“SIX WOMEN. SIX distinct life stories tied to the complex history of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea’s indigenous peoples. Six strikingly fresh voices that move this history down a new and compelling path.” That’s the way Barefoot Divas is described. They are a group of Australia and New Zealand's innovative, acclaimed female indigenous singer/songwriters, and Walk A Mile In My Shoes (VGM/MGM Distribution), their new recording of music they performed live to great critical acclaim at the 2012 Sydney Festival, drops in the US in July. The divas are Ursula Yovich (Aborigine Burarra/Serbia) and Emma Donovan (Aborigine Gumbaynggirr NSW) joined by Whirimako Black (Maori), Maisey Rika (Maori), Merenia (Maori/Romany-Gypsy), and Ngaiire (Papua New Guinea). Together, they create and perform music “in a powerful, symbolic collaboration” that has been hailed as “a truly illuminating, heart-warming, spine-tingling experience that will resonate for audiences of all walks of life” (ABC News 24) For details, we spoke with music producer and manager, and Barefoot Divas creator, Vicki Gordon. CLASSICAL TV: How did the Barefoot Divas project come about? How were the divas selected and what kind of musical backgrounds do they have? VICKI GORDON: Barefoot Divas came about as part of my ongoing commitment to giving voice to women's songs and stories within the Australian music industry. Each of the Divas has a career in her own right and they are all at the top of their game as individual artists. I curated the project based on my experience as a manager of Indigenous artists and drawing on my instinctive knowledge and connection to music. CTV: Can you tell us something about the tradition musical traditions embodies in these six musicians? VG: The artists represent contemporary Australian Aborigine, NZ Maori, Maori/Romany/Gypsy and Papua New Guinea. They perform a combination of original compositions, Aboriginal language and a fusion of English and Maori (Te Reo) lyrics showcasing the Diva's six-part harmonies and the remarkable voices of the troupe swinging between roots, jazz, R&B and Latin-infused soul. Australian Aboriginal artists and Maori artists have not traditionally performed together on the same stage and this was a cultural first in Australia and NZ.

Producer and creator Vicki Gordon; details of Gordon's work are here CTV: How old are these traditions? VG: Aboriginal culture is the oldest in the world dating back to over 40,000 years! CTV: What can you tell us about the compositions performance by the Divas and the other musicians—are they traditional? Modern or contemporary?

VG: The majority of these compositions are contemporary with the exception of the songs performed by Whirimako Black (Maori) which are more traditional. CTV: How, if at all, has it be influenced by Western and more academic and formal musical traditions? VG: Each of the artists perform and compose contemporary songs which include language and cultural understanding from their heritage and ancestry. How the music has been influenced by Western and more academic and formal music traditions is really a question for each of the Divas rather than a general statement I could make. CTV: How would you describe the power of the music of the Barefoot Divas? VG: Barefoot Divas is more than a musical experience, it is a cultural encounter which embodies the passion and spirit of each of these extraordinary artists. Apart from the truly miraculous harmonies, these women are singing not only in their own but in each other's languages which is really quite incredible to behold. The women are also extremely bold and confronting on some aspects of their experience and watching the divas support and encourage each other to be daring and provocative and risky in both their lyrics and music is one of the aspects that makes this show really special for an audience. CTV: What would you expect new audiences for the Divas’ music to take way from their performances? VG: Highly respected Australian theatre critic James Waites sums it up here: “I felt like I was lying on my side on lush grass and these beautiful women performers were pouring nectar into my ear – and it was running down into my soul. It was the integrity as much as the accomplishment, the gift for ‘healing’ these empowered women artists possess. I don’t believe you have to be autobiographically connected – I am pretty sure most people in the audience felt the same way. It’s to do with the preservation of centuries-old truths in the bodies of these women – what makes them Indigenous artists. And they remind us how ‘emptied out’ so much of our own culture has become.” For more information on Barefoot Divas, go here. www.barefootdivas.com.au