East Journey have strong familial and musical ties with 80’s Hall of Fame icons Yothu Yindi; lead singer Rrawun Maymuru is a grandson of the YY frontman Mandawuy Yunupingu, who has mentored East Journey, with all ten band members are blood relatives. Maymuru, who performed with Yothu Yindi as a teenager, has a versatile voice and according to the national press ‘sounds as angelic as cousin Gurrumul Yunupingu’ or on East Journey’s more upbeat numbers as ‘raunchy as his grandfather’s’, and is an acclaimed songwriter in his own right, having penned ‘Bayini’ in Gurrumul’s current platinum selling album ‘Rrakala’.
The band’s lead guitarist PJ White is a rock and metal fan ‘who can shred with the intensity of his heroes Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai’.
The young band members have established the East Journey Aboriginal Corporation. PJ White says “It’s a foundation for the future. Our mission is to foster talent amongst our Yolngu youth, using music to promote social ideals, including education, employment and health. We are mentoring other young musicians, so we can help the next generation to tour with us and build their future”.
East Journey released their debut independent album ‘Guwak’ in April 2012, with glowing reviews in the national press, earning the band an outstanding achievement award at the 2012 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA’s), a nomination for National Song of the Year (‘Song of Arnhem Land’) and the award for Music Video of the Year (‘Ngarrpiya’).
What’s your earliest memory of performing and who inspired you to start?
Arian Pearson (acoustic guitar) – “I was aged 16 when I was listening to my brother Rrawun Maymuru perform, I got into music and started in the school band with my other brothers and cousins”.
PJ White (lead guitar) – I’ve always been performing on and off the stage since I was a very small boy. One of the first photographs of me was when I started to walk, was holding a pretend guitar. While I was still at school, Rrawun (lead singer) said to me ‘I want you to keep learning guitar and when you’ve finished I want to form a band with you’. Our drummer Gathapura used to play drums as a kid on empty flour drums.
Like Rrawun and Arian, PJ was inspired as a kid sitting round in Yirrkala listening to Yothu Yindi rehearsing before big concert tours overseas in the 90’s, and seeing them perform live in the community.
Shellie Morris and other established musicians always have advice for the East Journey band members, and the muso’s all look out for each other when playing a gig away from home, or on tour.
You must answer this question honestly. What and where was the first gig you went to?
We all saw Yothu Yindi 15 years ago in our community of Yirrkala in North East Arnhem Land.
How would best describe the ‘East Journey’ sound?
PJ White – Our sound is derived in part from our predecessors, Yothu Yindi, but with a modern twist. It’s a fusion of rock, traditional music and saltwater reggae. Our songs draw on our connection to the land and the sea, the music is in our blood, it’s in our songlines.
Will this be your first time playing WOMADelaide and What should we expect from your shows March 8th 9th & 11th?
Arian Pearson – “This will be our first time in Adelaide and we are looking forward to getting up on the big stage, as we have 10 band members! Make sure you check us out on the big stage 1 Monday the 11th of March @ 3pm, and Saturday stage 2 @ 3 pm. We are also holding a didgeridoo (yidaki) workshop at 8 pm on the Friday night, so come along, and have a go, we’ll show you how to play it”
PJ White – “Can’t wait true! Being there, with some amazing musicians like Jimmy Cliff, The Cat Empire and Tim Rogers…….We’ve been waiting to get to Adelaide for a long time. If you really want to be entertained and rock your socks off, see lots of colour and excitement, make sure you come and see us, and hang round for a chat after! Check out our music videos and the mini doco, we had a lot of fun making them”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU6CHuUhRQU
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hjzldfev1M
www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUCZv096M7A
How do you find new music?
Arian Pearson – “When we are in Nhulunbuy or Yirrkala we jump on the net, check out ITUNES, order new music dvd’s, and when we are on tour we always check out the bands playing. Because we live in such a remote community it’s not often we get the chance to see other bands. We like to catch up with friends like Xavier Rudd and Shellie Morris when we are out and about, and they have a really good feel for new music coming out.”
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage?
Arian Pearson – “No lucky undies or anything like that! But we have a prayer circle, and everyone in the band and in our team get together backstage, form a circle and say a prayer in Yolngu Matha, that gives us inspiration, energy, respect for the opportunity and courage”.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?
Arian Pearson – I would have the festival in Byron Bay, with all indigenous performers from around the world and from across this nation, in all genres of music. It would be like one big giant international Black Arm Band, with Aussies like Archie Roach, Emma Donovan, Leah Flanagan, Djolpa McKenzie, Paul Kelly, Ursula Yovich, Shellie Morris, Gurrumul, B2M, Tjupi Band, Jessica Mauboy, Emma Donavan, Kutcha Edwards, Dewayne Everettsmith, Coloured Stone, Warumpi Band, Sunrize Band, Lou Bennett, Troy Casser Daley, Christine Anu, Deb Cheetham, Casey Donovan, Tom E Lewis, Dan Sultan, Frank Yamma, Blekbala Mujik, The Medics, Nabarlek, No Fixed Address, Pigram brothers, Ntaria Ladies Choir, Yabu Band, there are so many, the list is endless!! And of course East Journey..It would be over three days, camping and hospitality tents food, merch and tokens for bars. I reckon we would have to get Midnight Oil in to kick it off!
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Arian Pearson – Xavier Rudd, John Butler and Shellie Morris, because like us they are using their music as a vehicle to send a message.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
Some tracks are best for a relaxed setting for a lazy day, some like Gumik to liven things up and get things moving.
What’s next, after WOMADelaide?
PJ White – Playing in Sydney for the National Australia Bank, recording our next single ‘Bright Lights, Big City” in Sydney and shooting the music video for it, then preparing for our Northern Territory Tour, some gigs coming up in Queensland including Big Sound, and then our international tour. Make sure you check out the website www.eastjourney.com.au, and keep rocking!
Catch East Journey performing at WOMADelaide on the 8th, 9th & 11th March.
