Sonic Dialog is a radio series that examines the current day relationship between Australian and US music. DJ Raul Campos, better known from LA’s KCRW 89.9-FM, talks to Australian artists and community radio DJs, exploring what new material from the US they are into, and of course playing both Australian and US tracks.
While this is a simple radio concept, it is built on a rich history dating back to when music first became a business and an industry that could record and distribute. That technology kicked off an era where Australia and the United States began a musical conversation that has impacted every part of contemporary Australian music to this day.
There is no better example than Australian First Nations talent. From the mid 1900’s, opera singer Harold Blair studied in the US, performed in New York, and eventually returned to Australia heavily influenced by US music and culture, including the civil rights movement. Later in the century, Indigenous acts such as Warumpi Band released covers of American stars including Bob Dylan, Bobby Womack and Chuck Berry, not to mention their own rock compositions. In the current day, uniquely Australian hip hop continues to grow out of US inspiration. For example, Yolgnu rapper Baker Boy got into the genre after his uncle came back from a trip to the US with rap tapes. He incorporates native language and instruments such as the yidaki (didgeridoo) into his songs.
There are countless rock, country, soul, blues, R&B, electronic, hip hop and pop acts that Australia has produced, all founded on genres that originated in the United States.
In this time, Australia has forged its own musical identity, with artists making music that is distinctly Australian yet internationally successful. These creators add significant value to the history of these now global genres. Back in the day, Olivia Newton John took on Nashville, the Bee Gees owned the nightclubs, and AC/DC became synonymous with hard rock. More recently, The Kid LAROI, Tame Impala, Kylie Minogue, Rüfüs Du Sol, Troye Sivan, Keith Urban, Dom Dolla, Alison Wonderland, and many more, stand as examples of Australians on the biggest US stages.
Underneath all this success, Sonic Dialog looks at what’s happening out of the big spotlights. It asks Australian artists and community radio DJs how this deep and complex creative relationship is continuing and evolving today, exploring a vital undercurrent of Australian musical creativity.
Sonic Dialog is airing its first five episodes right here on Edge Radio, at 11AM Wednesdays and 4PM Saturdays. Revisit the fourth episode, featuring selections from Andrew Swayze of A.Swayze and The Ghosts, right here!
Catch up on Episode One, featuring Grace Chia, here, Episode Two, featuring Jack McEwan, here, Episode Three, featuring Lucinda Shannon from Slag Queens, here, or Episode Four, featuring Godrich, here!
The Sonic Dialog project is supported by the US Embassy in Canberra.