| | | | | | | Making Changes by Belle Arnold, DPM Projects Manager |
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In this end of EPIC year issue you will find some exciting news about our brother Boomalli; all five of the music releases from the Northern Queensland ' Break It Down' project series funded by the Northern QLD PHN AND our Annual Report which charts our 18 year history as well as our major partnerships and projects in 2019!
From our CEO and Creative Director, Toby Finlayson:
"It’s been an incredible year for DPM. We have learnt so much and created so many connections and shared experiences that we will all treasure forever. On behalf of the DPM Creative Team I would like to thank all of the Original Nations communities, young people and Elders upon whose country we meet, share, learn and create together. We feel truly humbled and honoured to be welcomed on country, and for the opportunity to learn and share and grow. My heartfelt gratitude also goes out to the 2018/19 Board of Directors. Constantly your support and wisdom enable our Executive and Creative Team to be resilient, flexible and continue our mission with authenticity and integrity. We honestly couldn’t do it without you. Thank you so much.
I would also like to thank all our generous funders and community partners for supporting our work and enabling us to deliver programs to people and communities we work with.
Here's to another monumental year in 2020, where we can keep working towards DPM's vision of an Australia where Original Nations’ young people are heard, respected and celebrated as part of our national identity, and are embraced to live a life of their own design" . |
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Boomalli is the Kamileroi word for ‘Strike With Power’, and after a 5 year hiatus he is back on the scene with the first release from his long-awaited debut album ‘The Promise’ which drops January 24th, 2020 - just in time for Invasion Day.
In all honesty, after what he’s been through recently, he’s lucky to be alive. Managing a diagnosis of severe illness and tragic grief in his family, his debut album is a journey through the eyes of a survivor, and his first single ‘Where I’m From’ is an old school, dreamy, boom bap ballad for the people of the Barwon River. Check it here.
Boomalli kicked off his musical journey when he was just 14 years old, participating in a series of songwriting and music mentoring projects through charity organisation, Desert Pea Media. The projects evolved to create ‘The Colli Crew’, a group of ‘diminutive yet razor-sharp’ rappers from the remote Indigenous community of Collarenebri in Northwest NSW.
He has since performed on stages around Australia, including Yabun Festival, NRL Indigenous All Stars games, even the ARIA Awards at Sydney Opera House in 2011. He was awarded ‘Youth of the Year’ in the Walgett Shire in 2015 and has been working with Desert Pea Media as a mentor and music facilitator ever since.
‘The Promise’ is a commitment he made to his family, and his people to continue this journey. To never give up, and to speak with the voice of his mob from the Walli Reserve. Produced by one of Sydney's best underground producers, Hazy, and featuring some of the OG’s of the Australian Indigenous hip hop culture, we are very excited for what is coming in January 2020 - look out for the full album then. |
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| | | Cover Image: Jannali Doncaster |
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| We are excited to share our Annual Report which charts our 18 year history as well as our major partnerships and projects in 2019 AND you can hear from some of crew about what they love about working with DPM. Click on the image above. |
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2019 saw DPM delivering the 'Break It Down - Community Conversations around Well-Being' project to five communities in Far North QLD - funded by the Northern QLD Primary Health Network.
'Break it Down' is a mental health literacy program for Original Nations youth which aims to facilitate an important, inter-generational conversation about social and emotional well-being. It's a program that engages youth in a language they are already fluent in - popular culture forms such as music, film and performance - creating media that reflects their voice, their stories and their song. These projects not only uplift and inspire audiences and community members, but everybody involved. It's a collaborative process on country with Desert Pea Media artists, local Original Nations young people, community members, Elders, and local health and community services. We value and respect the friendships we have made and feel honoured to learn and share with each and every community and are so proud to share these productions.
Check out what the five communities have for you by clicking on the images above. Each one is deadly. |
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| Need some chill for Christmas time? Create your own song or just enjoy the groove with DPM Music Producer Hazy's beats, HERE. |
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| By joining our monthly giving program – Step Up – you will help us to re-engage hundreds of marginalised young people with community, culture and country. Desert Pea Media Association Incorporated is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) so all donations can be considered tax deductible. Just click on the link to donate. |
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