Donna and the Aspinauts

Bio:

ABOUT THE BAND

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.

OUR DEBUT ALBUM, BROKEN BISCUIT, IS OUT NOW!
Have a listen. ..

HERE'S A TRACK FROM THE ALBUM

It features the song, Ladies and Gentlemen and is put to a mash up by Oz Thomas

SHOWS TO DATE

To date our bookings have included Ruby's Lounge, The Butterfly Club, The Rock n Rebuild Bushfire Relief Concert, 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, Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts.

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 your house concert, your event, your audience 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.

We've been welcomed by alternative scenes, embraced as theatrical, avant garde, inter-arts and have amused audiences with socio-enviro and diversity-friendly satire and surrealism.

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

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, ABC.

REVIEWS FROM ASPINAUTS CONCERTS:

Each song blurred deliciously into the next with Donna's spoken word etching out the poetry of human condition.

I looked around to see the reaction of people and I can confidently say that The Aspinauts had the crowd in the rather elusive 'palm of the hand'. 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."

- Heidi Everett

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.

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

What a funny bunch. The lady is a true entertainer. She began each song with a poem quickly captured by interesting and mischievous music. Tongue-in-cheek? Perhaps not. It cannot be genre-defined.

- Jo Robinson

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

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

REVIEWS OF THE FOOTSTEPS SHOW:

Sometimes harrowing but artistically beautiful. Inspirational.

- The Observer

What struck me from the beginning was Donna’s generosity. In particular, her willingness to be so open - showing both great strength and vulnerability. I was immediately drawn in by her use of different techniques to share her story - spoken word, gesture, characterisations and song. Through the use of even the most basic prop, she was able to evoke vivid memories of her childhood that seemed to draw the audience in. Her narrative verse was beautifully constructed and so very compelling. A unique and powerful experience.

-Cathrine Brian, Theatre People

Outstanding. A great night, fantastic performance, amazing music and wonderful conversation provoked afterwards!

- Kelly O'Brien

Extremely moving. A beautiful voice and the poetry and song lyrics are amazing! An Inspirational show.

-Jill Young

..The show has been performed in theatres, libraries and secondary schools. All performers have Working With Children cards.

WATCH CLIPS FROM THE SHOW HERE and HERE

..

RATES

Duo (keys, vocals) - $100

3 piece band (drums, keys, vocals) - $150

4 piece band (drums, lead, bass, vocals) - $400

KIDS SHOWS

As ASPINAUTS FOR KIDS Donna and The Aspinauts perform children's rock musicals in schools, libraries, kindergartens, community centres, school camps or children's parties. It has own website here.
We also offer interactive musical improv with children. All performers have Working With Children Cards and full Public Liability Insurance.

CONTACTING US

If you're interested in booking us to do a show, we'd love to hear from you.

EMAIL us at: aspinauts@donnawilliams.net

Members:

MEMBERS/PERFORMERS

DONNA Williams : spoken word, vocals, percussion
PAUL Spears : drums/sound tech
ANTHONY Julian : keyboards/backing vocals
MICK Lowery/EARL Wollff: bass 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

You can also visit ASPINAUTS FOR KIDS

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.

..DONNA WILLIAMS..

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!).

Donna is known internationally as an author (author of bestsellers Nobody Nowhere, Somebody Somewhere their sequels, Like Colour To The Blind and Everyday Heaven, two poetry books Not Just Anything and Weirdos Like Me (which both feature lyrics from her songs), and four text books.

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, 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 Donna And The Aspinauts' debut album, Broken Biscuit.

An international public speaker, Donna 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 is also an artist (painter and sculptor).

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.

CONTACTING US

Email us at:

aspinauts@donnawilliams.net