Standing on Smoke

Waakya means ~ the crow moving its feathers

Waakya arose from a desire to bring new life to the oldest continuously practised music tradition in the world: manikay, the ancestral songs of the Yolŋu people of Arnhem Land.

A vivid cross-cultural collaboration, Waakya is ceremonial songman Daniel Wilfred, yidaki (didgeridoo) master David Wilfred & electro-acoustic musicians Martin Ng (turntables/CDJ-500/OB-4 speaker), Ben Carey (analog synthesisers), & Matt McGuigan (guitar/electronics).

The ensemble tangles & coils audacious experimentation around mantra-like ceremonial songlines to arrive at a sound world that embodies past, present, & future; reflecting the aboriginal concept of time, the everywhen: the eternal present.

As much as the ideas & the players involved come from traditions of experimentation & improvisation, the intention with this project was always to make ‘songs’, unconventional ones perhaps, but songs.

These songs speak of beyond-ancient myths (Nuŋgurryu Nuŋgurryu, Standing on Smoke), stories of nature & totems (Guku, Waakya, Pipit) - the importance of which inspired the vinyl side-names of this release: Land, Spirits, Plants, Animals - & also of more personal ideas such as homesickness (Jillai) & sharing culture (Titjimbat Yolŋu Balanda).

“Waakya is glorious. Absorbing into the floor listening.”

– Michael Kucyk (efficient space)

The Yolŋu people have lived in Arnhem Land in the far north of Australia for over 40,000 years. Daniel is a Wagiläk man & is the ceremonial leader for the Wagiläk people, travelling the area singing manikay & playing bilma (clap sticks). David is a Ritharrŋu man & the traditional Djunggayi (manager) of the manikay of the country of Nyilipidgi. He plays yidaki & teaches song & dance.