The ethereal electronic project of Alice Springs based producer Dave Crowe, Resin Moon, evokes an overwhelming feeling of space. The landscapes of the desert, the emptiness of the world and the emotions associated twist together in a tapestry of analogue synthesis, otherworldly vocals and electronic beats.
He sits at the heart of the local scene, having produced music within the Northern Territory for several years. With the NT-based Wide Open Space approaching on the horizon, we caught up with Crowe, asking him for the down-low on all the talent our territory up top is harbouring.
Feel the heat of the desert reverberating from the heart of the nation with Resin Moon’s 5 picks for the best Northern Territory acts around.
Cassii Williams
Based in Hermannsburg community west of Alice Springs, Cassii Williams was one of the original women taking part in the Desert Divas development program. She has a truly world class voice, full of emotion and sincerity.
Check out How Can I where she teamed up with award winning producer Anna Laverty:
Apakatjah
Apakatjah is one of my favourite live acts in the Territory. Mark Knopfler guitar vibes meet ska, bush punk and reggae, with songs in both traditional Luritja language and English.
Their name is a kriol word meaning ‘mixed race’, and their music confronts the ‘in between’ cultural identity many indigenous Australians live with in the NT.
Edward Francis
After hearing his song on national radio, I stalked Edward Francis straight away. It turned out he lived around the corner from me, and I’d never met him! I sent him an awkward email saying how much I was obsessing over his song Braver.
He layers sax on sax on sax and what results is truly wonderful sonic experimentation with beautiful, open, vulnerable lyrics. We now hang out and run a choir together, and it’s not awkward. I think he’s forgotten about that email…
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Colin Lillie
With a fierce honesty and a world class voice (he won AU Review live artist of the year recently) Colin Lillie is a truly moving folk performer. The Scottish born, Alice Springs artist grabbed a well deserved 4.5 /5 star review in The Australian for his album Glass Homes and is currently on tour.
Broadwing
Maple is one of those songs that comes along about as often as the Todd River flows in central Australia – it’s very, very special. Broadwing took out the 2015 NT Song of the Year amd remains a leading producer in the Top End scene (he produced Gawurra’s award winning 2016 album Ratja Yaliyali, named in Rolling Stone’s top 50 albums of the year).
Catch Resin Moon, Edward Francis and more at Wide Open Space Festival 2017, from 28 – 30 April. Grab your tickets on their website.
