Single Focus: Yabu Band - Petrol Paint & Glue

What's the song about?

The song is a plea for those with substance abuse problems or an addiction in general. It's a plea for my Aboriginal people and people from around the world to believe in themselves and not get caught up in the wrong environment with any type of substance abuse or drugs in general.

Is this track from a forthcoming/existing release?

Petrol Paint & Glue is from our forthcoming album My Tjila, which means, 'My Country' in the Wongutha language.

How long did it take to write/record?

I wrote Petrol Paint & Glue about 12 years ago when I was on tour performing with Coloured Stone. I remember being out on the road thinking someone has to write about this ongoing problem. I realised at the time that it was really affecting my people and just people in general. It's amazing it has been released around Australia as I never thought to sing about it since then. We decided to release Petrol Paint & Glue this year as we felt that people around the country needed to hear a positive message about substance abuse and that it would encourage people including children and adults to have hope and to feel more positive about their future.

My brother Boyd and I have been writing and working on the new album (My Tjila) since our last album release Gundulla – We Dance in 2009. We have really wanted to get back to our roots and sing about our people, our deep connection with our homeland and about our dreamtime stories that have been handed down from generation to generation. My Tjila will be out around October this year.

What was inspiring you during the song's writing and recording?

I felt I had to help raise the issue and bring it out into the open. The song has inspired me, as I felt it had a strong message of hope and belief that it's not too late to give up, no matter what life throws at you.

We'll like this song if we like…

A message about hope and the unique Aborigine languages of our country. I feel it's tragic and moving but at the same time it's a positive call for help.

Do you play it differently live?

No we play the track a lot like the recorded version.

Will you be launching it?

We will be embarking on a national tour that will include a show at Royal Melbourne Hotel on 31 May. It will be a great night for all to come and be a part of indigenous culture through music. Bart Willougby, Skin Choir and Massive Hip Hop Choir are on the bill too.

For more info see:

voiceproductions.com.au