It seems like Emma Donovan has been a force forever, so it’s surprising to see that she’s only just released her first solo single. It’s worth the wait though, with her latest track “Blak Nation” making a really strong statement. This soulful single, in every sense of the word, celebrates the contributions of emerging First Nations voices in the music biz and the strides that have already been made to bring all Australians together, even as there’s so much yet to do.
“Lyrically Blak Nation is about a cultural practice called back burning, we make a cool fire to promote regrowth. The ‘cool fire’ is reference to the new generation,” she explained. “Bringing the Blak Nation to front of this nation, new artists continuing to tell their powerful stories. That ‘cool fire’ is new generation of Blak voice in Music industry today. I’m proud of the progress we have made as a nation. Seeing Aboriginal names of Country & People shared. To see all kinds of people acknowledging traditional places where they live and work. This didn’t happen for my old people and even me growing up, it’s good to see it more now.”
Emma will play Brunswick Ballroom in Naarm/Melbourne on December 3 as part of the Always Live Ballroom Mixtape Series. Tickets are on sale now from Moshtix.
Photo credit: Ian Laidlaw