Mainstream music biz off key for Indigenous acts
Kristyn Comino
17 April 2014: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aren’t necessarily choosing the Australian mainstream music industry to promote themselves, according to a research documentary by Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduate Marissa McDowell.
Instead, Ms McDowell said they are relying on festivals, live gigs and using platforms such as Triple J Unearthed, the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association and online resources to share their music.
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Honours alumna Marissa McDowell at graduations. Photo: Michelle McAulay |
Ms McDowell said her research documentary is “the first in-depth look at Indigenous representation in the current Australian music industry through a visual medium”, and saw her interview artists like Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan and producers from Triple J Unearthed, the ABC and the Australasian Performing Rights Association.
“Overall, they reported the industry is doing quite well to promote Indigenous artists and ensure they’re well represented,” Ms McDowell said.
However, she said the artists reported “they don’t like to be pigeon-holed and just want to be seen as artists who also happen to be Indigenous, but are talented singers and songwriters in their own right.”
A Wiradjuri woman from Cowra, Ms McDowell also visited remote communities in the Northern Territory, where she said they reported accessibility was an issue, as artists had further to travel to perform and meet with industry representatives.
Ms McDowell is now finalising her documentary and hopes to have it screened. She said further research is needed into the industry and that she would consider PhD level study in the future.
“There’s a lot more research that could be done, particularly into what the artists need. I think they would benefit from a website as a platform to keep them informed on how to get into the music industry.”
Having completed an undergraduate degree in media arts and production at the University, Ms McDowell was commissioned last year to film four documentaries for the SBS network National Indigenous Television.
She was also awarded a photography fellowship by the organisation PhotoAccess at the Manuka Arts Centre, where she held an exhibition of her work, opened by Chris Bourke MLA. The exhibition showed photographs she had taken in India while on a University sponsored study tour in 2012.
The mother of three daughters said she was excited to graduate with honours from the University and shared the day with her partner and her eldest child Kaitlin, who is in Year 9, saying “hopefully seeing her mother graduate has inspired her to take on further study.”
“It’s been a great experience for me. I struggled with reading and writing growing up so I went to university to prove a point to myself that I could do it and I’m very happy and proud to say that I have done it.”
Read more University of Canberra graduation stories:
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Typhoon didn't stop graduate's degree dream
Alumna Alison's amazing Sydney adventure
Passion for nursing leads to PhD
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Honorary degree for first ACT Chief Minister
UC sports grad now coaching in Japan
Graduate explores Indigenous identity
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