The songwriting and recording program, has been going strong since their first compilation album was released. Now a new group of eight Desert Divas, selected from the Desert, Saltwater and Barkly programs will participate in mentoring and music workshops. The sessions culminate in the release of Desert Divas Volume II, recorded by award-winning producer Anna Laverty and showcasing a kaleidoscope of genres, stories and language.
“Getting to hear different genres and learning from my mentor Leah Flanagan, on how to write our songs has been an amazing experience. It’s great for our confidence to be able to work with all these amazing people. It lifts you up to keep writing and to go further into my music,” says participant Jillian Moody from Tennant Creek in the Barkly region.
“And to the young sister girls thinking about singing, don’t be shame. Put that aside otherwise you will miss out on the experience.”
Barkly Diva Jill Moody with mentor Leah Flanagan Source: MusicNT Adelaide
Bronwyn Stuart is an emerging musician and Hermannsburg resident, mentored by Dallas Frasca and Ursula Yovich. On being a part of Deadly Divas, she says “Having someone to support and encourage us has been really awesome. I’m a pretty shy person and Dallas & Ursula has really pushed us. I can’t thank them enough for pushing us towards our goals, I feel really comfortable. I’m feeling very confident in myself and I know I can do it.”
“There is no such thing as ‘could or would’. I just know I can do it.”
Meanwhile, Alice Springs’ Rita Tomlins was mentored by Grammy award-winning artist Nai Palm from Hiatus Kayote. “This experience has been mind blowing, seeing the other side of music, especially the tech side. It’s been so much fun. So much that I want to quit my 9 to 5 job and just do music,” she says.
“My mentor Nai Palm has been so down to earth, so real and I just feel lucky to have worked with her. I feel so privileged to be a part of the Desert Divas program. I just want to do music! I hope to release and album in the near future and I’m inspired to learn the flute,” she says.
Desert Diva Rita Tomlins with mentor Nai Palm Source: MusicNT Adelaide
Nai Palm says “I’ve never had a musical duckling before, I’ve only been in situations where it’s totally collaborative. But DD is the first time that I’ve been able to hone in on somebody else’s gift and help that flourish without my own ego or creative investment.”
“A lot of her skills are naturally intuitive and it really didn’t take a whole lot of pushing to inspire her to blossom into a receptive student and mega super star."
"This whole experience has been like finding another sector of my family.”
For producer Anna Laverty’s part, she believes the program is “important because most of these women have never recorded before and it can be very scary the first time. And being able to do that in a supportive environment will hopefully give them the confidence to keep going.”
Barkly Diva Eleanor Dixon laying down the clap sticks on her track Source: MusicNT Adelaide
Desert Divas Volume II will be released in September with live performances scheduled for later in the year.
