Last month saw the release of ‘Treaty ’18’, an updating of Yothu Yindi & Gavin Campbell’s ‘Treaty’, featuring new vocals by Baker Boy. This new update of the track was created in accordance with the 25th anniversary of ‘Treaty’, and was released in time for the 2018 NAIDOC week.
Produced by Jerome Farah, and featuring guest appearances from Dallas Woods. and Dhapanbal Yunupingu (the daughter of Yothu Yindi’s late frontman Dr M. Yunupingu), this track saw Yothu Yindi teaming up with Gavin Campbell of Filthy Lucre to help recreate the same vibe and intensity that they did so many years ago in the early ’90s.
“When Jerome sent me his first draft of this version of ‘Treaty’, it conjured up that same feeling of excitement I had when Robert Goodge, Paul Main and I finished work on our Filthy Lucre remix all those years ago,” explained Campbell of the new track.
“In addition to featuring such a stellar artist as Baker Boy, Razor is very proud to be highlighting young singers from our new live show Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project, particularly Dr M’s daughter Dhapanbal. Let’s start the chant again!”
Now, ‘Treaty ’18’ has received a brand new lyric video, which helps to illustrate the meaning and message behind the song, while also helping to translate the song’s Yolngu lyrics so that it can be appreciated by a wider audience.
While acts such as Baker Boy and A.B. Original have been helping to bring the music and message of Australian Indigenous culture to the mainstream in recent years, this updating of Yothu Yindi’s classic track will hopefully serve as another way that listeners will able to appreciate the importance of Indigenous musicians, while also rediscovering the brilliance of one of Australia’s most beloved tracks.
“I want to honour my father’s legacy and continue to spread his message of equal rights and opportunities for Aboriginal people,” explained Dhapanbal Yunupingu.
“Just like Yothu Yindi music, most of my songs are in English and my Yolngu language, which is the Gumatj language of my clan and isn’t music amazing? Music can take you around the world to share your stories.”
Check out ‘Treaty ’18’, by Yothu Yindi & Gavin Campbell (feat. Baker Boy):
