Think people would like to see a live Tjupurru performance in your town or at your festival? Please don't hesitate to drop us a line with suggestions. For further enquiries contact:
TOP SHELF
Jordan Verzar
p: +61 2 9519 4149
e: jordan@topshelf.com.au
CLICK HERE TO BUY TJUPURRU'S DEBUT EP - STOMPIN' GROUND, recorded by legendary producer Buchman (Blue King Brown, The Whitlams, Macromantics):
Want to know how Tjupurru creates his unique 'didjetronica' sound? Watch the documentary taken from his EP
Tjupurru and his son Tjakamarra were the opening act for the 07/08 New Year's Eve Rhythm Festival at Woodford Folk Festival in front of thousands of festival goers. Other acts who appeared on the night included France's Babylon Circus, Shooglenifty, Mr Percival, Moshav, Circle of Rhythm and Tete
New Caledonia 2008
Tjupurru also takes his music into primary and high schools around Australia and New Zealand. For information about Tjupurru visiting your school check this link:
Influences
Charlie McMahon, Fred Fabila, Mum, Aiza Au, Uncle Manu, Sanguma, Don Law, Osibisa, James Brown, Mark Atkins, Ganga Giri, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Kitaro, That 1 Guy,Salif Keita, Deep Purple, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, UB40
I was lucky to be the Didjeridu player on this nite in front of 120000 people...
Sounds Like
Stick a sensor in your mouth, hook it up to a didjeridu and sample all the sounds in there using electronic effects and combine them all to create music
Adrian also recently recorded the Soundtracks to the Virtual Walkabout DVD Collection in 2006, samples of which can be seen and heard below.
Brisbane-based Tjupurru is a proud descendant of the Djabera Djabera tribe of the West Australian Kimberleys. Born in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea and settling in Cairns, Tjupurru began playing Didjeridu through a vacuum cleaner pipe in boarding school. His real love affair with the instrument came when he discovered the music of iconic Australian act Gondwanaland, and didj player Charlie McMahon in particular.
Tjupurru plays a unique slide Didjeridu invented by Charlie McMahon, named "The Didjeribone" because it can slide through different notes and tones - a cross between a didj and a trombone. He picks up his sound through a device called the "Face Bass", a seismic sensor implanted inside his mouth. With the addition of sampling and electronic effects, Tjupurru has enabled himself to perform as a one man band creating live samples and looping them to create songs and soundscapes that criss-cross musical genre.
His live show is a must see. This is an artist bringing something unique to the current music scene. Tjupurru is mixing cultures, technologies and sounds from over thousands of years to serve up and dish out what he describes as 21st century Didjetronica.
Tjupurru's trajectory has been fast on the rise since being discovered at the Big Sound Festival in Brisbane in 2006. 2007 began with an invitation from Airto Moreira (the man who brought Latin music to the world via Miles Davis, John Coltrane etc) to collaborate live onstage at the Jazz in the Domain for The Sydney Festival in front of 120,000 people, a mind-blowing experience for any performer, let alone someone so new to the big stage. 2008 saw Tjupurru and son Tjakamarra open the Rhythm Festival at Woodford Folk Festival alongside Babylon Circus, Shooglenifty and Circle of Rhythm.
He has toured with or supported amazing international artists such as Kaki King (USA), Leo (France), That One Guy (USA), Pitch Black (NZ), Bela Flek and the Flecktones (USA), and performed with Marissa Monte (Brazil) over two nights in the Concert Hall at The Sydney Opera House.
Tjupurru has also been invited to perform at festivals across the country, including Woodford Folk Festival, The Dreaming, Bellingen Global Carnival, Wollumbin, Festival of the Sun, Earthdance and more. Over the past year, Tjupurru has gone global with performances at Femmes Funk in New Caledonia, Japan, New Zealand and the USA to come...all of this with MySpace as his main promotional tool.
Tjupurru's debut EP, Stompin' Ground, was released in September 2007. Recorded with legendary producer Buchman (Blue King Brown, Whitlams, and Macromantics). Featuring 5 great tracks, the EP comes complete with bonus mini documentary EPK. Selection in the Top 10 World Charts on groundbreaking American radio station KCRW was the first stirring of international success. Later this month, Tjupurru will travel to the US to perform live on renowned program 'Morning Becomes Eclectic', as well as doing a 'KCRW Presents' gig in Santa Monica.
Tjupurru is also a community leader within Brisbane's Northside Murri Community and he provides teaching and a positive community role model for local indigenous and non indigenous musicians and artists. The response of kids to the Didjeribone inspires Tjupurru to continue his quest to have the unique sound of the Didjeridu made known and more accessible throughout the world.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this folk-carol on myspace... Poem 230 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (see my blog for details): CHRISTMAS SUNG SIMPLY
As gospellers have said, Beneath signalling skies, On land dusty to tread, A trough in a stable Was the strawy first-bed Of a divine baby - The forgiving Godhead.
A season for new hope - There then and here now; The yuletide of goodwill - There then and here now.
In respect of this chance, Beneath bright or dark skies, Faith's the star that we glance Attending Christ's churches And trying to enhance, With singing and ritual, Our God-loving stance.
(: Hi Tjupurru, I've been wondering who did your tunes for ages and caught the back announce on the radio this morning...will see you do a gig one day, cu cal
your music is just tooo deadly. big ups to ta brother. played stompin ground for the punters this mornin - people rang in saying they luvved it. cheers from walbunja land - sth coast xxx
Hi Tjupurru, I've posted you're promo on my front page, still trying to get you're details to Darlinghurst school, heaps of Koori kids go there & they NEED someone like you to turn up & give them some love & a bit of teaching, being city kids. my kid is 34 & was at that school, pity she missed out, i will keep trying, i know a few mums who are very interested to see/hear/talk with you & there is the neighbouhood centre here,housing commission neighbourhood centre, same story but old folks, people of all ages to tell the truth. ok better run but i have to say i am so glad to see the success you've been having over these past few years. you are an AMAZING & MAGNIFICENT HUMAN BEING, wish there were more like you, we will meet one day, i'm shure sir! Peace & Mch Love to You & Yours Allways bruce ....>>>>>> .>> >
I am launching my new album BURSt through the roof this Friday at the Uber Bar, West End, Brisbane. Come party! Spcial guests Wild Marmalade, Spankinhide & DJ Dakini. 8PM $15
heyy bro. ur a huge inspiration to me. i think it is so interest that u can play such a unique instrument so easily. its like the music flows through u just like passing wind. dude. have a good one eyy. cheers too for tha add
