With the launching of our Needle in the Hay competition, we’re taking a few weeks to bring you our favourite artists from each state in the country (plus New Zealand). With Western Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania done and dusted, we thought it high time to tackle Northern Territory.
The Red Centre is possibly the most isolated corner of our entire country, steeped in the stupendous creativity born in the minds of outsider artists. With a heaving respect for indigenous musicians and an unrivalled love of land and local communities, the northern scene has a face like no other.
We’re looking all over Australia to give one artist the chance to press their record to vinyl. Here are 5 artists from Northern Territory we’re digging.
Resin Moon
Calling Alice Springs his home, producer Dave Crowe lets the sparsity, serendipity and solace of the desert feed into his ethereal beats.
A frequent face at local festivals and a master of all things synthesised, the late 2016 Salt EP is a perfect place to get started with Resin Moon.
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Baker Boy
Danzel Baker is a 20-year-old MC who operates under the moniker Baker Boy. He has a simple dream: to be Australia’s first indigenous language rapper. Massive respect to this young gun.
Check out his single Cloud9 below, featuring him rapping in his mother tongue the Yolngu Matha language.
Sam Carmody
This guy’s a fresh Unearthed find for me, as far as I can tell Sam Carmody only has one single out to the world. Then again, when has that ever stopped an artist from blowing up?
Moby Dick is a hell of a jam. Dreamy yet downplayed, Carmody seems to slot synths into a lo-fi atmosphere in a unique way… can’t recommend this track enough.
Kardajala Kirridarra
The latest single from previous Northern Territory Song of the Year winners Kardajala Kirridarra is their dreamiest yet. Ngabaju (Grandmothers Song) combines Mudburra and English in a flawless amalgam of the traditional and contemporary, not to mention a bit of a tear jerker.
Their self-titled debut album is due out July 7th.
HMLTN
Little more than an Unearthed and a Soundcloud page, not much can be gleaned about this mysterious HMLTN figure. Apparently a 16 year old beatmaker out of Katherine, this fella is definitely hitting the right notes early on.
This Maybe track is chunky as, with the kind of club beat you’ll want to tell your mum about. Get around it.
Needle In The Hay is a vinyl competition targeting the next generation of exciting musical talent across Australia. Find out all the details here.
