Spinifiex Gum are comprised of the Marliya choir – a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait teenage singers from the Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir – along with Felix Riebl and Ollie McGill from The Cat Empire. They previously hit headlines with their single ‘Ms Dhu’, released in the wake of the death of Yamaji woman Ms Dhu while in custody last year.
Featuring a heavy hitting drum beat and the choral voicings of the all-girl Cairns -based vocal ensemble, ‘Locked Up’ reflects recent statistics claiming that Indigenous Youths now account for over 50% of juveniles in detention.
In a statement, Briggs praised the collective talents of Marliya and highlighted the urgency of the song, stating “The youth justice is something I’m passionate about and the girls’ voices have brought light to such an intense subject matter.”
‘Locked Up’ and ‘Ms Dhu’ will feature on Spinifex Gum’s self-titled debut, out Friday October 27. For more information visit spinifexgum.com.