Perth Festival, 2018
Siren Song was reimagined as the opening celebration of Perth International Arts Festival, in February 2018.
Emanating from the central business district and stretching the length St George’s Terrace, the work was reflected and refracted by the glass towers of the city's skyscrapers.
An important development for this second iteration was the incorporation of several local voices. In particular, we were honoured to work with Noongar artists Karla Hart and Kristel Kickett. A traditional melody, "Woola" — a Noongar word translated as "a cry of praise", becoming a central and moving motif of the composition.
The work was connected to and followed Gnarnk-Ba Karla Waarnginy (Speaking Fires of our Mother) a cleansing and clearing ceremony on the opening night of the festival.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the Noongar people who remain the spiritual and cultural birdiyangara of this kwobidak boodjar.
“The long sweet of St George's Terrace... was transformed... from a canyon of commerce into an outdoor concert hall.”
Matthew Westwood, The Australian“We were strangers gathering at dusk to experience something together. It was a 'you had to be there' moment.”
Perth Festival – COLLABORATING VOCALISTS
KARLA HART
Awarded Perth NAIDOC Artist of the Year in 2017, Karla Hart is a filmmaker, writer, broadcaster, director, producer, Noongar dancer, teacher and singer, and actor. In 2004 she founded the Kwarbah Djookian Dance Group and has performed extensively both in Australia and abroad. Karla is proud and passionate about her Noongar heritage – in particular language and stories, the arts and about spending time with youth.
KRISTEL KICKETT
Nyoongar Ballardong Whadjuk woman Kristel Kickett is one half of the contemporary Hip Hip/Electropop duo The Merindas. Formed in Perth in 2012 The Merindas have relocated to Melbourne where they regulars on the club and festival scenes. They also take time off music to deliver workshops in remote and rural communities across Australia to work with young Indigenous women – building confidence and creative leadership skills through fashion, dance and modelling.
TARA TIBA
Tara Tiba was born in Tehran, Iran where female singers were prohibited from performing in public after the 1979 Iranian Revolution. From a young age she studied classical piano and traditional Persian singing under the ‘Radif' system with prominent Iranian vocalist Maestro Hengameh Akhavan. Since emigrating to Perth, Australia in 2012, Tara has released two albums and performed on a diverse array of stages from the Met Gala to WOMADelaide to the Auditorio Nacional de Música (National Auditorium of Music) in Madrid, Spain.
“Thrilling, reveraltory and eerie”
Matthew Westwood, The Australian“The ethereal sound art reimagining Perth's brutal CBD. This time in the city’s architectural canyons, it’s like a JG Ballard novel, only more elegiac”