About Yurliya Band –
Warakurna Reggae Style
Geoffrey Yungett the lead singer of the band
started singing country music when he was a young boy.
Geoffrey decided that Warakurna community needed
their own band and asked Jamon Watson, Dwayne Shepherd, Albert Porter, Tim
Jackson, Dion Bell and Xavier McLean to form the newly named Yurliya
Band. All the band members brought their ideas together and are
influenced by country rock, reggae, desert ska and rap. Xavier McLean
explains “we have our own style; it’s a mix of different sounds”.
The band are experimenting with the concept of
’automatic change’. Geoffrey and Xavier explain “it means that you can
keep playing, but change or interchange other songs, like a continuum.
It’s like using the same beat but you can overlay that beat with different
melodies. It’s what makes us unique”
At the moment we are playing at football and sports
carnivals and local festivals in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.
They guys have been listening to bands such as Tjupi
band (Papunya), Sunrise band (Pipalytjara and Kalka), Iwantja Band (Indulkana) , Saltwater
band (Elco island), Yupu band (Kalgoorlie), Narbarlek band (Manmoyi, Arnhem Land) and local
bands like, Irrunytju, Jameson, Ranges (Warburton) and Blackstone bands. They
are also interested in bands like DMP (Doorman's Project) band from the Solomon Islands.
"The DMP have a great sound, it's a good reggae rap fusion sound, we like them a lot,
people should listen to them" Xavier McLean.
The band have big dreams for the future. They
want to launch their new CD at the Bush Bands Bash in September in Alice
Springs. After that they want to play gigs across central Australia and
share their sound with the rest of the nation. They are currently working
on their own website and new songs and working in collaboration with
Ngaanyatjarra Media and Warakurna Artists.
“We want to be a part of the region's music scene, there’s a lot of
great music happening in the desert”,
The Band
Geoffrey Yungett - Lead Singer
Dwanye Shepherd – Back- up vocals
Xavier McLean - Keyboards
Jamon Watson – Electric base
Tim Jackson – Lead guitar
Albert Porter – Rhythm guitar
Dion Bell and Clevi Reid – Drum
More info
Photos by Kristabel Porter
Proudly supported by