passionate about performing live and
very passionate about connecting with our
global community and sharing the music and
the message and the positivity,” she declares
enthusiastically. Found in the chilly surrounds
of Toronto, Canada, however, Pa’apa’a
concedes the weather has been tough going.
“We almost got snowed in yesterday! It was
really cold.”
It’s surely a shock to the system for a band
familiar with the milder climate of their
hometown Melbourne, Blue King Brown
also professing strong ties to Byron Bay.
Fortunately, the cold has not supressed the
obvious joy Pa’apa’a exudes, having just
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hopped off stage., Blue King Brown’s positivity
and passion is evident in everything they
do - the exact attitude necessary given their
schedule of late. After playing a number of
festivals in Australia including Falls, WOMAD,
East Coast Blues and Roots Festival Byron Bay
and the Big Day Out, the band are currently
tripping their way across the globe. Blue
King Brown recently made an appearance
at Austin’s infamous SXSW festival also, the
experience of the event often seen without
equal. However, any time spent on the road
is a huge opportunity for the band to promote
their craft.
“We are just trying to get our name out
and about in the world and perform for as
many people as we can and make as many
connections as we can, so that we can keep
coming out and do what we are doing,”
Pa’apa’a says.
It’s business as usual for the sextet, who have
enjoyed great success off the back of three
albums - their most recent being last year’s
Worldwize Pt.1 North & South. It would be the
2006 release of Stand Up that would set the
course for the band, however, Blue King Brown
suddenly earning immense airplay from the
likes of Triple J, a wealth of support offered up
for their endeavours. But fast-forward to the
present day and there’s good news in spades
for local fans: not only are Blue King Brown
taking their music around Australia as of May,
the band have recently released new material.
The single is titled Gathu Mawula and marks
a collaboration with well known Aboriginal
artist Garrumul.
“We did a version of one of (Gathu Mawula) and
it’s a song that we had heard and we had really
loved and we had connected with on a number
of occasions. Garramul was interested in
getting up and playing with Blue King Brown,”
Pa’apa’a explains. “We played it a few times
and we thought ‘Why don’t we go into the
studio and record a version of it?’ We just really
enjoyed working with each other - in the wider
sense and it was very natural for us to get
into the studio and create this really beautiful
version of this song that we really love.”
It’s no surprise then that Blue King Brown and
Garramul have kept the lines open, particularly
where their artistic endeavours are concerned.
“We have met on a number of occasions. He is
pretty shy to start with - he is quite a funny guy
and he is really free,” reveals Pa’apa’a, before
disclosing a new venture. “Basically I just
called him up and said ‘How do you feel about
getting together and doing a film clip for Gathu
Mawula?’ and he was like ‘Yeah!’”
It’s another feather in Blue King Brown’s cap,
having earnt the praise of some big names,
including Michael Franti and Carlos Santana.
Heading upward and onward, it seems the
band can only snare more frenzied love for
their brand of roots music.
BELLE TOPE
WORLDS COLLIDE
Blue king Brown have teamed up with
gurrumul Yunupingu to reprise Gathu
Mawula, first feature on the latter’s
eponymous debut album. Originally
performed completely in Yolgnu language,
the song references family and one’s
essential connection to land.
“Since Gurrumul’s solo success a lot of
people have come to him with collaborative
ideas. He hasn’t done any of them,” says
Michael Hohnen, muso and long time friend
of the celebrated artist. “Yet when Blue King
Brown learned one of his songs and played it
live at a gig, he was very pleased and excited
to join them on stage and sing it with them.”
The opportunity to embark on a new studio
recording, then, was approached with
enthusiasm. “We have very fond memories
of performing with Gurrumul... so it was
natural to get into the studio together and
record our version of his beautiful song.”
Natalie Pa‘apa’a declares.
BLUE kINg BROWN appear at the University
of Tasmania Uni Bar, Hobart on Thursday
May 26
Great food, free pool and live music
Now open till 2am every fri and sat
May
Fri 13th - Selecta
Sat 14th - The Unit
Sun 15th - Ella Rose
Fri 20th - TMG
Sat 21st - The Unit
Sun 22nd - Trev Heins
Fri 27th - TMG
Sat 28th - Kool Daddy’s
Sun 29th - Ella Rose
June
Fri 3rd - Electric Spaghetti
Wed 8th - Open Mic Night
Happy HOUR THURS aND FRi 6-7
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RAjATON RETURN
FINNISH MULTIPLATINUM SELLING A CAPPELLA GROUP
RAJATON RETURN TO TASMANIA FOR THEIR SECOND
COLLABORATION WITH THE TASMANIAN SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA IN TWO YEARS.
The finish word Rajaton, translates as
“boundless”, an apt way to describe the ability
of the six-voice ensemble to tackle a variety
of projects that has included 11 albums
over their 13 year history. With a mix of
originals and covers, the group has reached
mainstream success in their homeland, with a
string of platinum selling releases along with
international accolades, including Top World/
Folk Album and Top World/Folk Song of the
year by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of
America (CASA) in 2007 for their album Maa.
With a relentless worldwide touring schedule,
the group will bring their tribute to English
super-group Queen to Hobart audiences
with support from the Tasmanian Symphony
Orchestra. Last time in Tasmania Rajaton
Music 11
performed their hugely successful tribute to
ABBA, which impressed the Orchestra and
audience alike. With the Queen tribute, Hobart
audiences have the opportunity to hear the full
six part harmonies of the Swedish a capella
group with touring rock band, backed by the
full 47 piece TSO perform unique versions
of classic songs that are guaranteed to have
Freddie Mercury turning in his grave.
See them peform at the Wrest Point
Entertainment Centre Tuesday May 17.
Tickets are available through the TSO
box office 1800 001 190.
NIC ORME
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