MISSION SONGS PROJECT
Australian Aboriginal Folk Songs
“Islander rhythms, campfire country and defiant humour celebrate simple joys. Melancholy ballads chart a journey of blood, sweat and tears… you’ll almost hear the kettle boil as a closing home recording of the elders invites us to sit down with these unsung survivors.”— 4.5 stars, Fairfax Media
LATEST NEWS
10 EPS DOCU-SERIES ON ABC IVIEW!
To celebrate NAIDOC Week 2020, Jessie Lloyd released a 10 mini episode docu-series on ABC iView on Sunday 8th of November 2020. Travel across Australia and learn the stories and histories of the songs from The Songs Back Home album.
LISTEN NOW - JESSIE LLOYD TALKS BEHIND THE SONGS
Suitable for radio, check out this 26min audio discussion on the stories and communities behind the songs. Includes live performances with Emma Donovan and Deline Briscoe at National Folk Festival in 2019.
ABOUT MISSION SONGS PROJECT
A Musical Journey
Jessie Lloyd’s profoundly moving Mission Songs Project reveals the daily life of Australian Aboriginal people on the missions, settlements and reserves during the Missions Era of 1901 to 1967. A musical time travel of original compositions from the residents over multiple generations.
Mission Songs Project explores the human reality when Aboriginal people were forcibly removed from their homelands and moved onto managed lands, either as inmates or wards of the state. In a time of great distress, these truthful songs are surprisingly filled with optimism and hope, revealing a forgotten story on an unexplored corner of Australian history.
Mission Songs Project faithfully navigates the musical journey of Aboriginal music and connects the traditional with contemporary, revealing the continuation of cultural practice and song traditions into the 21st Century. This is a musical journey through time and place, this is our songlines.
‘Mission Songs Project presents contemporary folk songs that continue the ancient song lines of this country. The songs speak of the daily lives of the First Peoples who were relocated from their traditional homelands to the missions. There are some well known songs and also hidden gems that have been uncovered.’
Archie Roach
‘The 20th Century songs composed and sung on Aboriginal mission and settlements are records of our history and tell us about the emotions and aspirations of their composers. Jessie Lloyd’s research to find these songs is a profoundly important contribution to our nation and music.’
Prof Marcia Langton
COLLABORATING ARTISTS & ADVISORS
Contributing performers, advisors and supporters to Mission Songs Project
JESSIE LLOYD
Creator and Music Director
EMMA DONOVAN
Vocalist & Advisor
DELINE BRISCOE
Vocalist & Advisor
SHELLIE MORRIS
Vocalist & Advisor
CANDICE LORRAE
Vocalist
KRISTEL KICKETT
Vocalist
JESSICA HITCHCOCK
Vocalist
LEAH FLANAGAN
Vocalist
GUY GHOUSE
Guitarist
KARINA NOLAN
Vocalist
MONICA WEIGHTMAN
Vocalist & Guitarist
ROBERT CHAMPION
Vocalist & Giutarist
JOHN WAYNE PARSONS
Vocalist
TIRIKI ONUS
Vocalist
ELVERINA JOHNSON
Vocalist & Advisor
LOU BENNETT
Vocalist & Advisor
ROGER KNOX
Senior Advisor
CESSA NAKATA
Senior Advisor
SEAMAN DAN
Senior Advisor
JOE GEIA
Senior Advisor