The award-winning group Djiva is a West Australian act fronted by two female vocalists who perform cruisey infusions of gutsy soul, folk and roots. Djiva exhibit an earthy sensuality, an independence of spirit and a fresh contemporary feel, and the voices of the two women blend with the ease of old friends, creating a vocal palette rich in colour and texture. Djiva (Jeeva) is Jessie Lloyd, a Murri from North Queensland and Della Rae Morrison, a Noongar of the South West of Western Australia. Singing in English and traditional languages, the pair has been performing with their 3 piece band since 2004, releasing their debut EP the same year. Despite its low key release, the EP received Australia-wide airplay and the band was subsequently featured on ABC TV's Message Stick. In 2007 Djiva released its debut album “Yowarliny” to wide acclaim. Picking up the 2007 NAIDOC Perth Award for Artist of the Year, Djiva also won the 2007 WA Music Industry Song of the Year - World & Folk catagory and was nominated at both the 2008 and 2009 WAMi Awards as WA's Best Indigenous Act.
“...the year's most spectacular celebration of Indigenous music…” Xpress Magazine
Invitations from some of Australia's most prestigious festivals followed, and the band has since performed at the Perth International Arts Festival, The Dreaming Festival, Barunga Festival, WA Music Industry Awards Night 2009, Songlines, Adelaide Fringe, Fairbridge, Nannup and Naidoc Corroboration, and played supports for internationally acclaimed acts Archie Roach, Yothu Yindi, Renee Geyer and Paul Kelly. In March 2008 Djiva performed alongside Shane Howard, John Butler and Australia's best Indigenous artists as part of the 32 piece Helpmann Award-winning ‘Murundak - The Black Arm Band' concert ensemble in Perth. Produced by Jessie Lloyd and recorded at Satellite Studios Perth, the album “Yowarliny” features the talents of some of Western Australia's finest musicians, including multi-instrumentalist Roy Martinez on bass and fretless bass, guitar and keys, Jade Masters on drums and percussion, Iain Grandage on cello and David Hyams on slide guitar. Distinguished throughout by Lloyd's solid acoustic guitar and dynamic arrangements and the lush layered harmonies of the two women, the songs stir together a mix of flavours from indigenous, country, folk, pop, rock and soul to create a style which is all their own. “Yowarliny is a Noongar word which means ‘to sing or call out' - and that's really relevant to us”, the girls explain. “Our songs are inspired by our lives and our culture - this album is about sharing that culture and those stories with a wider audience and about empowering others to do the same. We hope to give a strong voice to indigenous women and break down some of the common stereotypes of aboriginal people in general. ”
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