About Spinifex Gum

Part protest, part celebration, Spinifex Gum is a uniquely modern Australian song cycle featuring the award-winning all-female ensemble, Marliya – a Cairns-based ensemble of Aboriginal and Torres Strait teenage singers, conducted by Lyn Williams AM of Gondwana Choirs. Their songs bring together the vibrant young voices through their compelling blend of harmony and protest singing in both English and Yindjibarndi, while trailblazing a new pop-choir genre and generating awareness of political and environmental activity taking place on this country.

 The work of Spinifex Gum addresses pervasive issues from the social disparity present in The Pilbara to deaths in custody, disproportionate incarceration, and land rights, with lyrics and song that have the power to disarm, inspire, and speak to us in a way that no individual voice can.

 No Longer There is the first song off Spinifex Gum’s forthcoming album set for release in mid-2022. Spinifex Gum encourages choirs, school and community groups to create their own version of the song by accessing the music resources 

Achievements to Date

First album “Spinifex Gum” launched in late 2017

World premiere performance at Adelaide Festival in 2018

Performances at the 2018 AFL Dreamtime Opening Ceremony and the 2018 Invictus Games Closing Ceremony

Sold out performance in the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for the 2019 Sydney Festival

2019 National Tour: Garma Festival, NIMA (National Indigenous Music Awards) (Darwin), Red Earth Arts Festival(Karratha and Roebourne), Parliament House and Canberra Theatre, and Melbourne Recital Centre

2019 Helpmann Award Nomination in the prestigious “Best New Australian Work” category

2020 Perth Festival

2020 Womadelaide

2021 “Live at Sydney Opera House” released in January

2021 Women of the World (WOW Brisbane) Second album “Sisters” released late 2019

Over 50 young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander choristers have participated in the project to date