Songlines on RTRFM

On this season of Djeran, Cezera yarns with Whadjuk, Balladong and Noongar multidisciplinary artist Zali Morgan. Currently based in Boorloo/Perth Zali’s practice ranges across printmaking, textile and sculpture. Her goal is to continuously question place, practicing and engaging with Post-Colonial art and discourse within Australia, reflecting her surroundings as well as the history of the land she lives and works on. She speaks with Cez about the responsibility of being a young First Nations artist, the importance of independence in the industry and her hopes for the next generation of creatives. Image by Richard Van Wyk.

In the season return of Songlines, it’s Bunuru and things are hot in Boorloo! Much like today’s interview with actor, director and language revivalist Kylie Bracknell. For more than a decade, Kylie has appeared across theatre and television, most recently in the Netflix series Irreverent. Kylie was also responsible for the mammoth task of translating and directing Shakespeare’s Scottish Play into Noongar as part of the 2020 Perth Festival world first, Hecate. Despite this impressive resume, Kylie is most passionate about language reclamation and preserving culture through art for the next generation.

It’s the season finale of Songlines and Cezera has invited her dad Maitland Schnaars, eminent theatre maker and actor, into the studio. Despite leading WA’s Indigenous theatre company Yirra Yaakin and co-founding his own, Maitland’s journey in the arts started later in life. His passion has inspired a career spanning acting, poetry, writing and dramaturgy. Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

Ian Wilkes is a multidisciplinary artist in every sense of the word.  He’s a writer, director, dancer, theatre maker and actor with live performance experience spanning the most regional corners of WA to the Sydney Opera House. Today, he joins Cezera Critti-Schnaars to yarn about being strong in culture, theatre, dance and the beauty of passing knowledge down through the generations. Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with the creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.  

Today, Cezera speaks with Noongar photographer Cole Baxter. Cole is often behind the lens but you would have seen his photos online… representing the staunch Noongar community in WA and amplifying First Nations voices across the country through protests, fashion campaigns and photo journalism. They chat about his start in photography, his mission to represent mob in a positive light and the struggles and triumphs of leading a creative life. Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with the creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

The month of Makuru is a very special one because we were graced in the studio by Walmatjarri Elder, international blues and gospel singer-songwriter, teacher, mentor, human rights advocate and political activist Kankawa Nagarra, also known as Olive Knight.  With roots in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, Kankawa found her voice in the country, blues and rock music of her youth which was spent in missions across the state.  Despite a rough start in life, her natural talent and generous spirit led her to a career in music, with performances spanning local gospel choir stages to singing with Hugh Jackman on Broadway.  As well as this, Kankawa was central in developing the Walmajarri dictionary to preserve her local language and continues to bring greater awareness of and prevention efforts to end substance abuse within Indigenous communities across Australia.  Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with the creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

In this month’s episode Cezera is joined by actor Bobbi Henry. After taking a long break to raise her three sons, following a significant presence on stage in the early 2000s, Bobbi returned to the stage with a bang in 2019 starring in Cracked by Barbara Hostalek. Before then, but especially since, she has been a indomitable figure in the local theatre scene starring in productions with Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company and Black Swan State Theatre Company. Bobbi has also worked with Australian Children’s Television Foundation and has appeared in several short films based in WA.  In this yarn they discuss First Nations theatre, cultural safety in the arts and what it’s like getting proposed to on stage! Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with the creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

We kick off this season with Indigenous musician and Noongar language champion Gina Williams (AM). Gina is a Balladong (Noongar) woman with links through her grandmother’s line to the Gitja people of the East Kimberley. Alongside her musical partner Guy Ghouse, the award winning duo have taken their talents and knowledge to schools across the state, making it their mission to connect people to Noongar culture and rewrite historical narratives through song.  But Gina wasn’t always a musician, getting her start in community radio and later as a journalist before discovering her sound. Songlines is an RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti Schnaars across the Noongar seasons as she yarns with the creatives paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

Kambarang is here, summer is well and truly in the air and we are gearing up for the silly season with today’s guest, Zac James.  Zac is a former Aboriginal Performance student at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, who has taken his love of theatre across the country, championing diversity and First Nations representation in arts spaces.  After a stint on a series of ABC, SBS and NITV programs, Zac turned to scriptwriting, producing 30 Forum Theatre shows and taking on the role of coordinator of the Constable Care Child Safety Foundation’s Theatrical Response Group.  During this time he has also developed the Moorditj Wirlya (Strong Heart) workshops, facilitating the exploration of culture and belonging. Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

In Djilba Cezera catches up with colleague and friend Clint Bracknell aka Maatakitj. Originally from the south coast Noongar region of WA, Clint is a music-maker and language revivalist with a passion for connecting linguistics to song, culture and landscapes. He has performed and written music for the stage and screen, co-translating a full-length Shakespearean work for Perth Festival as well as a feature film dub entirely in Noongar language.  Clint has served as a deputy chair of The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Centre and worked as a high school music teacher; guiding the next generation to develop their musical and cultural knowledge. Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

It might be getting wild and woolly outside but this Makuru episode of Songlines is sure to provide some comfort.  Today, Cezera sits down with Indigo Ellis; the 16 year old Noongar girl making music in language and advocating for First Nations youth in her hometown of Boorloo.  At just 13 years old Indigo released her debut track Home, an ode to finding the lost pieces of her family puzzle as a result of the stolen generation.  Despite her age Indigo has connected with people all over the country through her tender lyrics, picking up some awards along the way. More recently, she has been nominated as the youth ambassador for the Valuing Children Initiative which aims to prioritise the voice of youth in community decision making. Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

As we head into the cooler Djeran months we’re sitting down with actress and musician Della Rae Morrison.  Della has always had a deep love for the arts, kick starting her career in the stage production of Bran Nue Dae and appearing as Ms Egg in the Australian children’s television series Lockie Leonard.  Since then she has worked as a musical director, community choir leader, vocalist for the award-winning group Djiva and co-creator of Chocolate Martini, an Indigenous music platform which ran as a series on National Indigenous Television. Della is also a fierce social advocate, founding the West Australian Nuclear Free Alliance and establishing a Noongar version of the Tent Embassy to highlight the importance of truth telling in WA.  Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

It’s Bunuru, one of the hottest times of the year with little to no rain and cool afternoon sea breezes. In this season Cezera yarns with Jarred Wall better known by his musical moniker Boox Kid. When Jarred is not making music and sharing language and culture through song, he is working in the Youth Justice Department alongside our most vulnerable in the criminal justice system. In episode two he chats generously about making art as a First Nations musician and his experiences growing up in the shadow of the Stolen Generation. Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.

Our series begins in Birak (or first summer) with Noongar, Wongai Hip-Hop artist and advocate Joshua Eggington aka Flewnt.  Josh burst onto the scene with Kya Kyana, a song drawing on the legacy of the Kyana music festivals, established in the late 90s to champion First Nations communities. His music aims to empower and educate the next generation and guide them into the spotlight to share their own experiences of culture. When Josh is not making music he is mentoring some of the State’s most vulnerable youth and using music to lead them towards a better future.  Songlines is a new RTRFM podcast shining a light on First Nations artists across WA. Join Cezera Critti-Schnaars as she yarns with creatives across music, theatre, dance and television, paving the way for the next generation of storytellers.