Australian rock band, Midnight Oil, are back and better than ever with their first song in 18 years. “Gadigal Land” is a politically charged song featuring Dan Sultan, Joel Davison, Kaleena Briggs, and Bunna Lawrie. DJ Rev. Keith has chosen to feature it as his pick this week!
“Gadigal Land” is featured on a mini-album, The Makarrata Project, in which Midnight Oil collaborated with various Indigenous artists. The title of the song refers to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the original owners of what is now Sydney and the surrounding regions in Australia.
In a statement about the song, the band said “We’ve always been happy to lend our voice to those who call for racial justice, but it really feels like we’ve reached a tipping point. We urge the federal government to heed the messages in the Uluru Statement From The Heart and act accordingly. Hopefully this song and The Makarrata Project mini-album we’ve created alongside our First Nations friends can help shine a bit more light on the urgent need for genuine reconciliation in this country and in many other places too.”
The song has lyrics such as “Welcome to Gadigal Land, do you know our story?”. It revisits the events that took place in 1788 with a passionate message that reaffirms their importance. The song has a chorus of horns and a fast tempoed drum beat. The guitars and vocals give the song a familiar feel and sound to many of Midnight Oil’s other releases.
Midnight Oil premiered the video for “Gadigal Land” at Australia’s National Indigenous Music Awards on August 8. Check it out here:
Be sure to tune into 100.1 FM or lightning100.com to hear “Gadigal Land” by Midnight Oil, featured as Rev. Keith’s DJ Pick of the Week. And we want to hear what you think! Tweet at us with #L100DJPick and give us your take on the track.
