Sing Your Own Song

Hailing from the remote Nhulunbuy region in northeast Arnhem Land, bandleader Andrew Minyapa Gurruwiwi is also a popular broadcaster on the local Indigenous radio station. Originally from the community of Galuwin’ku on Elcho Island, he comes from an illustrious family of traditional Yolngu artists and musicians. A son of the late yidaki (didgeridoo) master Djalu Gurruwiwi, Andrew was formerly a member of the family band Bärra West Wind. Establishing his own group four years ago, they first attracted attention with their lively 2023 debut single, ‘Gatjumak’, which translates as ‘Go For It’. Now an eight-piece Aboriginal funk-reggae outfit, Gurruwiwi performs as the band’s songwriter-singer-percussionist. The Sing Your Own Song sessions were recorded in Sydney, produced by multi-instrumentalists Julian Belbachir and Andrew Grimes, with featured guests including Yothu Yindi bassist Stu Kellaway, Malian guitarist Moussa Diakite and a tight Kiwi dub horn section. Other standout tracks include ‘Yaa Djamarrkuli’ and ‘Gunyanara’.