# BIG hART And THE FREEDOM COLLECTIVE Presents ‘Songs For Freedom’ - Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/ - Published: 2023-02-10T12:30:00-06:00 - Author: Eugene Tierney ### **BIG hART AND THE FREEDOM COLLECTIVE PRESENTS **_**SONGS FOR FREEDOM**_ #### **NEW ALBUM PRODUCED BY GRAMMY-AWARD WINNER LUCKY OCEANS RELEASED FEBRUARY 17, AHEAD OF **_**SONGS FOR FREEDOM**_** CONCERT PERFORMANCES AT MONA FOMA AND PERTH FESTIVAL** #### **NEW COLLECTION SUPPORTS CAMPAIGN TO LOWER THE INCARCERATION RATES OF ABORIGINAL CHILDREN** #### **FIRST SINGLE “SONGS OF FREEDOM”, FEATURING FRED RYAN, OUT TODAY** ![BIG hART](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a/images/ 328f16a2-3fd9-1263-6104-1df2730c29f3.jpg?resize=240%2C240&ssl=1) Australia’s leading arts and social change organisation **Big hART** presents _** Songs for Freedom**_, an uplifting collection of original songs created by **Ngarluma** and **Yindjibarndi** artists in the Pilbara town of **Roebourne**, together with guests.  The album is the work of numerous songwriters, musicians and other creatives, coming together under the name **The Freedom Collective**.  Produced by Grammy Award- winning musician **Lucky Oceans**, _Songs for Freedom_ features lead vocal contributions from **Naomi Pigram**, **Patrick Churnside**, **Fred Ryan**, **Vikki Thorn (The Waifs)**, **Kendall Smith**, **Kankawa Nagarra (Olive Knight)**, **Jay Jarome** and **John Bennett**. The February 17 release of _Songs for Freedom_ is preceded by the release today of the first single from the album, **“Songs of Freedom”**, written and sung by ** Fred Ryan**.  _**“Yamatji man Fred Ryan came to a songwriting workshop with this song and the Elders loved it,” **_says _Songs for Freedom_ Musical Director and album producer Lucky Oceans of the single. _**“The lyrics contained the line, ‘There’s a song for this land, girt by sea.’ I wondered, ‘why repeat the worst line of the national anthem?’ but Fred explains in the next line, ‘I want to hear a song for me,’ highlighting how a national song could mean so much more for him and other Aboriginal people. This song has now become an anthem in its own right.”**_ SONGS OF FREEDOM (featuring FRED RYAN) - Music Video [⌊SONGS OF FREEDOM (featuring FRED RYAN) - Music Video⌉⌊SONGS OF FREEDOM (featuring FRED RYAN) - Music Video⌉ Watch this video on YouTube _THE FREEDOM COLLECTIVE – SONGS OF FREEDOM (featuring FRED RYAN) – Music Video_ The _Songs for Freedom_ album was recorded from April to December of 2022, in Perth and in Roebourne. The album, which is being released to coincide with the first of a series of _Songs for Freedom_ live concert events to take place throughout 2023, is a culmination of years of work. It has its foundations in workshops involving the family of **John Pat**, whose death in custody in Roebourne in 1983 triggered the Royal Commission into deaths in custody.  ![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a/images/2a992fd0- e679-08da-6c6f-dfc262377a7a.jpg?resize=263%2C304&ssl=1) **_Fred Ryan (Joseph Penipe Photography)_** Since 2011, supported by Elders, these workshops, which took place in the Roebourne prison, school and community, have created music, theatre, performance and digital content, all with a view to promote positive stories being told about Roebourne. The project has resulted in about 100 songs to date, including those featured on the 2013 album _**Murru **_– and since 2018 it has delivered an annual _**Songs for Peace**_ concert in Roebourne, at which community has had their songs sung by** [Paul Kelly](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2022/12/paul-kelly-debuts-new-video-maybe-this-christmas/)**, Vikki Thorn and **Emma Donovan**.  **Archie Roach** sang in prison and at the first show in 2018. Other artists from outside the community who have been involved in the workshops include **Brian Ritchie** of the Violent Femmes and **Bill Chambers**. The release of the Freedom Collective’s _Songs for Freedom_ album on February 17 comes just days ahead of a _Songs for Freedom_ concert on February 23 at **Mona Foma Festival** in Hobart. The Collective will then take its music to the **Perth Festival** on March 5, eventually returning home to Roebourne for a show on September 23.  Performances in other capital cities and regional centres are being planned. A pilot _Songs for Freedom_ concert in 2021, hosted by the City of Melville in South Perth, attracted an audience of 3000.  _**“The **_**Songs for Freedom**_** concert is a full-hearted collaboration – an ongoing process of creation with the community of Roebourne for more than ten years,“** _explains Oceans. _**“The people of Roebourne have shared their voices, music and songs so generously and really bring a sense of community to the stage. It’s a unique and inspiring thing to be a part of.” **_ ![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a/images/e6c17b06- 22c5-c6cb-9e50-c5fae1b93652.jpg?resize=291%2C316&ssl=1) _**Lucky Oceans (by Laura Dunjey)**_ Further details for the two upcoming concerts can be found at these sites: **Perth:** [www.perthfestival.com.au/events/songs-for-freedom/](https://facebook.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a&id=cf271344db&e=7f3088bce0)** Hobart:**[monafoma.net.au/songs-for-freedom](https://facebook.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a&id=b4432d8e98&e=7f3088bce0) The _Songs for Freedom project_, with its compelling songwriting and performances and lush and earthy instrumentation and production, sounds a positive note as we head towards the 40th anniversary of John Pat’s passing, and a national referendum. Beyond that, _Songs for Freedom_ has a simple and urgent purpose – to raise awareness and push for a change to the shockingly disproportionate number of Aboriginal young people caught up in the justice system.  _**SONGS FOR FREEDOM**_** by THE FREEDOM COLLECTIVE is released FEBRUARY 17 on Big hART/ Remote Control.**** Pre-order/pre-save the digital release now at  [freedomcollective.lnk.to/songsforfreedom-lp](https://facebook.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a&id=c334ad9968&e=7f3088bce0) or pre-order the CD from [www.bighart.org/product/songs-for-freedom-cd-pre-sale](https://facebook.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a&id=0ddd64632f&e=7f3088bce0) **First single, “SONGS OF FREEDOM” (featuring FRED RYAN) is now available digitally from: [freedomcollective.lnk.to/songsoffreedom](https://facebook.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a&id=d97274159f&e=7f3088bce0)** ![](https://i0.wp.com/mcusercontent.com/7468cc72c4dbd0d828cf87a0a/images/732a4a99- 2fd3-2f0d-2894-cbdbe6ccec97.png?resize=571%2C95&ssl=1) **[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BighARTonline/) | [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/bighart_online/?hl=en)** ### Share this: * [ Facebook ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=facebook) * [ X ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=x) * [ Email ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20BIG%20hART%20And%20THE%20FREEDOM%20COLLECTIVE%20Presents%20%27Songs%20For%20Freedom%27&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyrdcast.com%2Fbig-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom%2F&share=email) * [ LinkedIn ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=linkedin) * [ Mastodon ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=mastodon) * [ Nextdoor ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=nextdoor) * [ Pinterest ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=pinterest) * [ Reddit ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=reddit) * [ Tumblr ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/big-hart-and-the-freedom-collective-presents-songs-for-freedom/?share=tumblr) ### Like this: Like Loading… ### _Related_