''Deadly Hearts'' is a music compilation and live musical performance, celebrating Australian Indigenous Music.

Background

In 2017, 12 largely unknown indigenous Australian artists, were given a choice of classic track to make their own, which would be compiled into a compilation album, known as ''Deadly Hearts''. The call went out to the artists' as "Which song has spoken most strongly to you about growing up an Indigenous Australian?" The album was seen as "A celebration of music, culture, and identity, from the hearts and mouths of a new generation of Indigenous Australia" and was released on 30 June 2017. In July 2019, ahead of

NAIDOC Week NAIDOC Week ( ) is an Australian observance lasting from the first Sunday in July until the following Sunday. The acronym NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC Week has its roots in the 1938 Day o ...

, a second edition was released. In 2019, a concert titled ''Deadly Hearts: a Celebration of Australian Indigenous Music'' occurred, taking inspiration from ''Deadly Hearts'' albums. The concert featured some of Australia's best past, present and emerging indigenous artists, including

Jessica Mauboy Jessica Hilda Mauboy (; born 4 August 1989) is an Australian singer. Born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory, she rose to fame in 2006 on the Australian Idol (season 4), fourth season of ''Australian Idol'', where she was runner-up and s ...

Archie Roach Archibald William Roach (8 January 1956 – 30 July 2022) was an Australian (Gunditjmara and Western Bundjalung people, Bundjalung) singer-songwriter and Aboriginal Australian, Aboriginal activist. Often referred to as "Uncle Archie", Roach wa ...

, Aodhan, Selve and Kinship Collective. In 2020, ahead of NAIDOC Week and AusMusic Month throughout November, a third instalment of the album was released, titled ''Deadly Hearts: Walking Together''. Unlike the first two releases which have focused on songs that are iconic to traditional Australian culture and identity, the call were for artists to take on a song that is iconic to them, a song that has inspired them and/or a song that holds a special place in their identity.

Volume One (2017)

Track listing

# "

My Island Home "My Island Home" is a rock song written by Neil Murray for George Burarrwanga. It was originally performed by the Warumpi Band. The song references lead singer's ( George Burarrwanga) home up at Elcho Island off the coast of Arnhem Land in ...

" by

Jimblah Jimblah (born James Alberts) is an indigenous Australian Hip hop music, hip hop artist from the Larrakia people, Larrakia nation who lives in South Australia and tours nationally. He has released two solo albums and an album with his duo Homeward ...

(3:51) # " Sunset Dreaming (Djapana Remix)" by Birdz (3:33) # " Solid Rock" by

Robbie Miller Robbie Miller is an Australian singer. In 2013, Miller won Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2013 with his song "Don't Go Walking Away" and an APRA Award in 2017 for "The Pain". Miller rele ...

(3:47) # "Maralitja" by Dhapanbal Yunupingu (3:34) # "

The Dead Heart "The Dead Heart" is a song by Australian rock band Midnight Oil. It was first released as a single in Australia in 1986 and in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1988 after it had been included on the 1987 album, ''Diesel and Dust''. It ...

" by Apakatjah (4:20) # " Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" by Benny Walker (3:41) # "

Yil Lull "Yil Lull" is a song written and performed by Joe Geia. It originally appeared on his 1988 album of the same name. Yill Lull means sing in Guugu Yimithirr.Green Left Weekly issue #58 - 3 June 199Hidden Things worth looking for/ref> The colours u ...

" by Philly (3:40) # "Own Backyard" by Kuren (5:28) # "Black Boy" by

Emily Wurramara Emily Wurramara is an Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter. At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, she won the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album, making her the first Indigenous woman to ever win in this category. Early life Emily W ...

(4:35) # "

Blackfella/Whitefella "Blackfella/Whitefella" is an Australian rock song written by Neil Murray and George Rrurrambu, recorded by their Aboriginal rock group, Warumpi Band, and released as the second single from their 1985 album, '' Big Name, No Blankets'' on Parol ...

" by

Yirrmal Yirrmal Marika (born 1993), known mononymously as Yirrmal, is an Indigenous Australian vocalist. A Yolngu man, his music features traditional sounds and elements of Yolŋu music. Early life Yirrmal Marika was born in 1993 in Yirrkala in the R ...

(4:30) # "Yirrmal" by Daen featuring

Kev Carmody Kevin Daniel Carmody (born 1946), better known by his stage name Kev Carmody, is an Aboriginal Australian singer-songwriter and musician, a Murri man from northern Queensland. He is best known for the song " From Little Things Big Things Grow" ...

(3:19) # "

When the War Is Over "When the War Is Over" is song by Australian band Cold Chisel from their 1982 album ''Circus Animals''. The song was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and issued as the third single from the album, peaking at number 25 on the national singles c ...

" by Gawurraa (5:10)

Reception

Dan Condon from ''ABC'' said "''Deadly Hearts'' is a great collection of well-loved songs given a refreshing overhaul by some of our country's most engaging new voices."

Volume Two (2019)

Track listing

# "Vision" by

Electric Fields Electric Fields is an Australian electronic music duo made up of vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross. Electric Fields combine modern electric-soul music with Aboriginal culture and sing in Pitjantjatj ...

(3:50) # "Speak Your Language" by

Alice Skye Alice Skye (born Alice Anderson) is an Australian singer and songwriter. She is a British and Wergaia/ Wemba Wemba woman from Horsham. Career In 2017, Skye was the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner. She released her debut album, ' ...

(5:11) # "Lonesome but Free" by

Busby Marou Busby Marou (pronounced buz-bee ma-roo) are an Australian musical duo consisting of Thomas Busby and Jeremy Marou, from Rockhampton, Queensland. At the APRA Music Awards of 2012, the duo won "Blues & Roots Work of the Year" category for their si ...

(3:08) # "Fitzroy Crossing" by

Dan Sultan Daniel Leo Sultan is an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter and guitarist, actor and author. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010 he won Best Male Artist and Best Blues & Roots Album for his second album, '' Get Out While You Can'' (N ...

(3:32) # "Around Here" by

Tia Gostelow Tia Gostelow is an Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter from Mackay, Queensland. Gostelow released her debut studio album, ''Thick Skin'', in 2018 on Lovely Records. Further albums, ''Chrysalis'' and ''Head Noise'' followed. Early life and ...

(3:22) # "Get By" by

Dallas Woods Dallas Woods is an Indigenous Australian rapper and singer. Woods is known for his role on ABC Kids' ''Move It Mob Style'' and in 2018 as Baker Boy's support act on his national tour. Woods gained attention by winning the New Talent Song of ...

(3:28) # "Blackfellas" by Nooky (2:21) # "Love Me Less" by HVWKS featuring Jamie Rose (3:18) # "We Have Survived" by Dobby (3:57) # "Walking into Doors" by Radical Son (4:10)

Reception

Karen Leng from ''ABC'' said "Across styles as broad as country, hip hop and pop, ''Deadly Hearts 2'' is a great listen. By celebrating Australian trailblazers through much loved songs, new young Indigenous artists can confidently tell their own story on solid ground."

Volume Three: Walking Together (2020)

Track listing

# "Tjitji" by

Ziggy Ramo Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna, known professionally as Ziggy Ramo, is an Australian singer. Early life Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna was born to an Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Solomon Islander father and a mother of Scottish heritag ...

featuring

Miiesha Miiesha Elizabeth Rose Young, known mononymously as Miiesha, is an Australian singer-songwriter from the Aboriginal community of Woorabinda, Queensland. She was the recipient of New Talent of the Year at the 2020 National Indigenous Music Awar ...

(3:12) # "A Long Way Away from My Country" by Kobie Dee (2:44) # "Neon Moon" by Miiesha featuring The Woorabinda Singers (3:20) # "Get Back to the Land" DRMNGNOW featuring

(4:16) # "

Absolutely Everybody "Absolutely Everybody" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Vanessa Amorosi, released as the second single from her debut album, '' The Power'' (2000), on 15 November 1999 by Transistor Music Australia. The song reached number six in Aust ...

" by

Mitch Tambo Mitch Tambo is an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter and political activist, who self-released his debut EP in 2016. In 2019, he reached the final of the ninth series of ''Australia's Got Talent'' and garnered national attention for his ...

(3:53) # " Solid Gold" by Sycco (3:21) # "Always" by Aodhan (3:50) # " How Deep Is Your Love" by Mi-Kaisha (3:17) # "

Don't Dream It's Over "Don't Dream It's Over" is a song by rock band Crowded House, recorded for their 1986 self-titled debut studio album. The song was composed and written by New Zealand frontman Neil Finn and released in October 1986 as the fourth single from ...

" by

Isaiah Firebrace Isaiah Firebrace (born 21 November 1999) is an Australian singer who won the The X Factor (Australia season 8), eighth season of ''The X Factor (Australian TV series), The X Factor Australia'' in 2016. He then represented Australia in the Eurovi ...

Stan Walker Stan Walker (born 23 October 1990) is an Australian New Zealand singer, actor, and television personality. In 2009, Walker was the winner of the seventh season of ''Australian Idol''. He subsequently signed a recording contract with Sony Mus ...

(3:37) # " Beds Are Burning" by Southeast Desert Metal (4:34)

References

{{reflist 2010s compilation albums Compilation album series Compilation albums by Australian artists