RIPPLE EFFECT BAND ARE AN ALL WOMAN'S BAND COMING FROM MANINGRIDA IN ARNHEM LAND, NORTHERN TERRITORY.
Whilst following in the tradition of saltwater rock from the top end, they are forging new ground and a new sound as the first women from their community to play instruments and make their own band. They sing in the languages of their people, Ndjébbana, Burarra, Na-kara and Kune and they have a story to tell about their land, their languages and their culture.
TESTIMONY
“YOU DON’T NEED TO UNDERSTAND EITHER THE ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE KUNE OR ENGLISH TO FEEL THE EMOTION OF THE SONG.”
— ROLLING STONE
Ripple Effect Band have garnered widespread acclaim for their work forging new ground and sound. After kick-starting their career together with tours to Arnhem Land Bak’bididi and Gattjirrk Festivals in 2017, they soon travelled to Eora/Sydney to record their debut EP, Wárrwarra, alongside producers Paul Mac, Clint Bracknell and long-term collaborator, Jodie Kell. Independently released in 2018, the 4-track project included the first song to be recorded in the highly endangered Na-Kara language “Hunting Song”, alongside the moving “Diyama (Mermaid Song)”. Since, the band has embarked on national tours to festivals such as Barunga, Garma, Nannup, Mona Foma, Darwin Festival, East Arnhem Live — supporting Regurgitator and WOMADelaide, while selling out their own headline shows in Eora/Sydney, Garamilla/Darwin and Naarm/Melbourne.
Come 2023, the band released their first singles since their 2018 debut EP, titled “Walaya” and “Loving and Caring”. They have graced the cover of Spotify’s Local Noise playlist, been featured with ABC, Rolling Stone Australia, AMRAP, Music Feeds and triple j Unearthed and seen multiple community radio additions for their songs. During a busy year, the band also spent time at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music mentoring the Kintore Kungka Band, an emerging all-women’s rock band from west of Alice Springs. They were finalists for the 2023 Australian Women in Music Awards’ Diversity in Music Award, and most recently, drummer Jolene Lawrence has also been honoured as a finalist for the APRA Professional Development Awards.
Ripple Effect Band’s growing praise continues to be felt across various collaborations, including the Na-kara children's song “Nabárrdja - the Little Crab” as part of the ARIA-nominated New Indigenous Lullabies album, The Moon, the Mouse and the Frog: Lullabies from Northern Australia, as well as music syncs across SBS program A Taste of the Territory, Stan drama BUMP and the ICTV award winning documentary Yókkarra. Making waves not just as a collective, the band’s members have also made an impact across various fellow projects. In 2021, Rachel Thomas, Rona Lawrence and Jodie Kell collaborated with Kuníbidji elders and composer Alex Turley to create the orchestral piece “Barra-róddjiba” performed with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra as part of Darwin Festival. Further, in 2022 Tara Rostron and Jodie Kell toured Victoria and NSW as the folk duo Yabok, while drummers Jolene Lawrence and Harriet Fraser-Barbour featured in Hey Drums Series, 'Interviews with Australian Drummers'. Patricia Gibson and Jodie Kell's song “Ngúddja” was also remixed with producer Papertoy — a song that opened the 2022 Country to Couture Indigenous Fashion Show with Gapuwiyak Arts Centre.
Dive into the latest taste of Ripple Effect Band’s upcoming album now and immerse yourself in the power and beauty of their storytelling.
BAND MEMBERS
-
Languages: Kune, Dalabon
Outstation: Korlobidahdah
Country: Djenj’medj
Moiety: Yirridja
Skin Name: Bangardidjan
Tara Rostron brings a tradition of music from the Rocky Country to the band. She moves between the drum kit, the bass and the guitar. She sings in her own language of Kune from the freshwater country.
Music is strong in Tara’s family, both traditional and contemporary. Her mother and her grandmother taught her how to dance for Mimih ceremony. Her father, Victor Rostron, is a well known singer and musician. Her brothers and cousins play in the heavy rock outfit Wildfire Manwurrk. After learning about singing from her family, Tara went to Maningrida High School where she learnt to play drums, bass guitar and guitar.
Tara has been co-producing the new album with Jodie Kell, supported by Michael Hohnen from Skinnyfish Music. She is developing a solo act called Yabok and runs music workshops for young women in Yuendumu community as part of Music NT's Sista Sounds. Tara strongly believes music is a way to send positive messages and to bring about change.
-
Language: Ndjébbana
Outstation: Malabunuwa
Moeity: Yirridjdja
Skin Name: Nja-wamud
Clan: Na-djórdjarra
Rachel Thomas is a singer and song writer in the band. Her beautiful voice gives a depth to the vocals and her songs tell stories of Maningrida history.
Rachel developed her music through gospel singing in Maningrida and surrounding communities. She and her husband would write songs together and she still sings those songs today. Inspired by the all women’s line up of the band, Rachel has been writing new material with other women song writers.
Rachel has a deep knowledge and understanding of culture. She has learnt from her mother, aunties and grandmother about music, country and language. Travelling on country in Arnhem Land with Rachel, she will share stories and cultural knowledge, as she is passionate about teaching and passing on this knowledge for future generations.
Rachel opened the 2022 Cantabile Music Festival at the Sydney Opera House with an Acknowledgement of Country. Her song, 'Cyclone' was performed by the 400 primary school children choir. In 2021 she was co-composer for Barra-róddjiba, performed with the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
-
Languages: Na‐kara, Burarra, Ndjébbana
Outstation: Nakalamandjarda
Moeity: Dhuwa
Skin Name: Wamutchan
Clan: Yurrbuka
Rona learnt music at Maningrida High School. She was a member of the Front Street Girls, who had a very successful tour to Garma Festival in 2007, accepting a Northern Territory Music Award on stage at the Darwin Ampitheatre in 2006. The band was part of a new wave of female musicians coming out of Maningrida at this time.
Rona's father was a renowned musician, the bass player of the Letterstick Band. He spoke Na-‐ kara, a very endangered language group from the coast east of Maningrida. Her mother’s side is Burarra, from the An-‐barra/Martay clan from the Jimardi outstation.
Rona believes music is important for her future and also to follow in the footsteps of her father. When she was a young girl, she would cry for her father until the band would agree to take her on tour with them, travelling to Tennant Creek when she was three years old and also to Milingimbi in 1995. Today Rona carries the memory of her father when she plays the bass guitar in the band.
Rona is mother to three boys Harris, Nemiah and Rayshaun. She first toured with Rayshaun when he was 4 months old to Barunga Festival. She is proud to be a young mother who is following her dreams and when she is on stage her voice can be heard strong and clear.
-
Language: Na-Kara, Burarra, Ndjébbana
Outstation: Na-meyarra
Moeity: Djowanga
Skin Name: Wamutchan
Clan: Binkuruma
Jolene has been a key figure in the development of women’s music in Maningrida. Her dream to make a band with other women and aim to take the band out of Maningrida and interstate has been a driving force for Ripple Effect Band. This backed by her strong guitar playing and steady drumming makes her a musical force.
Jolene learnt music at Maningrida High School and she was a leading member of the Front Street Girls who had a successful tour to Garma Festival in 2007, winning a Northern Territory Music Award for best high school band. This was part of the new wave of female musicians coming out of Maningrida which has resulted in the formation of Ripple Effect Band.
Jolene composes songs in her language of Na-kara and is influenced by the An-barra musicians of the Letterstick Band who are close family. in 2021, her son Yonaz was born and Jolene continues to tour with him, determined to keep doing what she loves. Her strong drumming steers the band but when she picks up the microphone she shares her emotional connection to Country and Kin.
-
Born in Sydney NSW
Skin Name: Nja-bulanj
Moiety: Dhuwa
Languages: English
Learning Kune and Ndjébbana
Jodie Kell is a multi-instrumentalist and manager of the band. She plays lead guitar highly influenced by Aboriginal bands such as Letterstick Band, Nabarlek Band, Warumpi Band and Yothu Yindi.
Jodie is Balanda, the local word used to describe white people. She first moved to Maningrida with her family in 2001. Living in Maningrida community, she has been adopted into the community being given a skin name. Learning Ndjébbana Kune and Burarra languages, has contributed to a deeper understanding of the depth of
Jodie is currently studying a PhD in Music at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she works as an audio engineer at PARADISEC, a digital archive for endangered languages and music. She co-producers the podcast Toksave: Culture Talks with Tolai man Steven Gagau.
Jodie learnt music from her mother and she is passionate about supporting women to produce, perform and participate music. She works with Music NT's Sista Sounds, as well as setting up Monotoca Music with producers Ta'sia and Clarence Playford. Jodie is a vibrant force in the band who finds that playing music is a form of communication that brings people together to celebrate of culture and diversity.
-
Languages: Ndjébbana, Kuninjku, Kun-barlang, Na-kara
Outstation: Waláya
Clan: Dhukurrdji
Moeity: Yirridjdja
Skin Name: Nja-wakadj
Patricia is an exciting and confident front woman who plays keyboard and sings in the band. Music is an important part of her life that she likes sharing with all people, her family and community.
Patricia grew up on the tiny outstation of Modkorldjban, in the rocky country. When she was 10 years old she moved to Maningrida and that is when she started learning music with her Ndjebbana brothers, sisters and two brothers-‐in-‐law. They played Gospel music and they taught her how to play the keyboard and how to sing. Her family sing in language Ndjebbana and English.
On her father’s side, Patricia is connected to the renowned Kuninjku singers and artists Crusoe Kurddal, Owen Yalandja and Samuel Bonson, from the rocky country. Her mother’s side is from the saltwater people, her mother spoke Na-kara from the east of Maningrida, and her grandmother spoke Kun-barlang from the west of Maningrida.
Patricia is an established gospel singer and composer. With her brother, she records songs that reflect the troubles she has seen and the strength needed to overcome. Music is a way of expressing and healing. It is also fun and exciting and this is shown in Patricia's energy on stage and off.
-
Harriet Fraser-Barbour is an Adelaide/Tarndanya based multi-instrumentalist and musician who plays in projects Workhorse, Fair Maiden, Ripple Effect Band and Jess Johns Band.
As a driving force in Adelaide’s independent music scene, she organises and facilitates regular live music events including booking agency and an annual festival ‘Half Strange Festival.’
Harriet has been touring and performing with Ripple Effect Band since they met at Adelaide’s Tarnanthi Festival in 2018.
-
Languages: An-barra Burarra
Outstation: Gupanga
Clan: Ana-wulja
Moeity: Yirricha
Skin Name: Bulanyjan
Stephanie is a confident performer who comes from a line of prominent Maningrida musicians. Her grandfather Mulumbuk (Harry Diama) was included on the 1966 vinyl album, Songs of Arnhem Land, singing the traditional kun-borrk Diyama. Her father Anjawartunga David Maxwell continued singing his father’s songline, but also was singer and guitarist with the rock band Letterstick Band. Now Stephanie is one of the first women to play music and she also sings Diyama in a new form.
Stephanie plays drums, distinctively left-handed and is an exciting vocalist who loves to hype the crowd. She learnt music at Maningrida High School, and she was a leading member of the Front Street Girls who had a successful tour to Garma Festival in 2007, winning a Northern Territory Music Award for best high school band.
Stephanie composes songs in her languages of An-barra Burarra and Djinang. She is mother to Lakita and Jay. Her daughter Lakita has also performed with Ripple Effect Band as a singer and is a young upcoming musician as well. Stephanie is a storyteller who easily switches between languages to express her culture and her pride in the music of Maningrida.
-
Annastasia Lucas/Ta’sia, is a female producer and multi-instrumentalist. Hailing from Wagga Wagga on Wiradjuri country, she now creates and performs across Australia. With four albums to her name, her music has received national and international acclaim, featured on PBS, AIR, Beat Magazine, and Tone Deaf. Annastasia performs with her own band and has collaborated with groups like Ile Ilu, Issa Mane, and Ripple Effect Band. She has participated in the Australian Women in Music Mentorship and mentored for the Massive Band Project in Newcastle. Anna has been touring and performing as well as supporting the management of Ripple Effect Band since 2020.