BIGSOUND: Why Gurrumul's Songs Are Australia

BIGSOUND 2013 finished this afternoon with a stunning Q&A and live, audio visual performance from Gurrumul Yunupingu alongside Skinnyfish Music's Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen.

While topics ranging from how the three met, to their expectations of the solo project were all covered, it was discussions about Gurrumul's music that were most fascinating.

Gurrumul doesn't actually speak during the session and Hohnen says that, while it's a common request for him to give interviews, he does all of his speaking through song and that so many answers to questions they are sent are held within his songs.

When speaking about their importance Grose said that while Paul Kelly writes stunning songs, he “sings about Australian white fella culture” and that “There's not a white fella in this country who can celebrate the essence of this country like an indigenous person can.” He said that “Paul Kelly and Gurrumul represent a complete picture of this country.

He went ont to say that he believes true reconciliation is when all Australians can listen to the songs Gurrumul performs and say that they are our songs.

“They are Australia to me,” he said, fighting back tears.

Some comic relief came courtesy of Gurrumul himself when a question about collaborating with Sting was raised.

After an awkward silence, Hohnen was frank.

“Working with Sting was amazing,” he said. “It was just a weird choice of song; I'll Be Watching You [Every Breath You Take]. Gurrumul [who was born blind] is running around the bus saying 'I'll be watching you! I'll be watching you!'.” At which point, with perfect comedic timing, Gurrumul starts playing the song's iconic lead riff.

A number of songs from his past records were aired, each with videos from Gurrumul's family explaining what they represented and with accompanying dance. Bapa, about his life, father and family, Djilawurr, about the orange footed scrub fowl, Baru, about the saltwater crocodile and Baiyini about the ancestral spirit lady who looks over their land, the songs Gurrumul famously performed with Delta Goodrem on The Voice this year.

The session closed with a snippet of the third album, a song about octopus. Hohnen said they were taking the music in a new direction and he wasn't lying – it's a minimalist classical arrangement that is miles away from his first two records, but equally stunning.