First Nations artwork sets the scene for Electric Fields in Malmö

This week, South Australia’s powerful, ethereal duo Electric Fields began rehearsals in Malmö, Sweden, for their Eurovision Song Contest performance.

Vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboardist Michael Ross, will be joined on stage by vocalists Brendan Maclean, Alyson Joyce, and Simi Vuata, with Fred Leone on the Yidaki (aka didgeridoo).

Their staging is also illuminated by one of Zaachariaha’s artworks – a painting titled ‘Paraulpi’ which inspired and created the vision for the LED display bringing the song grounds of Mimili to Malmö in Sweden.

Electric Fields will make history at this year’s contest as the first Australian artists to take Yankunytjatjara; an Aboriginal language of the Anangu peoples (one of the oldest living cultures on earth) to the world’s largest live music event.

You can see a snippet here at 6:25 mins.

From the moment One Milkali (One Blood) starts it will stop you in your tracks. Zaachariaha’s arresting vocals immediately command attention against a twinkling chorus of instruments as he states, “I stand in the eye of the spiral,” as if on the precipice of something great, because they are. One Milkali loosely translates to ‘One Blood’ and is their dream for a world where we are all united. It’s a world disco in the face of the vast universe, mirroring the kinship we all share with the repeating patterns of nature.

About Zaachariaha’s artwork ‘Paraulpi’
An accomplished and celebrated multi-disciplinary artist, Zaachariaha comes from a strong family lineage of artists and storytellers. His energetic and visceral paintings exist as contemporary works whilst acknowledging and honouring the visual language of his culture. Zaachariaha’s most recent award is the prestigious Wynne Prize in 2023 for his painting Inma. Zaachariaha, who works at the APY Collective, treats the canvas as if it was a stage; melody and colours that represent certain parts of emotions. The title of Electric Fields’ One Milkali (One Blood) is from the artwork titled ‘Milkali Kutju’ by Zaachariaha’s father, acclaimed contemporary artist Robert Fielding. Zaachariaha explains the painting speaks to the atoms, everything that happens in the body, and how we’re all interconnected. Zaachariaha’s painting ‘Paraulpi’ is a profound glimpse into the cultural heritage of the Central Australian Anangu Peoples. Painted at the end of 2023, Paraulpi is one of Zaachariaha’s favourite memories and one he often visits through both his work as a visual artist and as one half of Electric Fields. For Zaachariaha, Paraulpi marries with the song One Milkali (One Blood) perfectly as it speaks to how the relationship with innocence – that grandchild and grandparent memory – helps everyone on a journey trying to figure themselves out as they move through the world. Although ‘Milkali Katju’ means ‘blood’, there is no direct translation for the complexity of its meaning in the English language. It’s a feeling; it’s all of the senses at their highest capacity, building a space that feels really large, but where you feel small. You feel like everything, but you also feel like nothing. To Anangu peoples, this is Tjukurpa.

Zaachariaha Fielding said: “One Milkali means ‘to know thyself’ and once you do that, don’t hold on to that. I feel in my opinion that the existence of that one vessel is to feed the collective chain, and that’s something I don’t think we have done but we have a fantasised idea about it.

“It’s when we get to that point that the individual shies away and steps away from the opportunity of the global choir to make one song. I feel like Eurovision and this platform is probably the chance to do that. There’s an opportunity to make it come from the four corners of the globe. It requires everyone to invest in this. Will it happen in my lifetime? I don’t know. But do I want to feed that energy? Yes, I do.”

The vibrant colours of the painting ‘Paraulpi’ symbolise the essence of “Milkali” – the blood, while the complex songlines depict the timeless journey of Aboriginal peoples across the land. It’s a beautiful portrayal of the sacred bond between generations, where grandparents pass down their wisdom, stories, and connection to Ngura, the homeland, to their grandchildren. Truly a masterpiece that speaks volumes about cultural identity and resilience.

Fred Leone (Yidaki player)
Fred Leone is a cultural leader, a true-born artist and one of the Butchulla Songmen with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. One of very few Initiated Aboriginal men in the arts industry, Fred comes from the Garrwa and Butchulla tribes. The Butchulla tribe are the traditional owners of K’gari from Burrum Heads down to Rainbow Beach, Fraser Coast South East Queensland. As a Songman, his primary instrument is his voice, yet he uses Didgeridoo (Kuluru in Garrwa language), boomerangs (Bargan in Butchulla language), Emu egg (Ngurunj in Butchulla language), tree branches, sand and other objects from K’gari to form his traditional sound pallet. Fred Leone has been a touring artist for over a decade, throwing rhymes and travelling with Public Enemy, Dead Prez and People Under The Stairs as well as receiving invites to collaborate and play with contemporary artists such as John Butler, Xavier Rudd, Amanda Palmer, best-selling author, Neil Gaiman and many, many more.

Brendan Maclean
Brendan Maclean is known as a singer-songwriter brandishing over ten million streams on Spotify for their original music and just as many views for his spectacular dance-heavy music videos. Signed to Universal Publishing in 2014 after Brendan’s debut single cracked through to a young online market, Maclean followed this up with funbang1 in 2016: An electro-pop record that won over a queer Australian audience and found fresh international ears with multiple tracks licensed by Netflix and Hulu. A thriving talent, Brendan has been nominated for an ARIA for their work alongside Marcia Hines in the disco musical Velvet, made a cameo in Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby and is currently riding high after a superstar run as the titular roles in Australia’s premiere production of Jekyll & Hyde The Musical at The Hayes. Brendan Maclean has collaborated and performed with a myriad of impressive acts including Kate Miller-Heidke, Neil Gaiman, Amanda Palmer, John Grant and Alan Cumming and continues to release his own music alongside their blossoming theatre career.

Alyson Joyce
Alyson Joyce, an extraordinary creative force currently based in Meanjin/Brisbane, Australia, has carved a remarkable path as a distinguished presenter and visionary entrepreneur. With over two decades of experience, Alyson’s journey unfolds as a testament to her unwavering commitment to both artistic excellence and societal change. As a biracial artist with Papua New Guinean, Irish, and Australian heritage, Alyson’s identity infuses her work with a rich tapestry of perspectives. Her magnetic presence has graced stages across Asia, the Pacific, the US, UK, and Europe, captivating audiences with her commanding presence and exceptional talents.

Simi Vuata
Born into a musically talented Indigenous family, softly spoken 21-year-old Simi Vuata found his voice singing gospel at church. Simi grew up in Griffith NSW until his family uprooted and moved to Adelaide, South Australia for Simi to follow his musical dream. He studies at Adelaide University and is a vocalist in the CASM (Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music). They perform regularly at Indigenous events in the Adelaide area. Simi names John Legend as well as his friends and family as his biggest influences musically.

Broadcast:

Semi Final 1 – Live Wednesday 8 May at 5:00am AEST **Features Australia** (replay Friday 10 May at 7:30pm AEST)
Semi Final 2 – Live Friday 10 May at 5:00am AEST (replay Saturday 11 May at 7:30pm AEST)
Grand Final – Live Sunday 12 May at 5:00am AEST (replay Sunday 12 May at 7:30pm AEST)

Photo: Alma-Bengtsson / EBU