DONNA Williams : spoken word, vocals, percussion PAUL Spears : drums/sound tech JEAN PAUL D'Aubbonnett or ANTHONY Julian : keyboards/backing vocals DERRICK Nuttall : bass guitar ANDREW Sherman :lead guitar
SPECIAL THANKS
PAUL Spears : who is also recording engineer and producer who operates a music studio, PV Sounds, in Ferntree Gully where we rehearse and record (yes, you can affordably hire his fab studio and audio and recording services).
In association with Donna, Paul is also launching his own interactive music and drama program called SOUNDSCAPES which they can take into schools and also offer for parties and Professional Development.
Thanks also to CHRIS Samuel : our show photographer
Find out what we're up to. Check our status reports.
Influences
THE NAME
The term"Aspinauts" is a derivation of "Aspie" and "Autie". The name came about when the founding members, Donna Williams (who has autism) and Earl Wollff (who has Asperger's) formed the band in 2008. Future Aspinauts included those on and off the autism spectrum but have always included those who are diversity friendly. We're happy with challenging stereotypes, breaking down social barriers, promoting equality and tackling the tough subjects with theatre, surrealism and satire. We can do all this and still so love to have fun that our audiences really join with us.
LYRICS
The lyrics of the songs and the avant garde poetry and spoken word monologues that form our shows are influenced by both the theatrical and macabre, by a love of surrealism and by the existential angst of irrational 'rationality' around us - environmental destruction, global warming, oil wars, senseless conflicts, inequality, discrimination, mental health, isolation, alienation, homelessness, exploitation, the contortions of the concepts of love and caring. Other influences include sociology, Taoism and a deep celebration of utter silliness and dagdom.
THE MUSIC
The music is influenced by vast backgrounds of the members of the band who bring influences which range from Ska to funk to jazzy blues, to pop rock and from avant garde, to comical, to theatrical, to educated cabaret to gothic and classics.
THE SHOWS
FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY is a challenging, moving rock musical written and produced by Donna Williams the author of Nobody Nowhere; Autobiography of an Autistic Girl. The show traces her transformation from a seemingly deaf, psychotic, 'feral' child to citizen of the world. It is performed in Shakespearean meter and interspersed with songs performed by Donna and The Aspinauts
BALOOMBA-WOP is a comedic rock musical for kids and kids at heart, written and produced by Donna Williams draws upon characters her father created: Brookenstein Fox, Charlie Warmton, The Booger-Looger, and add to these her own, the Gadoodleborger, Bluster McFluster, the Gimmety-Gimme, the Whirly-twirl Girl and Dame Grumpty-doo-bee. Comparable to works like Alice in Wonderland, Willie Wonker and The Chocolate Factory and works by Dr Seuss, it is told in Dr Seuss silliness and should appeal to fans of Dr Seuss, Lewis Carroll and Roald Dahl.
INFLUENCES
THE ASPINAUTS
bring together a vast range of musical tastes and styles, from jazz, blues, funk and rock to pop, folk, theatrical and satire. Several of The Aspinauts are also composers, have decades of musical experience and have played with other bands and produced recordings.
grew up being a real life version of LV (Little Voice). At age 2, she was left a pop up portable 60s record player and a bunch of 45s and by age 4 had a repertoire of singing voices ranging from Jerry Lee Lewis to singing classical symphonies by Tchaikovsky. At 9, she was left another record player and a pile of 78s. Singing in voices from Louis Armstrong to Bing Crosby, Mitzy Gaynor to Ella Fitzgerald, Donna even sang as Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse and in the voices of a multitude of 70s TV advertisements and in her teens swung from an Abba phase into a penchant for Alice Cooper and his gothic theatrics and off into Melanie Safka thanks to Dee (hi Dee). By her 20s she began to dare singing her own voice which has been compared with people like Missy Higgins, Jewel, Corinne Bailey Rae, Karen Carpenter (but not when she's doing punk!).
As a screenwriter several of her screenplays are represented by Bicoastal Talent, Burbank, CA. The film rights to her first book, Nobody Nowhere were acquired by Hollywood producer Beverly Nero. The film is now in pre-production with award winning Australian director, Garth Davis to direct. More information on the film can be found here.
As a writer/producer, Donna has produced a number of one-woman rock-musicals which are musically supported by The Aspinauts including the show, FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY.
As a singer-songwriter Donna recorded two solo albums. The first was produced by UK music producer, Paul Farrer, and titled Nobody Nowhere after the title song. The second album was produced by Australian producer, Akash, and titled Mutations. Both are available on http://www.cdbaby.com/donnaw, two tracks from which feature in an international TV series, Things You Taught Me. Two tracks from her first album made the top 50 of Artist Underground and a track from her second album, Beautiful Behavioral Mutations had 20,000 hits on You Tube in a year. Paul Spears of PV Studios, in Ferntree Gully, is music producer for upcoming recordings of The Aspinauts
An international public speaker, she has spoken before 1000s of people with her audiences captivated by her expressive gestural signing (home sign) which she also uses in her performances with The Aspinauts.
She also works in the autism field as a public speaker and consultant. Her home site is at www.donnawilliams.net .
Sounds Like
WHAT DO WE SOUND LIKE?
Expect 'alternative' and diversity-friendly. Expect an unpredictable, gobsmacking, thoroughly entertaining 'inter-arts experience'.
Imagine vocals of reminiscent of Jewel, Nancy Griffith and Corrine Bailey Rae. Imagine lyrics and poetry evocative of Lilly Allen, Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, T.S Elliot, Lewis Carroll and Dr Seuss. Imagine delivery shifting gears between Laurie Anderson, Liza Minnelli, Edith Piaf and Eartha Kitt. Now wrap that in atmospherics which conjure up flavours of of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in a socio-enviro blend of powerful pop, rock, blues and ska intertwined with powerful off the wall Avant Garde poetry.
Complete with gestural signing, alive with surrealism, satire and compelling characterisations, Donna & The Aspinauts are more than 'just a band'. We are diversity-friendly performance art musically confronting today's important issues and, hence suited equally to music and theatre venues and festivals.
Described by Steve Iorio of The Vagrants as "Talking Heads meets Rocky Horror" Donna and The Aspinauts formed in 2008 and had soon played extensively throughout Melbourne.
Imagine delivery shifting gears between the likes of Laurie Anderson, Liza Minnelli and Edith Piaf. Imagine lyrics and spoken word pieces evocative of writers as vast as Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, T.S Elliot, Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll and Dr Seuss. Now wrap that in theatrical atmospherics which conjure up flavours of of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band in a diversity-friendly package of powerful pop rock intertwined with powerful Avant Garde poetry, gestural signing and characterisations.
SHOWS TO DATE
To date our 2009 bookings have included Ruby's Lounge, Noise Bar, The Butterfly Club, The Rock n Rebuild Bushfire Relief Concert, 303 Bar, The Glasshouse, The Dog Theatre, The Kalorama Chestnut Festival, Spenser's Live, Federation Square, La Mama's "The Carlton Courthouse", Wodonga Civic Centre, The Guild Theatre, Woodbin Theatre, Doncaster Playhouse.
BOOKING A SHOW
We're proud to be diversity-friendly, improvisational, adaptable, and interactive. With over 50 originals and 100s of spoken word pieces we can shape our show in both theme and music style to fit the venue, function or audience.
We've been welcomed by alternative scenes, embraced as theatrical, avant garde, inter-arts and have amused boutique audiences with socio-enviro and diversity-friendly satire and surrealism.
Donna and The Aspinauts can also develop revues with themes to fit your event or venue. If you'd like to bring the band to your party, BBQ or get together we can do this for groups of 20 upwards.
If you're miles away from Melbourne you can still see us perform without flying us there! We can arrange a video performance designed specifically for your event, or may even be able to look into doing a performance in 'real time' for your audience or guests using teleconferencing facilities available here in Melbourne.
OUR PR
Our home site has had almost 40,000 profile views in a year. Our Facebook and MySpace mailing lists include over 4000 people. Among the 50 websites we list event in are my Donna's page at and it's sister blog site, which get around 10,000 new visitors each month. We also get out and do the footwork. In other words, Donna And The Aspinauts can guarantee listing and publication of any events we're booked for.
To date The Aspinauts and our shows have featured in The Age, The Observer, Leader Newspapers, Joy FM, Plenty Valley FM, 3ZZZ, Syn FM.
REVIEWS:
As we lounged around in front of the stage at the Rock n Rebuild Concert, Donna and the Aspinauts sauntered in and had the audience looking up from their snags to see what the hell had hit them front and center between the eyes and ears.
A-ha! These were no ordinary folk songs to be kum-by-ya'd around the campfire, no way! As the guys in the Aspinauts band changed gear quicker than a red Ferrari, front-woman Donna kept apace brilliantly with her phonetically charged lyrics and mesmerizing hands shaping the melody like an artist at the easel. I watched, captivated like the crowd around me. Each song blurred deliciously into the next with Donna's spoken word etching out the poetry of human condition, always so very eloquent and astutely connected to the song the band was about to launch into. I intuitively looked around to see the reaction of people who might not have had the chance to experience such a richly flavoured ensemble before, and as a muso, I can confidently say that The Aspinauts had the crowd in the rather elusive 'palm of the hand'.
I've seen this band a few times now and I thoroughly recommend an audience with a Donna and the Aspinauts event if you are ever given the chance. I say event because they are so much more than just a band playing music, each of your five senses will be buzzing before the end of the first song, and by the end of the show, you'll be definitely Aspi-fied."
What an eye-opening night I had at The Butterfly Club, watching Donna and the Aspinauts! Amongst the rhythmic beats and uplifting tunes were embedded lyrics that move the soul. Through poetry and raw emotion I could not take my eyes or ears off this band. Explanations and perspectives that I have never thought to explore, bombarded me and lifted me to a higher place.
One minute I wanted to dance in the aisles, next I was dumbfounded by Donna’s ability to express. The Aspinauts stage presence is one no other band can contend with. I was taken on a wacky rollercoaster ride that spat me out at the end feeling empowered and inspired. This band explores world issues, personal conquests and how difficult it is circumnavigating the social world. A must see band for all!
- Adele Kristens
Donna and the Aspinauts at the 303 Bar. What a funny bunch. The lady is a true entertainer. She told amusing tales of life on the edge of society and made me envious I didn’t join her there. Real life? Social norms and expectations? Pah! Look what fun I’m having! She expressed herself even more with flailing arms and facial expressions than her voice, and began each song with a poem quickly captured by interesting and mischievous music. Tongue-in-cheek? Perhaps not. It cannot be genre-defined. I sincerely hope the lady is available for children’s parties.
As remarkable a spokeswoman, activist, artist, author, and musician Donna is, her humanity is what really sets her apart; her humor, passion, wit and insight into the world around her; her ability to see beauty in everyday things, her playfulness, her way of being in the world. Donna changed the way I see everyone.
- Stina R.
"Confronting, amazing and informative".
"Great, wonderful, get her back here."
"Very informative, entertaining delivery with a great sense of humor. What an incredible lady."
- Audience members, Wodonga, Australia.
Donna being so lively, human, funny and so true to herself , sparks of the same in me. Her standing up for everyone's right to their individuality, her celebration of differences, and her joy of simply being, allows me to be more of myself and to discover rich inner worlds.
- Malai Sontheimer, UK
THEATRE PRODUCTIONS
Donna developed Rock Musicals for theatre audiences which are performed by her and the band as ASPINAUTS PLAYERS. The best known of these shows has been FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY.
FOOTSTEPS OF A NOBODY
The author of the autobiography, Nobody Nowhere, and screenwriter of the film based on it, Donna has produced and performs in this powerful one-woman rock musical, Footsteps of a Nobody musically supported by The Aspinauts.
Through characterisations, gestural signing, evocative spoken word and vibrant songs it traces pivotal experiences in her journey from a seemingly deaf, psychotic, 'feral' child to life on the streets and on to her ultimate fight for equality among others.
REVIEWS OF DONNA WILLIAMS' WRITING:
She allows us to understand our own perceptions as never before. NEW YORK TIMES
Evocative, poetic, compelling, shocking, gut wrenchingly moving. WEEKEND REVIEW
Powerful and unique. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Deserves every superlative a reviewer can muster. THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Powerful enough to make one reassess what it means to be human. MODE
By turns fascinating and harrowing... PEOPLE MAGAZINE
The show has been performed in theatres, libraries and secondary schools. All performers have Working With Children cards.
As Donna and The Aspinauts attracted adult and child audiences alike, they created a further offshoot called ASPINAUTS FOR KIDS which performs children's Rock Musicals in schools, libraries, kindergartens, community centres and for private events. It has own website here.
RATES
4 piece band (drums, lead, bass, vocals) - $450
(or $15 per person if 30 people, $7.50 per person if 60 people).
3 piece band (drums, keys, vocals) - $350
(or $10 per person if 30 people, $5 per person if 60 people).
Duo (keys, vocals) - $250 to $325
(or $8.50 per person if 30 people, $4.50 per person if 60 people).
CONTACTING US
If you're interested in booking us to do a show, we'd love to hear from you.
I'm sure you've heard the devastating news about The Tote - please help save other live music venues from the same fate. Sign the petition (closes 25th Jan) at:
ra ra ra ra ra rardy rar ra ra ra ra ra... hello goodbye ill see you again... hello... just sending some love to the aspinauts <3 <3 <3... hello donna.... hello anthony... hello hello hello hello hello hello hello like helium helplessy healing hard hearing
So why do we want to do this in Geelong first? We need a try-out and if it's good it could boost our tourism even more. Ultimately we want to move it into Melbourne as a cool cult "Rocky Horror Show" like production.
Who does your financing? I mean, who's putting up the money to stage your musical in Geelong? We'd love to speak to them. We're desperate. I have been sitting on my "life's work" for years now and still Geelong continues to produce such fare as "Les Miserables" and "Monty Python's Spamalot" as opposed to supporting local talent with exciting ideas! Congratulations to you though and all the best
Wow, you actually managed to stage a new musical in Geelong. This is practically a miracle of Moses proportions, no blasphemy attended. Message me for My peculiarly interesting Odyssey!
Hi Donna, a very warm welcome.. FRIEND VOTE is the place for Artists with Friends, not fans. It's a page where you can find the very best music on Myspace by Artists that actually communicate with the people that take the time to comment on their pages. To join in, all you need to do is ask your friends to vote for one of your songs, if you get enough votes you appear in the chart, if you appear in the chart you will get more friends, if you get to No.1 your page views and song plays will increase significantly! All the best, hope to see you in the chart soon. Keith@FV. http://www.myspace.com/indietop100 http://www.twitter.com/indietop100
Nothing to do with The Vagrants, but.... If you want to know what is going on behind the scenes in the music industry get some news at wotnews and if you want to know what people are REALLY listening to, join the twitter at www.wearehunted.com
the musical was great... sorry to mix mediums (referencing a facebook comment on myspace) i would love write a review for you guys sometime.. but dont feel equipped just at the moment... as no notes... etc.. wow this is just alot of babble to really say... i dont feel like it... but the show was great and another time i will feel like it... this is confusing message i know...
Hi There Donna & Guys...Thanks for The Friendship. GREAT TOP MUSIC.!!!!! Love Your Style etc. Cheers & Support from Us Here & ALL Our Media/Music Concerns in AUSTRALIA & Overseas... Love & Peace. ♫OzMusoWorx♫ Paul,Jono & The OzMuso Team & Denny's Family. xo p.s. keep in touch...k...And Have an Awesome Weekend.
You know what? Let me look into that and get back to you. I'll get in phone or e-mail contact with some friends who live around there and ask if they'd be willing to put you up. There is one apt. in particular I used to live in around Hayes and Lion Street. The room mate occupies it all by himself now and is quite generous. He is a green libertarian type hippie. He asks that you bring him rolls of toilet paper and clean up after yourself in the kitchen, and that is it! It is very big, and dark too. I found it to be tolerable and comforting in one particular bedroom. However, the foot step patters upstairs start around 6am (there is a big family on 3rd floor). White noise, or ear plugs, if you can even wear them without ripping them out in your sleep (I cannot). It tends to have a little bit of the bachelor clutter look, so I'd suggest making one bedroom "the nest" if clutter bugs you as it does me.
Yes it must be a stereotype. Many spectrumites I know have it, but I have come across a few who do not! That is interesting what you mention about the Chinese culture and their perfect pitch! I am dying to come to Australia, however, San Francisco is first on my list.... Are you or the gang coming to SF any time soon?
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