Gurrumul
In October 2010,
in Byron Bay’s Studio 301, I sat and watched Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu put
the finishing touches to his second solo record, Rrakala. I remember sitting spellbound as he sang what would become
the song ‘Ulminda’, which, as Gurrumul told me later, means ‘the deep part’. He
tapped his forehead as he said that.
This was an important
time for him and his longtime accompanist, label boss, producer and friend,
Michael Hohnen. This was the making of an album which had a lot to live up to,
following on as it was from 2008’s Gurrumul,
which has sold over half a million copies worldwide. This was do-or-die time.
They needn’t have
worried. It’s been around five years since Gurrumul – a member of the Yolngu
people from Elcho Island, off the coast of Arnhem Land in the Northern
Territory – rose to prominence with the release of his eponymous solo debut. When
Rrakala followed up to equal acclaim
in early 2011, it became obvious to all that this was someone special,
something quite amazing.
“He
is singing totally, totally what he believes in,” mused Hohnen at the time. “He’s
not trying to be someone else, he
hasn’t watched anyone else, so he
doesn’t have to look a certain way. I
think that’s why it’s so refreshing.”
It’s this refreshment
that has seen Gurrumul’s star rise so quickly, and so deservedly. Aside from
gold and platinum album sales, last year alone saw Gurrumul perform for the
Queen at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Prince Charles, Barack Obama and Frederick
and Mary of Denmark. Plus, his praises have been sung by everyone from Elton
John and Sting to Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am.
Despite all this, half
a decade into a remarkable solo career, Gurrumul remains the same, almost
oblivious to the ever-changing tos and fros of the industry he inhabits.
 |
| Gurrumul with Michael Hohnen |
“The Yolngu people
don’t change very much really,” says Hohnen, who acts as Gurrumul’s spokesman,
when we catch up again. “He is more comfortable in his solo skin, but I think
the wave of him being ‘famous’ in his own community has passed.”
Given that the
‘perils’ of mainstream society barely penetrate his people and home, Gurrumul
never really put much stock in such things as winning AIR or ARIA awards, or
appearing on the cover of Rolling Stone
in 2011, mainly because the concept was so foreign to him. It seems not much
has changed, but it does appear that he’s comfortable now with the incessant
buzz around him. It’s more a part of life, while he goes about writing and
performing these sublime songs.
“He’s
just being himself, because that’s all he can be,” Hohnen says simply. This also rings true in a physical
sense – despite having been born blind, this affliction isn’t something that
Gurrumul addresses, despite the fact there’s a song on his debut entitled
‘Gurrumul History (I Was Born Blind)’. “[He] never reflects on that aspect of
himself,” concurs Hohnen. “His family,
however, comment on how they see he has extra ‘powers’ because of this. His
uncle, who co-wrote the song, sees it as a way of bridging the gap between
Yolngu and other people.”
That gap has been
considerably narrowed, and so to where Gurrumul will head next. Where his two
records thus far have followed a simple formula – Gurrumul’s voice over minimal
guitar, double bass and piano accompaniment, a melding of traditional western
folk with indigenous story telling – his next, which is already in production,
will look to branch out somewhat, particularly sonically.
“We don’t want to
do the same things again,” notes Hohnen. “We did some [recording] in Sydney in
March last year, and finished a lot of the singing in June.”
He goes on to say
that they’re experimenting with new ways of harmonising on these tracks, using the
singer’s own distinctive voice to create new harmonic layers.
“We’re [also] looking
at how we can [step up] instrumentally… looking at what sort of setting we can
put it in,” Hohnen goes on. “We’re looking at a classical setting, looking at
what’s possible [there] to present it so people can get into it.”
“If I think too
much about what people are going to think, we’ll just get stuck. So I think if
we do something that is beautiful and powerful…” Hohnen trails off at the end
of that sentence, but no more really needs to be said.
It’s almost like
Gurrumul exists outside of the music industry. He’s not really aware of it,
it’s not something he’s been taught to revere or despise, and yet he’s a part
of it, which is perhaps one reason why he’s so successful. Yes, there’s that
voice, so fragile yet so powerful, but the fact he operates under no constraints,
just pure music, is perhaps why he’s able to do what he does. He’s totally
free.
In the coming
month, Gurrumul will be airing snippets of his new material, particularly at
the Blue Mountains Festival, something they’re more than looking forward to. “He’s
feeling really balanced with his health,” says Hohnen, alluding to various
health issues Gurrumul has suffered over the past year or so. “He’s busting to
get out and do things.”
by SAMUEL J FELL
Gurrumul will perform at the Port Fairy Folk Festival
(8-11 March) and the Blue Mountains Music Festival (15-17 March).
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