|
In 1991 Tiddas emerged as Australia's first successful, and most significant all-female vocal and songwriting group. Best known for their aboriginal backgrounds and connections, and political leanings, a live performance from Tiddas revealed that they were that, but more than that. Aboriginals Lou Bennett and Amy Saunders first combined their voices in 1990 as backing singers for Djaambi, a band lead by Amy's brother Richard Frankland. As a result they found themselves invited to perform at a musical celebration for women's artistic achievement ('Hot Jam Cooking') at a venue in Richmond, Victoria. That performance inspired Ruby Hunter to come up with the name "Tiddas", Koori English for the word "sisters". After performing together for over a year the band came to the attention of Paul Petran, host of ABC National Radio show Music Deli, who was influential in assisting Tiddas to record their debut EP 'Inside My Kitchen'. By then Tiddas had evolved their trademark performance persona - the close three-part harmony vocals, the heartfelt songs drawing from Aboriginal heritage and their experiences as women and as ordinary people, and the warm humorous banter between Tiddas on stage between songs. Tiddas quickly became live favourites, touring with the likes of Midnight Oil, leading to their first album 'Sing About Life' achieving gold record sales and winning the 1993 ARIA award for Best Indigenous Record. More touring followed, at home and on world stages in Malaysia, Canada, Europe and America. The group felt so strongly about the direction and voice they had found in the interim they bluntly called the second album 'Tiddas'. Joe Camilleri produced. The album was mature and brave, full of musical and lyrical statements. They were singing in an Australian voice, about a wide range of issues and emotions. It should have been the start of a lot more, but somehow Tiddas had been typecast, as an "aboriginal" band in some eyes, as political and a "women's" group in other eyes - not often as the complete package, three talented singers of whatever heritage and background pouring their hearts and souls into their songs. The "industry" cruelly dismissed them as a "novelty" and moved on. The third album, 'Lethal By The Kilo', recorded live in front of an invited audience, received almost no promotion from the record company. Tiddas almost broke up then, but their love for each other and their music encouraged them to carry on. In May 2000 after a pointedly named fourth album 'Show Us Ya Tiddas', Tiddas did break up, making sure to spend months on a national tour to say farewell to all their fans. Individually their talent shines on, Lou Bennett as one of Australia's most potent female songwriters, Sally Dastey as both an interpreter of songs and as a songwriter. Both have released solo albums. Although Tiddas are officially no more every now and again they have found occasion to combine their voices again.
Related
artists
|
| About | Licensing | Advertising | Statistics | Contact |