Joe Geia
Encyclopedia
Joe Geia is an Australian musician of Murri Aboriginal
heritage from North Queensland
. He is best known as the composer of the song "Yil Lull
", which has been recorded by many other artists including Paul Kelly
, Archie Roach
, Jimmy Barnes
, and most recently by the Singers for the Red, Black and Gold, which included Christine Anu
, Renée Geyer
, Tiddas
, Paul Kelly, and Shane Howard
.
player and has been recognised as one of the most influential figures in the development of contemporary Indigenous music. He first came to prominence as a member of the influential Aboriginal band No Fixed Address
in 1982-1983. He has also collaborated semi-regularly since the 1980s with songwriter Shane Howard (best known for the Australian hit "Solid Rock" with his band Goanna
). Howard produced Geia's album, Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love - released in mid December 2005.
Geia's first full album, Yil Lull, was released in 1988 (the year of Australia's bicentennial), on the Only Gammin' label, and achieved an unprecedented level of critical and commercial success for an Aboriginal performer. He toured nationally in support of the album on the "Uncle Willie" tour of 1988 and reached a wide audience. The album was considered vitally important among Aboriginal people, and was well-timed to express a growing sense of pride in culture and identity, and hope for the political fight for land rights.
Geia has been cited as an important influence by almost every Aboriginal musician to achieve prominence since that time. He has worked with many other Australian musicians including a long-term close relationship with ARIA
award winning Tasmanian band Wild Pumpkins At Midnight
, who often appeared as his backing band in various combinations. In 1995 Geia toured Europe with members of Wild Pumpkins under the name Joe Geia and the Black Snake Orchestra. They performed in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1996 he was a guest vocalist on the song "Pretty Valley," based on the oral history
of a massacre of tribal people in New South Wales
. Produced by Tony Cohen
, it featured on the Wild Pumpkins' album Sad Trees, released by Way Over There, 1996. Wild Pumpkins guitarist Nick Larkins
has been a regular member of Geia's live band since 1995, and contributed to his most recent album.
Geia released a second album, Tribal Journey, in 1996, through Larrikin/Festival records
. He has also contributed songs to other projects and worked as a session musician for other bands. His third album Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love was released by Across The Borders, Melbourne, in December 2005. Produced by Shane Howard, the album was made with a cast of well-known Australian support musicians. These include Kerryn Tolhurst (The Dingoes
), Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool
), Bob Sedergreen
, Nick Larkins
, Russell Smith, Ricardo Idago, Rebecca Barnard
, Shelley Scown
and many more.
Stylistically Geia's songs fit the category of roots music
and range from simple Pacific songs to reggae, rock and funk. The songs are written in Aboriginal language and English, and touch on universal themes as well as issues of Aboriginal Australia, although not in an overtly political way. There is plenty of irony and black humour in some of the more recent songs like "Gimme a Mercedes" and "Good To See Ya."
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
heritage from North Queensland
Regions of Queensland
The Regions of Queensland refers to the geographic areas of the Australian state of Queensland. Due to its large size and decentralised population, the state is often divided into regions for statistical and administrative purposes. Each region varies somewhat in terms of its economy, population,...
. He is best known as the composer of the song "Yil Lull
Yil Lull
"Yil Lull" is a song written and performed by Joe Geia. It originally appeared on his 1988 album of the same name. Yill Lull means sing in Guugu Yimithirr. The colours used in the lyrics are the colours of the Aboriginal flag....
", which has been recorded by many other artists including Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, Archie Roach
Archie Roach
Archie Roach is an Australian musician. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, he survived a turbulent upbringing to develop into a powerful voice for Indigenous Australians, a storyteller in the tradition of his ancestors, and a nationally popular and respected artist.- Biography :In his own words,...
, Jimmy Barnes
Jimmy Barnes
James Dixon Swan , better known as Jimmy Barnes, is a Scottish-born Australian rock singer-songwriter. His father Jim Swan was a prizefighter and his older brother John Swan is also a rock singer. It was actually John who had encouraged and taught Jim how to sing as he wasn't really interested at...
, and most recently by the Singers for the Red, Black and Gold, which included Christine Anu
Christine Anu
-Early life:Anu was born in Cairns, Queensland to a Torres Strait Islander mother from Saibai and Mabuiag Islands.-Career:Anu began performing as a dancer and later went on to sing back-up vocals for The Rainmakers, which included Neil Murray of the Warumpi Band. Her first recording was in 1993...
, Renée Geyer
Renée Geyer
Renée Rebecca Geyer is an Australian singer who has long been regarded as one of the finest exponents of jazz, soul and R&B idioms. She had commercial success as a solo artist in Australia, with "It's a Man's Man's World", "Heading in the Right Direction" and "Stares and Whispers" in the 1970s and...
, Tiddas
Tiddas
Tiddas are a three piece all-girl folk band from Victoria, Australia.-Biography:Originally the three women, Amy Saunders , Lou Bennett and Sally Dastey combined their vocal talents as backing singers for Aboriginal band Djaambi, led by Saunder's brother Richard Frankland in 1990...
, Paul Kelly, and Shane Howard
Shane Howard
Shane Michael Howard is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist, he was the mainstay of folk rock group Goanna which had hits with "Solid Rock" and "Let the Franklin Flow". After their disbandment in 1985 he pursued a solo career....
.
History
Geia is a composer, guitarist, singer and didgeridooDidgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
player and has been recognised as one of the most influential figures in the development of contemporary Indigenous music. He first came to prominence as a member of the influential Aboriginal band No Fixed Address
No Fixed Address
No Fixed Address is an Australian Aboriginal reggae group formed in 1978. Led by Bart Willoughby, the band supported Peter Tosh on his 1982 Australian tour...
in 1982-1983. He has also collaborated semi-regularly since the 1980s with songwriter Shane Howard (best known for the Australian hit "Solid Rock" with his band Goanna
Goanna
Goanna is the name used to refer to any number of Australian monitor lizards of the genus Varanus, as well as to certain species from Southeast Asia.There are around 30 species of goanna, 25 of which are found in Australia...
). Howard produced Geia's album, Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love - released in mid December 2005.
Geia's first full album, Yil Lull, was released in 1988 (the year of Australia's bicentennial), on the Only Gammin' label, and achieved an unprecedented level of critical and commercial success for an Aboriginal performer. He toured nationally in support of the album on the "Uncle Willie" tour of 1988 and reached a wide audience. The album was considered vitally important among Aboriginal people, and was well-timed to express a growing sense of pride in culture and identity, and hope for the political fight for land rights.
Geia has been cited as an important influence by almost every Aboriginal musician to achieve prominence since that time. He has worked with many other Australian musicians including a long-term close relationship with ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
award winning Tasmanian band Wild Pumpkins At Midnight
Nick Larkins
Nick Larkins is an Australian rock musician who has played with various Australian acts, and solo. Nick was born in London but raised in Hobart, Tasmania. Larkins has been highly nomadic for much of his career...
, who often appeared as his backing band in various combinations. In 1995 Geia toured Europe with members of Wild Pumpkins under the name Joe Geia and the Black Snake Orchestra. They performed in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Belgium. In 1996 he was a guest vocalist on the song "Pretty Valley," based on the oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
of a massacre of tribal people in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Produced by Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen
Tony Cohen is an acclaimed Australian record producer and sound engineer based in Melbourne, best known for his work with The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in the 1980s...
, it featured on the Wild Pumpkins' album Sad Trees, released by Way Over There, 1996. Wild Pumpkins guitarist Nick Larkins
Nick Larkins
Nick Larkins is an Australian rock musician who has played with various Australian acts, and solo. Nick was born in London but raised in Hobart, Tasmania. Larkins has been highly nomadic for much of his career...
has been a regular member of Geia's live band since 1995, and contributed to his most recent album.
Geia released a second album, Tribal Journey, in 1996, through Larrikin/Festival records
Festival Records (Australia)
Festival Records was an Australian music recording and publishing company which was founded in Sydney in 1952 and operated until 2005....
. He has also contributed songs to other projects and worked as a session musician for other bands. His third album Nunga, Koori and a Murri Love was released by Across The Borders, Melbourne, in December 2005. Produced by Shane Howard, the album was made with a cast of well-known Australian support musicians. These include Kerryn Tolhurst (The Dingoes
The Dingoes
The Dingoes are an Australian country rock band initially active from 1973 to 1979, formed in Melbourne they relocated to the United States from 1976. Most stable line-up was John Bois on bass guitar, John Lee on drums, Broderick Smith on vocals and harmonica, Chris Stockley on guitar and Kerryn...
), Ross Hannaford (Daddy Cool
Daddy Cool (band)
Daddy Cool is an Australian rock band formed in Melbourne in 1970 with the original line-up of Wayne Duncan , Ross Hannaford , Ross Wilson and Gary Young . Their debut single "Eagle Rock" was released in May 1971 and stayed at number 1 on the Australian singles chart for ten weeks...
), Bob Sedergreen
Bob Sedergreen
Bob Sedergreen is a renowned Australian jazz pianist. Bob has had a long and distinguished career as a performer, bandleader and educator. He has collaborated with leading Australian artists, such as John Sangster, Don Burrows, Brian Brown and Judy Jacques, and supported some of the biggest names...
, Nick Larkins
Nick Larkins
Nick Larkins is an Australian rock musician who has played with various Australian acts, and solo. Nick was born in London but raised in Hobart, Tasmania. Larkins has been highly nomadic for much of his career...
, Russell Smith, Ricardo Idago, Rebecca Barnard
Rebecca Barnard
Rebecca Barnard is a Melbourne-based Australian singer, songwriter and musician. She was the lead singer of Rebecca's Empire from 1994 to 2000, and has forged a solo career since her debut album was released in 2006....
, Shelley Scown
Shelley Scown
Shelley Scown is a local Australian singer, musician, drama & music teacher who has contributed widely to the Australian and Indigenous music industry. She is probably best known for her 1997 Jazz album, Angle, in which she co-recorded with other respected Australian musician, Paul Grabowsky...
and many more.
Stylistically Geia's songs fit the category of roots music
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
and range from simple Pacific songs to reggae, rock and funk. The songs are written in Aboriginal language and English, and touch on universal themes as well as issues of Aboriginal Australia, although not in an overtly political way. There is plenty of irony and black humour in some of the more recent songs like "Gimme a Mercedes" and "Good To See Ya."
External links
- The Age: With pride and defiance, 14 October 2006