Ripple Effect Band Announce Debut Album 'Mayawa'

Indigenous Australian group Ripple Effect Band are preparing to release their debut album, Mayawa, created with support from the Bush Music Fund.

Due for release on Friday, 13 September, the band have shared a new single, Na-Kalamandjarda, as they embark on a tour of the Northern Territory. Paying homage to Country, Ripple Effect Band’s Rona Lawrence said of the new single:

We went camping on Country and hunting at Na-kalamandjarda. When we came home, that night, I woke up and had the song in my mind, it came up into my mind. I couldn’t sleep and I didn’t have a pen and paper, so I texted Jodie all the lyrics of the song. It was 1am in the morning.

When Jodie [Kell] woke up, she found on her phone the longest text from me. She called me laughing but also so excited. I walked around the corner to her house and that morning we sat together with a guitar and made this song. I wanted to sing about my Country. I wanted to share its beauty. I wanted everyone to feel like they belonged to Country somewhere. To think about how important Country is for us and how we have to look after it. Recognising the past and the ancestors and think of the future for our children.

Adding to the essential nature of the album, Mayawa was created by Ripple Effect Band, the first group of women in their community to play instruments. The intention was to honour West Arnhem Land songwriting while the band shared their own personal narratives.

Lawrence added, “I want to be a role model for other women. To let them know… Don’t sit at home and get worried and stress. Stand up and get involved. Play music. Go fishing or hunting. Make yourself feel better. I’m doing this for my kids, for their future, so they feel proud and they can listen to their mother singing Na-kara language.”

Ripple Effect Band member Tara Rostron said, “I feel happy that I'm co-producing all those songs and even when I'm walking, I can feel something that’s holding me and telling me that I'm doing fine. I’m standing strong and it’s so positive. I've been making decisions and it’s sort of controlling me.

“You see, music is very important to me because I like to encourage and inspire other people, especially young people.”

You can listen to Na-Kalamandjarda below before Ripple Effect Band release Mayawa independently in September – pre-save the album here.

Last year, Ripple Effect Band were finalists of the Australian Women in Music Awards in the Diversity in Music Award, and most recently, drummer Jolene Lawrence was honoured as a finalist for the APRA Professional Development Awards.

RIPPLE EFFECT BAND

NA-KALAMANDJARDA NT TOUR

Saturday 27 July – Daminmin Festival, Humpty Doo (tickets here)
Thursday 1 August - Bustard Town, Darwin (tickets here)
Sunday 4 August & Monday 5 August – Desert Harmony Festival, Tennant Creek (details here)