Media Release | FIRST SOUNDS VOL.8 RELEASE: Turning up the heat

Who’s ready for the next installation of First Sounds - bringing recent releases of independent First Nations recording artists to your community radio airwaves?

First Nations Media Australia’s indigiTUBE project and Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA)’s Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (Amrap) have been at it again, partnering on the First Sounds project - sourcing entries of recently released tracks from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from across the country for this 8th volume of First Sounds promotional compilation CDs produced through the partnership since the first volume was produced in 2020.

First Sounds Vol.8 is the first of 3 compilations set for release in 2022 and will be distributed to over 200 community radio stations through Amrap’s CD Mailout service and will also be available, along with all tracks from previous volumes, on both the Amrap website and the indigiTUBE website and app.

LISTEN TO FIRST SOUNDS VOL.8

HERE on Amrap | HERE on indigiTUBE

A panel of four First Nations established musicians and music industry professionals had the difficult task of selecting the tracks that feature on First Sounds Vol.8 from the number of high quality entries we have come to expect from the Nations’ talent.

This round of entries was so hotly contested that a total of 13 tracks have been selected for Vol.8, breaking the existing tradition of First Sounds featuring 12 tracks per release.

Entries for First Sounds Vol.9 will open towards the end of June, so stay tuned.

Mi-kaisha, whose track Brand New is the opening track of First Sounds Vol.8 had this to say about the selection of her track for the album:

“It's always such an honour to be part of projects by our Mob, for our Mob. It just makes me feel so proud of what our communities have built, the empires and the cultures that we are responsible for! I make music for my people and my community and to know that my music will reach more Mob through First Sounds VOL.8 is so exciting to me.”

First Sounds Vol.8 includes tracks featuring 6 First Nations languages and the artists on the compilation together represent over 20 First Nations communities from across the continent.

The 13 tracks of featured on First Sounds Vol.8 spans genres, sharing stories that are personal, social, political and at times spiritual. From the mesmerising stripped back track Wanyarra from Carissa Nyalu sung in Dja Dja Wurrung, through to full band tracks such as Andrew Gurruwiwi Band’s irresistible debut Gatjumak fresh from the Yolŋu Nation and to the pop/hip hop collaboration of Akala Newman and BLACX with Spell on Me. First Sounds Vol.8 has something for everyone.

To date, First Sounds releases have featured over 80 incredible artists with even more, by way of those unselected entrants, also being featured on the Amrap site and indigiTUBE platform.

Below is the First Sounds Volume 8 following which you'll also find links to additional information regarding the release including: album artwork files, artist bios, full track information and artist/track image files.

FOR MORE:

Click here for the full collection of supplied artist images and artwork as well as First Sounds collateral.

Click here for artist bios and full track descriptions (supplied)

Click here for direct contact details for those First Sounds Vol.8 artists who have agreed to supply them. For interview requests for artists not listed, please reach out to the project media contacts as listed below.

ABOUT FIRST SOUNDS

First Sounds is a series of music releases which promote emerging independent First Nations talent, curated by a panel of established First Nations musicians and industry. Developed in partnership in 2020 between the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) and First Nations Media Australia (FNMA), specifically their respective projects the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) and indigiTUBE, First Sounds aims to increase the volume of First Nations music played on community radio across Australia. In total over 70 independent First Nations recording musicians have been featured on releases through the First Sounds partnership.

FNMA is the national peak body for the First Nations media and communications industry, supporting the maintenance of language and culture, self-representation, community development and cultural safety through media practice.. FNMA manage the indigiTUBE platform which showcases content produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including music conten and provides curated and technologically appropriate access to First Nations content for audiences all over Australia, including in remote communities.

CBAA is the is Australia’s peak body for community broadcasting, an internationally recognised, not-for-profit organisations supporting over 450 community radio stations across Australia. It runs Amrap which services community radio stations with independent music.

With funding support from the Australia Council, four (4) First Sounds compilations were distributed in the partnership’s first year (2020) drawing an increasing number of music submissions each round. All eligible submissions were featured on indigiTUBE for public and First Nations broadcaster use and on the Amrap website for broader community radio use. In 2021 a further three (3) Volumes of First Sounds were released with another three (3) planned for 2022.

Previous volumes of First Sounds can be found at www.amrap.org.au or at www.indigiTUBE.com.au along with other great First Nations content.