He sings in the Gupapuyngu language native to his birthplace in North East Arnhem Land, and although one can assume the majority of the crowd members present were not familiar with this language, the soul behind Gawurra’s music was something that certainly resonated with everyone.
Gawurra opened his set by telling the crowd of his origins in Arnhem Land. He spoke of how it had always been his dream to become a famous musician so that he could share his culture and language with people from all walks of life. It was obvious through his unwavering smile and gratitude that this was a man basking in the reality of living out his dream come true, but it was the overwhelming passion and candour in his voice when he began to sing that allowed the authenticity of that sentiment to really sink in.
Gawurra sat centre stage, candidly plucking the strings of his acoustic guitar as his stirringly beautiful vocals rang through the gallery in the same way they would continue to ring through the minds of the crowd members for hours after the show had ended. He was accompanied by an electric guitar, a keyboard and soft brushes of percussion, each played delicately and adding intricacy to the melodies.
It wasn’t long before Gawurra ditched his chair, opting to stand as he asked if the crowd was ready to dance. He launched intoa string of upbeat, almost bluesy numbers including Guwak and Warrarra Gurrungala. Gawurra encouraged everyone to feel the music, pointing out crowd members and telling them to dance and clap along, as he did so himself.
Between songs, Gawurra expressed his sincere appreciation and told stories about his life, language and culture. The songs remained upbeat, Gawurra throwing himself wholeheartedly into each. His enthusiasm and energy was contagious and of all the smiling faces among the crowd, Gawurra’s grin was by far the biggest.
To finish his set, Gawurra returned to the slow pace and mystical rhythm with which he began his performance. He told the crowd how his cousin had passed away a few months earlier and that the next song was about ensuring that those we lose to death stay forever in our hearts. He then proceeded to deliver a stunningly heartfelt rendering of Ratja Yaliyali, whose title translates to “vine of love”, which Gawurra explained as a notion of connecting with one another through love – a sentiment he delivered.
Whether it was his astonishingly striking voice, the melodies that were simultaneously simple and complex, or the passion with which he sang, Gawurra’s performance was inexplicably moving. It’s no simple feat to connect with people who do not understand the language in which you are singing, but Gawurra managed to plant his music and the stories it tells into the hearts of everyone in the room.
Highlight: Seeing an artist so genuinely in love with what they do and the consequential effect that has on the vibe in the room.
Lowlight: Without sounding totally cliché, the only low was that the set wasn’t longer.
Crowd Favourite: Ratja Yaliyali.
