I filmed this little home or rather bush-made film clip for our song Tjurkupa recently while up in Nhulunbuy, North East Arnhem Land playing gigs. Tjurkurpa was written with my musical collaborator pals Luke Moller and Shane Reilly, and recorded with Roger Bergodaz drums and Steve Hadley bass. It’s on our self titled album.
While in Arnhem Land recently I sang the song at my gigs to a diverse audience of sweat soaked Gove locals including miners and teachers and tree doctors, but mostly the amazingly welcoming local Yolngu community, who often joined me onstage playing yidaki and singing in language. The song Tjurkupa seemed to connect with the themes of the folks and to town as it’s a mining town with modern and ancient cultures converging.
So in between my getting irretrievably bogged on a solo bush exploring adventure out in the croc infested Cape Arnhem for a few days, eventually rescued (thanks to mechanical Mike), doing gigs, having morning jams at a ski beach cafe ( where Yothu Yindi’s had their old studio) with the great local band Barra West Wind (checkout their new album) and yidaki master Djalu Gurruwiwi and his sons, seeing Prince Charles’ visit, and going hunting out bush with the local Yolngu kids and Elders from around Yirrkala I was able to film this clip. I edited it up and here it is.
The word Tjurkurpa has many complex meanings I read it is the foundation of Anangu (Central Australia) life and society, and refers to the creation period when ancestral beings created the world. Tjukurpa also refers to the present and future.”
A big thankyou to all the locals who played their part in the making of this film clip and welcomed me onto their beautiful country and into their unique community. Thanks to all the crocodiles for not eating me too.”
Watch the film clip for Tjurkurpa by Liam Gerner and the Sunset Pushers HERE.