We Sing Until Sunrise

by The Merindas

Released  19 June 2020

Candice Lloyd, Kristel Kickett

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With everything going on in the world right now, it's important to have a source of escapism. In the musical sense, we've been bombared with singles and even full-length records that centre themselves around learnings and lessons from the world, whether it's in regards to COVID-19's domination of the year's headlines – take Charli XCX's isolation-born how I'm feeling now record, for example – or the ongoing political situation in the US, which has given us some incredible – and powerful – protest music in the time since Trump's inauguration four years back.

For now-Melbourne-base duo The Merindas, the release of their debut album We Sing Until Sunrise – or Ngaangk Nookertiny Ngala Warangka – couldn't come at a more complex time, with Jawoyn and Thursday Island woman Candice Lorrae and Ballardong Whadjuk and Nyoongar woman Kristel Kickett releasing their album amongst one of the quietest music release weeks for as long as I can remember, with many artists pushing back release dates due to the ongoing protests in the US, which has now fallen down to Australia too, where cities are protesting for both police brutality – like in the US – but also the treatment of Indigenous Australians, who remain one of the most disadvantaged populations in the world due to their treatment by the government and its forces.

However, I get the feeling We Sing Until Sunrise / Ngaangk Nookertiny Ngala Warangka couldn't come at a more better time, too. In many ways, this album welcomes an informed and inspired relief from everything going on in the world right now, that'll educate you and take you into the duo's world while also whisking you away from everything going on, something that arises through their expert balance of potent lyricism and the sense of euphoria that underlays it musically.

From the second We Sing Until Sunrise / Ngaangk Nookertiny Ngala Warangka commences, Candice Lorrae and Kristel Kickett showcase this charm that's become synonymous to The Merindas since we met them last year. Its opening title-track is a bursting explosion of colour and rhythms that celebrates culture, while I Feel It blasts hands-in-the-air choruses about connecting yourself to the land from which you grew. On the previously-teased Before Daylight, one of last year's most joyful songs brings a traditional Noongar Dreaming story to musical life, while Do You See Me – one of the album's more mellow, yet still upbeat moments – emphasises the stolen generation, and the power of reconnection all this time later.

However, where The Merindas and their album soar their highest, is with Drumfire. It's a pacing song that opens with a phrase – "Ngang Karla Noonook Karla," or ‘my fire your fire' – that soon defines its every movement, with rushing production and soaring vocals painting one of the album's most potent pictures. "We started writing this track three years back on Mabo Day inspired by the movements and protests within our community," they say on the song. "We thought of the need for more protest tracks, so we wrote one. The main focus and inspiration stems from Eddie Mabo’s Land Rights movement in the Torres Strait which was one of many at the time."

There's a lot of power in We Sing Until Sunrise / Ngaangk Nookertiny Ngala Warangka, and in a time like now, it stems from something that feels more important than ever. On the record, The Merindas dive head-first into generational pain – and triumph – as well as their own pain and triumph, emerging the other side with songs that make you want to dance until you forget them, and leave everything laid out underneath the disco ball. There's a real power in that, and The Merindas capture it perfectly.

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Source: Pilerats

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