Live Review: Gawurra

Gawurra has been learning English and, from the frequency that he uses it, we think it's pretty safe to say his favourite English word is 'connection', and that's exactly what his show is about, his connection with the audience and connecting white and black Australia.

The performance room of the NGV is a different place before the Arnhem Land singer arrives. The cavernous stained-glass-ceiling-roofed space echoes with the sounds of a string quartet. Visitors mill in and out after visiting the Van Gogh And The Seasons exhibition. This huge space shrinks immediately as Gawurra takes to the stage accompanied by his three-piece band.

Gawurra begins by addressing the crowd in Gupapuyngu, his first language, before moving on to English. His language is the heart and soul of his performance. Not only does he sing exclusively in Gupapuyngu, he also teaches the audiences bits and pieces in between songs, creating an entertaining call and response. Gawurra tells us that he sings in his language to share his culture and enhance the connection between cultures.

Gawurra's voice is truly something else, you don't have to understand what he is saying to become gripped by the incredible strength and control he demonstrates. His voice manages to shrink the massive room and make the performance feel incredibly personal and intimate. His songs are folk but with a rock edge. He plays acoustic guitar while singing and is accompanied by his band on keyboard, drums and electric guitar. The hypnotic quality of the first few songs is enhanced by the swirling, ever-changing slideshow of Van Gogh paintings that are being shown on the big screens behind him.

Gawurra is seated for the first four songs which makes the first half of his set a much more auditory than a visual experience, but this shifts dramatically when he stands. The energy he exudes while standing is tenfold to that while he is sitting. He becomes much more animated, immediately snapping the audience out of their trance. He made a commendable effort to get the audience to dance, but only achieved an average response. The crowd and venue probably weren't the most conducive to a dance atmosphere. He changes tactics soon after and manages to get the audience enthusiastically clapping along and waving their hands while he belts out some more upbeat songs.

For his final song, he returns to being seated and shares a much slower track that shows off the full power of his incredible voice. He tells the audience that this final song is about grief and loss but also about keeping those people in your heart. Knowing this, it's easy to hear exactly that in the song itself without understanding a single word he's saying.

Gawurra achieves exactly what he says he is attempting to do. It's a connection between black and white Australia through sharing what makes us different and sharing what we have in common. Gawurra is a talent that breaks down boundaries and makes our community whole.