“We Were Taught Nothing Of Our First Nations, Its Almost Criminal Because There’s So Much Gold In That Culture”
Words of Wisdom With Michael Honen
“The success we have had has affected 100’s of thousands of Australians because what Gurrumul and we did, which is to show people around the world the unique and special nature of the Yolngu and other Aboriginal people and what we have to learn from that culture.”
I had the pleasure to interview Michael Honen. Michael collaborated with Geoffrey ‘Gurrumul’ Yunupingu, on the album ‘Djarimirri (Child of the Rainbow)’ Sadly, Gurrumul died last year and his collaborator and producer Michael finished the album. The end result is the first indigenous musician to reach #1 in Australia. You may have heard of Gurrumul from his stint playing in Yothu Yindi who had a billboard dance and college charting single with ‘Treaty.’ The music is genre crossing, world music, classical, jazz, folk from Gurrumul’s youth. Gurrumul was born blind and became a musical prodigy, playing guitar and drums, keyboards and didgeridoo. But it is gurrumul’s voice that has captivated his home country and beyond and he counts many fellow musicians as fans:
“…one of the most unusual and emotional and musical voices that I’ve ever heard. His voice paints a picture that you won’t want to miss” — Quincy Jones
“The voice of a higher being” — Sting
Jon Pareles of the NY Times described Gurrumul’s voice: “It seems to arrive from a distance, high and serene, with a hint of reediness and a humble quaver, proffering melodies like lullabies.”
Michael met Gurrumul when he taught music in remote Australian communities and obviously a beautiful friendship and partnership was born.
Thank you so much for joining us. What is your “backstory”?
I’m a classically trained musician — Double bass. I played a lot of jazz and also toured as an indie pop bass player with The Killjoys a Melbourne indie pop band who taught me about the industry through Australia and the UK/Europe.
I then moved to the north of Australia and discovered a different world. I ended up in a partnership with my manager Mark T Grose running a label and building an artist who went on to sell half a million records around the world.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your music career and relationship with Gurrumul?
One of the most interesting was the moment we ended up in Paris having to perform a duet with Sting live on French national TV. Gurrumul didn’t even know the song “Every Breath you take” or how to interpret the words because the lyrics have meanings that his tribe in Australia don’t really sing about. It got to the final moment before going live, after some seriously disastrous rehearsals, and his uncle sent some lyrics through from Australia and he walked out on to the set and sang a beautiful gentle rendition of the song. I think it ended up being one of the shows most popular duets.
What are you working on now, or post ‘Child of the Rainbow?’
We are working on performing it live. Its such a significant work, even orchestrally. And its made a huge impact in Australia, and has gone Number 1 In the mainstream charts there. So we are being approached about how to do it live, but still do it justice, now that he has passed away.
We worked with a symphony orchestra a choir together a few years ago, and so chorally a lot of it is possible and there’s not that many lyrics actually so stay tuned. It is turning into an important work so I hope that continues. Apart from that there are many other artists on the label , non Aboriginal too, who are all doing great things including this great Blues inspired Soul/R&B vocalist named Caiti Baker (who actually was Gurrumul’s other vocalist for a while)
Who are some of the most interesting people you have interacted with? What was that like? Do you have any stories?
I loved working with this guy from the Uk called Gary Barlow (ex Take That pop group). It was when the Queen had her Daimond Jubilee in the UK, an enormous concert with Stevie Wonder, Elton and many others, and he had to gather singers and musicians from around the world who were from The Commonwealth he inspired me because even though he was very talented he brought talent out of all of the different people he worked with.
Which people in history inspire you the most?
It will sound a bit predictable possibly but Miles Davis more than anyone.
Why?
I loved how he used space in music. Also loved seeing him live once where he had his back to the audience most of the show. He was all and only about the music. Not working as an entertainer but purely as a musician and letting that work its wonder.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
The success we have had has affected 100’s of thousands of Australians because what Gurrumul and we did, and what we do at our label Skinnyfish Music, which is to show people around the world the unique and special nature of the Yolngu and other Aboriginal people and what we have to learn from that culture.
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Because one of my skills is music it would be great to open up music styles around the world to be more varied. I find most music in the pop world sounds extremely similar so to break it open. Get major artists to try other stuff.
On a non-musical level I think everyone would be happier if the population was less so we could enjoy the earth more rather than destroying it!
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
being a musician might not make you money!
I’m a creative so whilst a lot of the industry surrounds musicians to make money out of them, I cant ever not let the creative not dictate the outcome. The latest Djarimirri record is an example. My business partner let us work on this for 5–6 years and theres no obvious commercial imperative as an underlying drive in this record. It’s an ultimate meeting of two worlds, and creative force. Problem is it may never make any money!
No matter how much success you can have in your world, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are better or greater than other people.
I have come home to my family, having achieved one of the big breakthroughs in Australia, but to my wife and young children the successes happening in their lives are completely different and that are great reality checks and grounding.
That Aboriginal people in Australia existed in this other world
As a white Australian we were taught nothing of our First Nations, and its almost criminal because there’s so much gold in that culture
Practice less physical hours but practice more mentally.
I saw an incredible musician Francios Rabbath doing this but never really understood it til later in life.
learn the viola de gamba
I nearly did a masters in this beautiful instrument but the teacher was such a prude that I decided to not go that way. Id love to have pursued that instrument in an improv way
Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she just might see this. 🙂
I would love to meet Nelson George (author, creator, film, music , social writer) one day. His experience and commentary on some of the most inspiring musicians (who I have grown up listening to and been influenced by) would be fascinating to hear through his views and perspectives. Close friends of mine fewer to him constantly. He inspires me.