A Desert Pea Media team has been in North QLD for the past 2 weeks on The Song Nation Project), and having finally accessed internet, we are extremely pleased to announce the release of The Colli Crew’s long-awaited seventh single titled ‘Legends’ - Created as part of a hip hop mentoring program with Toby Finlayson and Joel Westlake.
The Colli Crew – a group of ‘razor-sharp rappers’ from Collarenebri in Northwest NSW, have had a very busy 12 months. Created as part of an ongoing mentoring program with Toby Finlayson and Matthew Priestley from Desert Pea Media, the songs ‘Talk Of the Town’ and ‘Change the Game’ – have been played high rotation on Triple J and turned heads on Triple J Unearthed.
Not only that, but having won the 2012 Generation One ‘Hands Across Australia’ School Songwriting Competition, they have attracted invitations for The Colli Crew to perform around the country at events such as The ARIA Awards @ The Sydney Opera House (2011), Stylin’ Up Festival in Brisbane (2011) and The NAIDOC Ball at Darling Harbour. Not to mention a nomination in the Australian Indigenous Hip hop (BUMP) Awards. Suddenly, this crew of 12-15yr old kids from a small town near the NSW/QLD Border, are being noticed in a big way.
Collarenebri is Gamileroi Land. Around 150kms from Moree and Lightning Ridge, not too far from Walgett – red dirt country. Since 2010, Toby Finlayson and Matthew Priestley from indigenous community media organisation, Desert Pea Media have been developing a grassroots mentoring program with young people at Collarenebri Central School. Participants learn a range of media skills such as film making, community research skills, storytelling, hip hop lyricism and music production to start a dialogue around local social and cultural issues, and create change for their community.
The Desert Pea Media process has developed over almost 10 years and directors Toby Finlayson and Matthew Priestley have big plans. Since the program began, participant attendance rates at school have increased by 70%. Toby says “We use media as a tool of engagement for young people. We are creating popular culture such as film and music to engage people in community, culture and country.”
A short documentary was also produced around DPM’s work in Collarenebri as part of a integrated advertising campaign by the search engine Bing.
A 30 sec TVC was also created on Desert Pea Media’s work, and is currently running on Australian commercial television.
Other big news is the release of the recent Desert Pea Media hip hop fusion projects from Central West NSW and The Philippines… Stand by.
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Please tell t Colli Crew they are Truely Deadly!!!!! I just listened to Legends!!! I am so impressed. What a whole package deal on close the Gap, and fun to. I was captivated from start to finish and learned lots along the way. i am a lecture at UNE. I am using your song as part of my teaching about Aboriginal health and Close the Gap. Any of you mob are interested in coming to University and studying in a health degree, you have the right thinking going on. If you would like us to come and have a visit with you at your school or TAFE, please let me know, I will do my best to arrange it.