Songs strive for harmony

VOCALIST Ajak Kwai and her five-piece band will perform at The Eastern this month as part of a Victorian tour of EP Red Sands.

Bringing pop, funk, and blues together, the South Sudanese-Australian singer is most importantly keen to share her unique style with a wider audience.

“It’s not mainstream music, but people love music no matter what language you speak, and even though some of the songs are in English, I will still sing most of them in the concert in my language, Dinka,” she said.

The first track on the EP, I’ll Be Your Eyes, is a song about Kwai’s treasured grandfather.

“When I was quite young, I loved him so much. He was blind, and I used to walk him, with myself as his walking stick. My aunty was quite old, too, and I just loved them.

“I lived in Hobart for a long time. I used to go to the nursing home because I love old people. When I came to Melbourne, we used to go up from the church to visit a nursing home, but when I visited, I used to cry all day,” she said.

“They told me not to come because I’d be emotional thinking, where are their children? People are very busy here in the life that we live in Australia. I’ll Be Your Eyes is about respecting older people.”

The EP title track Red Sands was inspired by Kwai’s trips to Tennant Creek, and Arnhem Land, where a gorge reminded her of Victoria Falls.

“The red sand was similar to the red sand in South Sudan, which is like blood,” she said.

Kwai encourages people to come along, enjoy the sounds, and engage with her South Sudanese-Australian art and culture.

“If you don’t know people of different cultures, you can be scared of them, but if you know them, you’re less scared.

“I just want to tell people… Don’t be scared, we love you. We are people like you, it doesn’t matter what colour we are. We are a good people who just love Australia,” she said.

“Hatred doesn’t get us anywhere. When it comes to harmony, the community has a responsibility. Come and sing with us.”

Originally migrating to Tasmania from South Sudan, Kwai has lived in Australia for 21 years.

Following her first album, Let Me Grow My Wings, Kwai recorded Red Sands through not-for-profit label Music in Exile, which supports migrant and refugee musicians.

Allysha Joy will also perform during the afternoon. She features on Kwai’s track Arrows. The concert begins at 3pm on Sunday, 20 February. Visit bit.ly/3gaUzvJfor tickets.