The Art of Song

What a treat it was to see three amazing First Nations women of song, brought together and accompanied by pianist Paul Grabowsky. This choice of female artists was inspired – Jess Hitchcock, a Naarm/Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, opera and jazz singer with family roots in the Torres Strait Islands and Papua New Guinea; Megan Sarmardin, from Mt Isa, who describes herself as a self-taught singer with a deep love for music and storytelling; and Meanjin/Brisbane-based Aurora Liddle-Christie (SOLCHLD), who uses her poetry and songs to celebrate her Aboriginal heritage from Arrernte/Central Australia alongside Jamaican and European roots.

This was a rich mix of backgrounds, with common ground in song, celebrated by three superb artists in an entertaining and emotionally moving performance of around 90 minutes. The group took turns to introduce their own songs, as well as those that had inspired them in their musical journeys. First was ‘Aunty Jenny Brown’ by Megan, who highlighted the importance of family in her songs. Her parents took her to a regular Spinafex Song Club in Mt Isa, where she learned all the country rock classics. But Megan also grew up listening to the radio and found a love of stage musicals too! Aurora’s performance followed with ‘God School’ a song her mother wrote and performed when Aurora was a toddler dancing in the front row. This was a funky, earthy song that reminded me of Sly and the Family Stone. Jess then talked about her own inspirations, growing up listening to everyone from Billie Holiday to Linda Ronstadt, with a supportive family who encouraged her interest in music. Her rendition of Mercer and Carmichael’s ‘Skylark’ led to a version of Anne Murray’s ‘Snow Bird’ by Megan, and ‘Another Love Song’, a poem by Aurora. Megan’s love of stage musicals was celebrated in ‘Passionfruit Vine’ from The Sunshine Club by Wesley Enoch and John Rodgers, and Jess’s version of ‘If I Loved You’ from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Other women of song celebrated include Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Vera Lynn. Songwriters such as Archie Roach were honoured, and Jess’s performance of his ‘Place of Fire’ was a highlight.

Jess and Megan played guitar on a number of tracks, and Aurora’s poems punctuated the evening with her clear voice and moving themes of place and identity. I also love her singing voice, so if there was a chance in future to include more of her songs, that would be great too. Paul Grabowsky kept to his role as accomplished accompanist, and the girls joked that ‘his microphone was off to one side for a reason!’ but they also credited Paul with bringing them together for this creative collaboration, the full force of his musical experience with a multitude of styles coming to the fore in this performance. The vocalists ended with a trio of ‘All is Found’ which left the crowd calling for an encore – and it would have been wonderful to hear just one more song (or more!) performed by all three singers as their harmonies were heavenly.

The Art of Song was an intimate, deeply personal, and inspirational concert, and a great chance to see these wonderful performers up close. I recommend seeing all three performers, solo or together, for a moving musical experience. And I hope that this format is further developed into a longer stage show in the future.

The Art of Song is presented as part of QPAC’s Clancestry festival. Find out more: www.qpac.com.au/whats-on/clancestry

Beth Keehn

Photo courtesy of QPAC