Eleanor Dixon is a born leader. I first met her a few years ago at a week long event called Bush Bands Business. It was a series of workshops for Indigenous bands throughout remote communities in central Australia, and Elly was the first woman to ever be involved, with her band Rayella. Her drive and grounded nature struck me from our first meeting, and so I wasn’t surprised to see her appear again a couple of years later in a new band, Kardajala Kirridarra. Their blend of beautiful songs sung in language, set to atmospheric beats, got a lot of attention, and by the end of 2017 they had a heap of people talking about them, and were nominated for Double J Artist of the Year. Fast forward to 2018, and NAIDOC Week, where the theme was “because of her, we can”. Eleanor joined me on the phone from her tiny community of Marlinja, and gave an incredible insight into her own musical path via the women that she looked up to. The way Elly speaks about song, story and community, is poetry in motion. From Aunty Ruby Hunter, to Nina Simone, to Emily Wurramara, this is a Take 5 that will stop you in your tracks.

Emma Donovan & The Putbacks - ‘Black Woman’

Ruby Hunter & Archie Roach - ‘Down City Streets’

Nina Simone - ‘Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair’

Emily Wurramara - ‘Lady Blue’

Shellie Morris & The Borroloola Songwomen - ‘Li-Anthawirriyarra A-Kurija (Saltwater People Song)’