Skinnyfish Music
 | This article contains promotional content. (October 2024) |
| Skinnyfish Music | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Genre | Indigenous Roots |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Location | Darwin |
| Official website | www |
Skinnyfish Music is a Darwin, Australia based independent record label. The label blends traditional Australian First Nations sounds, language, and instrumentation with modern western music genres.
History
[edit]Skinnyfish Music was co-founded in 1999 by Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen.[1][2] The label connects remote Indigenous communities to mainstream global music markets[3][4] through business development mentoring, education and promotion.[5]
Skinnyfish undertake extensive community engagement around the production and cultural preservation of First Nations music, through consultation with the musicians, family members and community elders. They also support a model of fostering economic independence in their artists[1] and encourage local music at community events.[6]
In 2009 they struck a deal with Dramatico Entertainment for the Pan-European release of all the label's albums, after the success of "Gurrumul" across Europe [7]
Notable artists associated with Skinnyfish Music
[edit]- Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu[8]
- Lonely Boys[4]
- B2M (Bathurst to Melville)
- Saltwater Band
- Mark A Hunter, Songs from the Buffalo Country (2008)[9]
- Nabarlek Band[10]
- Ego Lemos, O Hele Le (2009)
- Wildflower Band
- Manuel Dhurrkay
- June Mills, I’ll be the One (2005)[11]
- Mambali Band
- Tom E Lewis
- Dewayne Everettsmith
Community engagement
[edit]The label engages with Indigenous communities through touring music groups and artists to festivals, where the main message is of cultural pride, healthy lifestyle education[12] and social change promotion.[1]
The label has also been notable for its championing of fair compensation for artists.[13]
Skinnyfish Music has played a significant role in addressing pressing social issues within remote Indigenous communities.[14][15]
Projects and festivals
[edit]- Galiwin’ku Festival - Healthy Lifestyle Festival started in 1998 and was managed by the Ngalkanbuy Health Clinic.[16]
- Barunga Festival - A celebration of remote Indigenous community life, held annually on the Queen's birthday long weekend June in the small community of Barunga.[17]
- Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival[18] - held on one night in July (the Dinidjanggama heavy dew season) of Garramilla, Gulumoerrgin, Larrakia country[19] Initiatied by Skinnyfish Music in 2023.[20]
- Skinnyfish Sound System - Modern Tribal Late Night Dance Party[21] bringing indigenous musicians from remote Australia to remix their traditional songs to popular beats[22]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- 2013 - Grose and Hohnen awarded Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory.[23]
- 2018 - Outstanding Achievement Award, Australian Independent Record Awards.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen | Australian of the Year". australianoftheyear.org.au. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "About | Skinnyfish". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Skinnyfish Music - taking an ancient culture to the world". TAG Touring. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Arnhem Land band share stage with Queens of the Stone Age". ABC News. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Australian Performing Arts Market". Australian Performing Arts Market. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Christmas party kicks off Palmerston school holiday program". ABC News. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Tucker, K (23 January 2010). "THE DEAL MAKERS". Billboard. 122 (3).
- ^ "Australian music would not be the same without the National Indigenous Music Awards". ABC News. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ ""He encapsulates Old Darwin": the music of Mark A Hunter". ABC listen. 26 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ ""The garage band without a garage": The story of Nabarlek". ABC listen. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Barney, Katelyn (2006). "'Women singing up big': the growth of contemporary music recordings by Indigenous Australian women artists". Australian Aboriginal Studies. 1: 50.
- ^ "Skinnyfish musos and NT remote communities- ackle Covid19 awareness with popular song campaign". NT News.
- ^ a b Davies, Brynn (27 July 2018). "AIR Awards winners Skinnyfish and Milk! Records show independent sector is thriving in the face of digital disruption". The Music Network. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Skinnyfish Music celebrates 20 years of powerful voices". ABC News. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ ""They wanted to be role models": The story of Tiwi Islands band B2M". ABC listen. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Galiwin'ku Festival | Skinnyfish". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Barunga Festival | Skinnyfish". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival | Skinnyfish". Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival". City of Darwin | Darwin Council, Northern Territory. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Darwin International Jazz Festival to feature musicians, artists, cartoonists and music for dogs". NT News. 2023.
- ^ "Skinnyfish Sound System | triple j Unearthed". www.abc.net.au. 18 January 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Skinnyfish Sound System: traditional Aboriginal music gets the electronic treatment". ABC Radio National. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ "Recipients By the Year - Australian of the Year". australianoftheyear.org.au. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
