| The music of a culture reflects the intonation of language, rhythms of speech, noises in the environment and different aspects of life - all of which is culturally based. Every culture has music that is distinctive and an important aspect of its identity.
Defining an 'Australian musical sound' is about recognition of rhythmic patterns derived from our environment and a sense of place, as well as the Indigenous and the culturally diverse aspects of Australian life. Indigenous music in Australia uses the environment itself to generate unique sounds and rhythms. In addition, traditional influences from a largely migrant population have contributed significantly to the definition of Australian music. Renowned Australian composer, Peter Sculthorpe said:
I'm mad about Australia, just mad about it. I care about this place. I'm involved in it: all my experience as a person is Australian and therefore I feel that in the very first place my music must be Australian.
Australian musicians performing across a range of genres, or styles, have achieved international recognition with a unique Australian approach. The opera singer Dame Nellie Melba (look at a $100 note), the composers Percy Grainger and Peter Sculthorpe, the pop and rock bands The Seekers, Yothu Yindi, INXS, country singers Slim Dusty and Keith Urban have extended and refined the definition of Australian music. Here are a few examples of Australian musicians, where they came from and how they've reached international success:
John Butler Trio
The John Butler Trio is primarily an eclectic roots/jam band from Australia led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler. Two of the band's albums — Three (2001) and Living 2001-2002 (2003) — have gone platinum in Australia and reached the top ten of the Australian album charts in those years. The 2004 album Sunrise Over Sea debuted at number one on the Australian charts on March 15, 2004 reaching gold record status in its first week on sale. Their next and latest release, entitled Grand National, was released on March 27, 2007. The band's releases are marketed independently by Jarrah Records which John Butler co-owns with West Australian folk band the Waifs. The band won an ARIA award for "Best Independent Release" for Three in 2001 and has been nominated for three others. Three was released in the U.S. in 2002 and the John Butler Trio toured the U.S. in that year supporting the Dave Matthews Band and John Mayer. You can check out music from the John Butler Trio on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/johnbutlertrio. Kylie Minogue
Today Kylie is one of the world's most successful female music artists, but she wasn't always known as a singer. Kylie started her career at age eleven when asked to act in the national Australian T.V. drama series 'Skyways', this was followed by more Australian television roles in the popular drama 'The Sullivans' and later 'The Henderson Kids'. After her seventeenth birthday Kylie left school to take up acting as a full time profession. Her character "Charlene" in the Australian "soap" Neighbours is still today, arguably, one of the most popular characters ever to come out of Australian television. Kylie's recording career began in 1987 when she released her first single, a remake of the '60's Little Eva hit "Locomotion". The song hit No.1 nationally around Australia and remained there for seven weeks, becoming the biggest Australian single of the decade. She went on to have more hits hits like "Can't Get You Out of My Head". You can check out Kylie's music on MySpace: www.myspace.com/ultimatekylie Other Australian musicians: - Nick Cave - rock singer, songwriter
- Slim Dusty - singer, guitarist
- Peter Garrett / Midnight Oil – Singer, songwriters
- Dame Joan Hammond - (born NZ) (1912-1996) violinist, opera singer
- Michael Hutchence /INXS
- Natalie Imbruglia - singer
- Mick Jagger (of Australian descent)
- Dame Nellie Melba - opera singer
- Danni Minogue - (born 1971) dance music singer, songwriter, actress, dancer
- Olivia Newton-John - (born United Kingdom 1948) singer
- Johnny O'Keefe - singer 'The Wild One'
- Lisa Origliasso & Jessica Origliasso - The Veronicas
- Keith Potger - singer, guitarist, a member of The Seekers
- Bon Scott, Malcolm & Angus Young - members of hard rock band AC/DC
- Dame Joan Sutherland - opera singer (known as 'La Stupenda')
- Keith Urban - (born NZ 1967) country musician
- Oliver Witt - Double bassist (The MOB)
- Rob Younger - of the punk rock band Radio Birdman
- Savage Garden - Rock Band
- JET - Rock Band
- The Cat Empire - Rock Band
Study music in Australia! Whether you're a music major or just looking to fill some general education requirements there are a number of ways to experience Australian music. To find the best program for you try using the AustraLearn Program Finder.
Sources: www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au, http://www.myspace.com/johnbutlertrio, images.askmen.com/galleries/singer, http://www.kylie.com/ |