Electric Fields bring Mimili to Malm as the staging for their Eurovision Song Contest performance reveals an ensemble of esteemed artists and one of Zaachariaha's artworks

Electric Fields bring Mimili to Malm as the staging for their Eurovision Song Contest performance reveals an ensemble of esteemed artists and one of Zaachariaha's artworks

3 May, 2024

Media releases

Their song One Milkali (One Blood) features Yankunytjatjara; an Aboriginal language of the Anangu peoples (one of the oldest living cultures on earth) *Interviews available*

*Images here*

*Images from 2nd rehearsal in Malm here*

*Footage from 2nd rehearsal in Malm here*

*Official promo here*

*Listen to One Mikali (One Blood) here*

This week, South Australia's powerful, ethereal duo Electric Fields began rehearsals in Malm , Sweden, for their Eurovision Song Contest performance. It has now been revealed that Electric Fields; the extraordinary voice of Zaachariaha Fielding and brilliance of producer and keyboardist Michael Ross, will be joined on stage by a dream ensemble of esteemed talent comprised of vocalists Brendan Maclean, Alyson Joyce, and Simi Vuata, with Fred Leone on the Yidaki. Their staging is also illuminated by one of Zaachariaha's artworks - a painting titled Paraulpi' which inspired and created the vision for the LED display that sets a scene of magical wonder bringing the song grounds of Mimili to Malm in Sweden.

The duo will take their song One Milkali (One Blood) to the biggest stage in the world in Semi Final 1 on Tuesday 7 May CEST in Europe. Australians can experience all the action LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand on Wednesday 8 May at 5:00am AEST and in SBS's exclusive prime time event on Friday 10 May at 7:30pm AEST.

Electric Fields will make history at this year's contest as the first Australian artists to take Yankunytjatjara; an Aboriginal language of the Anangu peoples (one of the oldest living cultures on earth) to the world's largest live music event. From the moment One Milkali (One Blood) starts it will stop you in your tracks. Zaachariaha's arresting vocals immediately command attention against a twinkling chorus of instruments as he states, I stand in the eye of the spiral, as if on the precipice of something great, because they are. One Milkali loosely translates to One Blood' and is their dream for a world where we are all united. It's a world disco in the face of the vast universe, mirroring the kinship we all share with the repeating patterns of nature.

About Zaachariaha's artwork Paraulpi'

An accomplished and celebrated multi-disciplinary artist, Zaachariaha comes from a strong family lineage of artists and storytellers. His energetic and visceral paintings exist as contemporary works whilst acknowledging and honouring the visual language of his culture. Zaachariaha's most recent award is the prestigious Wynne Prize in 2023 for his painting Inma. Zaachariaha, who works at the APY Collective, treats the canvas as if it was a stage; melody and colours that represent certain parts of emotions.

The title of Electric Fields' One Milkali (One Blood) is from the artwork titled Milkali Kutju' by Zaachariaha's father, acclaimed contemporary artist Robert Fielding. Zaachariaha explains the painting speaks to the atoms, everything that happens in the body, and how we're all interconnected.

Zaachariaha's painting Paraulpi'is a profound glimpse into the cultural heritage of the Central Australian Anangu Peoples. Painted at the end of 2023, Paraulpi is one of Zaachariaha's favourite memories and one he often visits through both his work as a visual artist and as one half of Electric Fields. For Zaachariaha, Paraulpi marries with the song One Milkali (One Blood) perfectly as it speaks to how the relationship with innocence - that grandchild and grandparent memory - helps everyone on a journey trying to figure themselves out as they move through the world.

Although Milkali Kutju' means blood', there is no direct translation for the complexity of its meaning in the English language. It's a feeling; it's all of the senses at their highest capacity, building a space that feels really large, but where you feel small. You feel like everything, but you also feel like nothing. To Anangu peoples, this is Tjukurpa.

Zaachariaha Fielding said: One Milkali means to know thyself' and once you do that, don't hold on to that. I feel in my opinion that the existence of that one vessel is to feed the collective chain, and that's something I don't think we have done but we have a fantasised idea about it.

It's when we get to that point that the individual shies away and steps away from the opportunity of the global choir to make one song. I feel like Eurovision and this platform is probably the chance to do that. There's an opportunity to make it come from the four corners of the globe. It requires everyone to invest in this. Will it happen in my lifetime? I don't know. But do I want to feed that energy? Yes, I do.

The vibrant colours of the painting Paraulpi' symbolise the essence of Milkali the blood, while the complex songlines depict the timeless journey of Aboriginal peoples across the land. It's a beautiful portrayal of the sacred bond between generations, where grandparents pass down their wisdom, stories, and connection to Ngura, the homeland, to their grandchildren. Truly a masterpiece that speaks volumes about cultural identity and resilience.

Please see here for more information on Zaachariaha's artworks.

Meet Electric Fields' dream team

*Images here*

Fred Leone (Yidaki player)

Fred Leone is a cultural leader, a true-born artist and one of the Butchulla Songmen with Aboriginal, Tongan and South-Sea Islander roots. One of very few Initiated Aboriginal men in the arts industry, Fred comes from the Garrwa and Butchulla tribes. The Butchulla tribe are the traditional owners of K'gari from Burrum He

LINK:	https://www.sbs.com.au/aboutus/2024/05/03/electric-fields-bring-mimili...
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