RISE IN BIG SPIRIT COUNTRY: NAOMI PIGRAM HONOURS ABORIGINAL MUSIC AND HERITAGE
Naomi Pigram's project Rise in Big Spirit Country was born from a deep connection to her roots and the powerful legacy of Aboriginal music. She brought her connections to the stage when she was invited to collaborate with Black Swan Theatre, working as an associate artist.
The evidence of the significant value of one of her father's tracks, “where I belong”, held by a tattoo she had gotten, Naomi was inspired to follow through with the Rise in Big Spirit Country production. She reflects, “Rise in Big Spirit Country is actually the first line of one of my dad's songs called Where I belong, and it's one of my favourites”.
The performance is a celebration of music from the past, bringing lost treasures back to life. Music from the 80s and 90s had a lasting effect on Naomi throughout her childhood and adulthood.
Those very memories became the motivation of this project, emphasising the emotional connection locals feel when listening to these songs, saying “when they hear it, they get home straight away”, blending music with theatrical elements and telling stories of the communities and its musical heritage, these powerful connections is integral to the production.
In terms of the production, Naomi has incorporated various elements to honor the rich history of her culture. Inspired by her father’s work on “A Taste of Broome,” she’ll use AV projectors to display historical footage, merging the old with the new.
Moreover, the theatrical element, inspired by Uncle Bamba, a key figure in her life, adds depth to the performance. Naomi speaks fondly of influences such as Uncle Bamba, stating,” Uncle Bamba was so beautiful at that, and he also did that in a taste of Broome. We’re honoring him in the way we use a mime that was created by him in the show”.
Naomi has expressed her desire to bring this production to regional Western Australia, a place close to her heart. The project’s goal is to reach communities like those in Karratha, where the music holds special meaning for the people there.
She said, “I would love to go there and do it there. My heart lies out there in the country areas, so absolutely something that I would be interested in doing.”Alongside production, Naomi strives to share and educate forthcoming generations by expressing her growth with intertwined passion by sharing her cultural legacy.
Listen to Ngaarda Media’s Tangiora Hinaki speak with Naomi Pigram: