This multi-dimensional group gives voice to some of Cairns’ finest Indigenous singers, songwriters and musicians of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Papua New Guinean, Polynesian and Melanesian descent.

Experience spine tingling moments as these voices blend into a soul-stirring choir with intricate harmonies woven into traditional instrumentation and contemporary elements.

The combined strengths of Rubina Kimiia and Will Kepa, together with the individual and collective talents of the ensemble and original songs laced with language from each region, will deliver to the audience a platter of musical flavours found throughout AustraNesia.

Sounds of Austranesia was brought together by music educator, arranger and director, Rubina Kimiia and multi-instrumentalist, engineer and producer, Will Kepa, Sounds of AustraNesia is a gathering of some of Cairns finest Indigenous musical artists of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Polynesian and Melanesian descent.

Celebrating the unique diversity of multi-cultural Cairns, this multi-dimensional ensemble showcases harmony amidst diversity in both song and spirit, giving voice to original music of each artist with the universal theme of ‘Roots’.

A unique dimension of this group is blending these voices led by Kimiia, with intricate harmonies woven throughout the cleverly constructed instrumentation by Kepa.

Broad in genre yet individual in story and delivery, all songs are laced with language and traditional instrumentation unique to that artist, highlighting culture, bringing heritage to remembrance and educating our listeners about our respective origins and this place we call home.

Many of our artists have performed nationally and internationally and are known locally and abroad while some are just beginning their journey. We aim to foster a forum of professionalism, to pass on experience and nurture our rising generation.

The combined strengths of Kimiia and Kepa, together with the individual and collective talents of the ensemble, showcasing songs with themes of today and yesteryear, promises to deliver to the listener a platter of musical flavours found throughout AustraNesia.

Here below is a little about each performer and member of Sounds of Austranesia...

DANNY BANI
Born into a musical family, Danny has performed in school bands throughout childhood. He progressed to doing local gigs around Thursday Island and became a vocalist for the hip-hop crew 'One Blood Hidden Image'. He has also been involved with Music associated with Queensland Health's Radio Play 'Kasa Por Yarn' series one and two and recently been involved with recording tracks for the CD "Listen Up 2" which is an Arts Queensland production showcasing up and coming indigenous artists. This has led to a recording of my debut solo album "Your Love" which will be released later on in 2013.

TROY ‘JUNGAJI’ BRADY
With many years of performing and musical experience under his belt, Troy has a unique way of delivering his distinctive songs in a subtle yet powerful way.
Troy with his wife Trevelyn formed a band under the title, ‘Troy Trevelyn and the Tribe in 2004, in 2006 the band were invited to perform in Los Angeles at the Muse Expo world music conference. Also the same year they took out a Deadly Award for ‘Band of the Year, Single of the Year nominee and a Best Indigenous Artist nominee at the 2007 MusicOz Awards. After a 4-year musical hiatus, Troy has now reignited his musical flame to ensure his love of music and performance is maintained. With the opportunity to share his music through ‘Sounds of AustraNesia’, he will be showcasing his song ‘Grateful’, a short story about the highs and lows of life and how as a Murri man making connections with spiritual signs that bind us as Aboriginal people (Bama). With a debut solo album to be released later in the year, you will be sure to be left spellbound by this Murri man’s musical magic…

MAYELLA DEWIS
Mayella’s musical talent has been evident since childhood. She has developed her innate musical abilities and is a versatile multi-instrumentalist. She is a gifted song-writer and draws on life’s experiences to convey messages in song. An opportunity in such a project as this will only serve to further enhance her skills as an all-round musician.

NIKKI DOLL
Growing up on the Atherton Tablelands, Tropical Far North Queensland, Australia, Nikki Doll also has ancestral bloodlines of Guangdong/SuZhonese Chinese and Roman Italian inheritance.
With a wide and varied performance history, Nikki Doll has an eclectic repertoire having worked in Cabaret, Musical Theatre, Festival Events, Orchestral Ensembles, Band & Club Dates, Hotel Residencies, Commissioned Projects, Studio Recordings, Radio and Film. A Winner of the APRA 2000 Most Performed Jazz Work, Nikki Doll releases her newly recorded album with Sydney collaborator and Australian Songwriter of the Year, Chris Stafford. From The House of Blues and Jazz in Shanghai to Exclusive Locations and World Heritage Destinations, Nikki Doll is all Heart and Soul.

BEN HAKALITZ
Ben has a musical career spanning over 35 years. He has toured worldwide with international artists including, Yothu Yindi, Sanguma and Tribe Of Jubal. Ben was awarded the Australia Centenary Medal for services to the Australian Community through Music.
He worked on the soundtrack to Australian Director/Producer, Bill Bennett's film: In The Savage Land (won an AFI Award, 1998). He also performed at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games in Sydney and in the opening acts for Bon Jovi, Kylie Minogue (2003) and Carlos Santana's Australian Tour (2004). Ben has also worked with Edou, DrumDrum, Toni Nation, Tamabaran Culture, Seaman Dan, Not Drowning, Waving and Telek. Ben co-wrote the music for the PNG's National Theatre Company stage musical: Sana Sana, which was performed at the South Pacific Festival of Arts in the Cook Islands. Worked on film soundtracks for Mr Pip composed and arranged by Tim Finn.

LA-DONNA HOLLINGSWORTH
With 25 year’s experience in music beginning with growing up as a child performing at church with other family members to as an adult performing at places like the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australian Embassy New York City and the Belvoir Theatre Sydney, La-Donna brings with her a myriad of experience. As a singer songwriter, she has performed live as a solo artist and group performer for numerous festivals and other billings and written and recorded for film, television and theatre including working alongside David Page, as a co-writer for Bangarra Dance Company’s production of “Ninni”. She has worked with national Indigenous artists like David Hudson and Ashley Dargan and nationally renowned Aboriginal playwrights, Eva Johnson and Wesley Enoch.She has only recently re-entered the local music scene after being out of it for some years and is looking forward to working alongside local Cairns based musicians and performers in promoting and adding to the talent and breadth of experience already here.

WILL KEPA
Will Kepa is a Torres Strait Islander multi-instrumentalist, audio engineer and producer based in Cairns, Far North Queensland and has been on the professional music scene for the past decade. After learning to play the guitar in 1998, he enrolled in the Indigenous Music Program at the local TAFE College in 2000. Graduating a few years later with a Diploma in Music, Will has become one of the most sought after musicians in the area, as well as interstate. Will has performed with the likes of Johno’s Blues Band, Phil Emmanuel, One Drop Reggae, the Briscoe Sisters, Wilma Reading, David Hudson, Kamerunga, Tribe Of Jubal, and Seaman Dan on a regular basis. His skills have taken him to many of the major festivals around the country and abroad. Will’s professional career also involves audio engineering and he has worked at the Womadelaide Festival, Festival Melbourne during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Will also works for a local production company, which has him working as a Sound Engineer at regular festivals throughout the year. These have included the Laura Aboriginal Dance Festival, Wallaby Creek Festival, Yungaburra/Tablelands Folk Festival, Undara Country Rock and Blues, Opera in the Outback, ReggaeTown World Music Festival, Cairns Buskers Festival, and many more events in and around Cairns. Will has produced and co-produced many albums including: Zennith Boyz, Patrick Levi, Cygnet Repu, Seaman Dan and Arts Queensland’s ‘Listen Up’ emerging artists compilation CD, part 1 including Dave Dow, The Medics, Gudju Gudju, Moses Warusam, and also the newly released part 2 with Danny Bani, Cold Water band, Colina and Nick Wymarra, Phoenix Rising andIvana Gibson, which saw a recent ‘live to air’ broadcast on ABC Radio of the CD launch. Will has also been involved extensively with an audit of Torres Strait Islander music and dance, a recording and filming project spanning the past 6 years. CDs/DVDs have been produced for 9 communities in the Torres Strait region and 1 for the Northern Peninsula area. These unique projects have given Will the chance to increase his skills as an audio engineer and producer, by being guided and mentored by ARIA award winning producers and fellow colleagues Dr Karl Neuenfeldt and Nigel Pegrum from Pegasus Studios.

RUBINA KIMIIA
Harmony and arranging is something that comes naturally to Kimiia, this stemming from a lifetime of experience working side-by-side leading and directing church choirs with her mother. Rubina is diverse in musical offerings and experience. As a university student in Hawaii, she was recognised by peers and faculty for her high level of artistry and versatility, helping her to fully fund her education. She has a musical toolbox with the ability to play by ear as well as understand music theory in a very practical way not only as a scholar but also as a performer. She sang, accompanied, arranged and transcribed for the select Concert Choir and with another professor, formed, arranged for, rehearsed and student-directed a tight-harmony contemporary vocal ensemble, which became a touring group representing the university internationally. She was a singer/multi-instrumentalist at Hawaii’s biggest tourist attraction, The Polynesian Cultural Centre. Other roles include stage manager, event organiser, workshop facilitator, accompanying in a range of styles, for a range of productions, for a range of audiences. Rubina continues to make contributions here and around the world with her versatility in the industry.
In 2002, she was awarded the Queensland Recording Association Sunnie Award for Song of the Year. For six (6) years she was an educator in the Torres Strait and was recipient of three (3) Australia Day Awards for musical service to that community. Now, she focuses on being an educator, arranger, director, studio vocalist and musician. Rubina desires to use her myriad of experience and skill toward the production of excellent and uplifting music, to educate and elevate the soul, to contribute to the building and bettering of humanity and society. EDWARD LAMPTON The majority of music experience for Edward has been in Church. Since the age of 15 he played bass for and then moved on to the keyboard and guitar, where he stayed for about 8 years and was the music director for the church. In collaboration with Rochelle Pitt-Watson, they were the support act for George ‘Fiji’ Veikoso. This stemmed into other local gigs. He has performed at corporate functions as well as at Fogarty Park Carols in the Park, with his sister Nicole Lampton. Edward has also had choral experience in the “Dancing the Line” community choir and also performed at the 2012 Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair (CIAF) choir, both led by Rubina Kimiia. He has performed in the last 3 years for NAIDOC in Fogarty Park, supported UMI arts by singing at exhibitions and UMI got Talent. His performances also included singing for the Staff at the Head Office for the Duke of Edinburgh in London in 2012.

NICOLE LAMPTON
Nicole grew up singing gospel in choir & lead in family church. She ventured into musical studies at the age of 17 and achieved a Diploma in World Music at EORA Centre, Sydney. Eventually, she became involved in local music groups in Sydney and Cairns, which included Soulful, HipHop & Alternative styles of music. In 2002 she joined a local Cairns HipHop artist Carl Fourmile to support HipHop with soulful melodies. Nicole has written many original songs relating mostly to life experiences & struggles. She’s assisted other artists with songwriting & musical arrangement throughout the years and performed as a support act with Jordan Oliver for "Umi Arts Big Talk One Fire" festival and Xzibit HipHop Concert. She currently performs at events, dinners & weddings.

NIMO MOTUMANU
Nimo’s roots in music stem from family and church. His versatile range and ability to quickly pick up by ear has seen him participate in various church and community choirs. He loves to use his musical gifts particularly to entertain at family events and gatherings.

ROCHELLE PITT-WATSON
Singing professionally since the age of 23, with 6 years in Brisbane, Rochelle performed for the local indigenous and wider community while also working as a registered nurse. She released a 6 song EP during that time which included indigenous, contemporary music, with a soul, blues, jazz flavour. She continues to write songs that have meaning to her and her views on life, family, culture, community and of being a Murri woman.

NELSON PULEA
Having an eclectic taste in music, Nelson appreciates the artistry of musicianship and song-craft. He takes a serious approach to song-writing and likes to write in such a way that anyone can make meaning for themselves from the messages in his songs. He looks forward to being able to develop as a singer, songwriter and musician through this project.

MERINDI SCHRIEBER
Sharing the stage with her two sisters under the name ‘The Briscoe Sisters’, Merinid’s career in the late 90’s and early-mid ‘00’s saw her and her sisters performing at many festivals, events and private functions along the east coast of Australia including Moomba Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Brisbane River Festival and Story Place. Releasing the debut EP ‘Check It Out’ saw a Deadly nomination for top\ 4 ‘Indigenous New and Upcoming Talent’ in 2003, leading on to many other performance opportunities alongside artists such as The Bellas, Sara Storer, the late Aunty Rita Mills \and the Descendants, The Tiddas and many others.
Since taking a career shift in 2005, the passion for composing simple, meaningful, funky, rootsie and heartfelt songs has always been a part of Merindi’s make-up but has, in the past four years been resurfaced and reignited. Performing as ‘Merindi’ in 2009 saw opportunities arise to share culture, beliefs and stories through song and dance, alongside her husband and children, showcasing at local schools, NAIDOC openings and other community and private events/functions in the Perth region. Since returning on home-soil, Merindi’s most recent highlight has been performing alongside her sister, Deline Briscoe for the opening of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2012. Collaborating with people from her homeland, Kubirri Warra Clan, writing a one-off composition has, undoubtedly been a stand-out moment for Merindi, giving her a deeper appreciation of local surroundings and a continued drive to share and explore God-given talents, heritage, cultural knowledge to the world - wherever, whenever and with whoever. PETA TAUTU
Peta was born into a family of singers in the Cook Islands, always sang in church and also entered into talent quests through her younger years. Singing is a major part of her life and she is never afraid of singing anywhere. In this group, I hope to grow as an individual artist in the music scene.

STEVE TOFA
Steve has been blessed to have worked with so many different artists and musicians. From jamming with the little busker at the bus stop in Auckland city, to opening for Tim Finn and Split Enz nationally or co-writing musicals with Toa Fraser or adding guitar riffs for Dei Hamo's albums he claims, “We are only as good as the people we surround ourselves with”.

TREVELYN BRADY (Guest Artist) Arrived in Australia in 1987. Trevelyn is also known for her role in the electrifying Indigenous band, "Banawurun" who won a Deadly Award in 2006 for Band of the Year... Along with a string of captivating Festival performances from all over the country... Trevelyn's powerful and emotive voice and commanding onstage presence finds her connecting with any audience. Trevelyn is also about to release a brand new solo EP, which promises to bring her a whole new audience.