While rain was bucketing down for our 4th major flood in 18 months, a msg came from Marija, a member of my choir. I was so moved by her words...and this song just fell out after some tears and a good cuppa! Thanks for this co-write Marija Zaja! xx

Watching Sky Cry

This song was written in 2021 as I contemplated, from my non aboriginal perspective, the power and inspiration of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
I asked my Darug friend Stacy Etal to translate and sing the first verse of the song in Darug language. 
Stacy says: 
Translating into Darug language isn’t an easy task. Due to our language nearly being lost there are many gaps in our vocabulary and certain English words were not used by Darug speakers. As a Community, Darug people are now working on rediscovering our language with the help of linguists and members of the Darug Custodian Aboriginal Corporation and the Dharug Ngurra Aboriginal Corporation. 
I have translated the words in Verse 1 into an aboriginal perspective and the words are the closest translation I have been able to come up with in consultation with my language teacher Jasmine Seymour.  The words are:
Bayady’u budbudin
I spoke from the heart 
Gumbady’u yaragulgu 
I shouted it clean 
Bayady’u budbudin
I spoke from the heart 
Ngarabami yagu
You will hear now

We hope you will sing this song loud and clear! You can find resources for choirs and community singing groups here: http://bit.ly/Voicesong
Enjoy - Suze & Stacy :-)
Artwork by RidgiDigiDesigns www.etsy.com/au/shop/RidgiDigiDesigns
Thanks to our wonderful studio choir - The Sound Patterns: 
Sopranos: Irene Otter, Sue Woodhead, Holly McPherson
Tenors: Keiran Holmes, Angela Cice, Darryl Roberts Jim Mulhearn
Baritone: Stephen Evans, Darryl Roberts

Voice!

Following on from the Voice! song Project last year, this song expresses some of my post referendum thoughts as we continue the fight for a fair and just Australia. 
I have written the song as an ally, from my non aboriginal perspective. 
The lyric is again inspired by The Uluru Statement from the Heart, especially where the Statement refers to 'the unfinished business of Australia's nationhood'. 
If you'd like to sing this song with your community, you can find free resources here: www.suzepratten.com.au (resources include a choir arrangement, lyric sheet, backing track, practice tracks & more). 

'Makarrata' is a word from the Yolngu language. This direct quote from the Uluru Statement explains the idea of Makarrata:
'Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self- determination. We seek a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations and truth-telling about our history.' (from paragraphs 10 and 11 of the Statement)

Many thanks to Andy Downer, Imogen Wolf and Rae Stanton for their help to bring this project to life. 

If this song resonates, please share it widely. Singing is such a great way to win hearts & minds and to bond a community and when we sing about something we believe in, it can be especially powerful. Let's keep singing for the change we want to see.

You can find this song on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/XvG20idl27I
And the Voice song here: https://youtu.be/tuOpO_SJEog

Unfinished Business

This is a song I wrote to honour the life of Nelson Mandela -  we recorded it with the fabulous Stay Tuned last year - took it to Marc Scully at Studio 57 and he made it shine shine shine!!

Song For Mandela Studio Mix

We sang this at Singing at the Monastery on Anzac Day 2016. The Latin  translates to 'Not to us Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory'. It is a beautiful meditation on humility and thanksgiving. Enjoy.

SATM 2016

Non Nobis

Ukelypstix is my favourite band! 
Umm.. it IS my band! 
I love playing and singing with Alannah Russack in this fab Ukulele duo.
If you like the sound of these songs in preview, skip on over to Bandcamp and pick up a copy of our brand new EP for yourself!
https://ukelypstix.bandcamp.com/

UKELYPSTIX TEASER

Here we are singing our heart's out at WomanSong last night.
In this current political climate, we more than ever need to say a Farewell to Arms

Farewell To Arms

WomanSong sings this beautiful piece by Libbie Roderick  - it has become our theme song!

How Could Anyone Ever Tell You

Stay Tuned sing the iconic pop song Love is in the Air at the 2018 ABC Radio Sing Out Sydney event! The show was hosted by ABC Sydney's Wendy Harmer and Robbie Buck.

Stay Tuned @ Sing Out Sydney 2018

Choir and singing teacher, rhythm lover, music groupie!  "Music is the strongest form of magic" - Marilyn Manson

Suze Pratten

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