Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse Announce Release New Album KALYAKOORL

Winners, 2013 WA Music Industry (WAMi) Awards Indigenous Act of the Year, Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse are excited to be launching their much anticipated album on Friday April 4 at the Fly By Night Musicians Club in Fremantle. Titled Kalyakoorl (which means Forever), this album is a glorious journey into the incredibly rare and beautiful Noongar language. Kalyakoorl is brimming with evocative, beautifully crafted songs and showcases the jaw dropping combination of Guy's guitar mastery and Gina's incredible voice.

Recorded, mixed and mastered at Crank Studios with Lee Buddle (Kelly Clarkson, Justin Bieber, Katie Noonan, Joni in the Moon), Kalyakoorl is informed by four principles; Koort (Heart), Moort (Family), Boodja (Land) and Koorlangka (children and legacy). Kalyakoorl features the extraordinary talents of Russell Holmes (Piano), Roy Martinez (Bass), Arunachala Satgunasingam (Percussion) and introduces Gina's daughters Lauren and Bella McGill (backing vocals).

Gina and Guy are rapidly gaining attention as the rare act that is able to capture the hearts and imagination of an audience, to connect deeply through the power of song. You know when it happens, there's that magical moment when a hush falls over the room. You can feel it, and you know you know that it's special. It's even more special when it's in a completely different language. Yet that's exactly what this duo have been doing with audiences all over. You don't need to understand the words, we all know love, loss and joy, it means the same in anyone's language.

Gina is a proud Balladong daughter, one of the 14 clan groups which make up the Noongar nation. She also has links, through her grandmother to the Kitja people of the East Kimberley region of WA. Her grandmother was removed from Halls Creek and eventually brought down to Mogumber mission, never to return to her homeland. Gina's music draws from a deep well of recent WA and an even deeper personal history. By official records, Noongar language is critically endangered (less than 250 full speakers left). Her mother and grandmother, both part of the stolen generations were never allowed to speak their languages. Gina wasn't stolen, but was relinquished as a baby for adoption, and for her, writing and singing beautiful songs in Noongar language is a personal mission.

And there are few guitarists who connect to their music and perform without compromise like Guy Ghouse. With a musical pedigree which goes back all the way to the 1920's, it seemed only natural that, at the tender age of eight, Guy would follow his parents and grandparents footsteps and pick up the guitar. Guy is best known for his performances with the wickedly talented group Desert Child, and has featured at many major festivals across Australia, the UK, the US and beyond.

Gina and Guy bring a fresh, modern take on an ancient tradition; merging evocative sounds, natural acoustic instruments and that incredible, beautiful voice. The natural rhythms of the language are perfectly captured and represented in these new songs. And there's an onstage connection and charisma that comes from two friends who share a similar soundtrack and a deep friendship.

Performing with the all-important blessings of her elders and her community, this launch promises to be something extraordinary as Gina and Guy will take you on a journey you will not find anywhere else in the world. And it will be one you are not likely to forget.

"...this music...this is where the ancient meets the contemporary...it's beautiful...I love it." - Archie Roach. Singer-songwriter, National Treasure

Photo Credit: Gareth Andersen

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