{{short description|Australian independent record label}} {{Advert|date=October 2024}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{use Australian English|date=October 2024}} {{Infobox record label <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Music --> | name = Skinnyfish Music | image_name = | parent = | founded = {{start date and age|1999}} | website = {{URL |https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au}} | distributor = | genre = Indigenous Roots | country = Australia | location = Darwin }}
'''Skinnyfish Music''' is a Darwin, Australia based independent record label. The label blends traditional Australian First Nations sounds, language, and instrumentation with modern western music genres.
== History == Skinnyfish Music was co-founded in 1999 by Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Mark Grose and Michael Hohnen {{!}} Australian of the Year |url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/mark-grose-and-michael-hohnen |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=australianoftheyear.org.au |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Skinnyfish |url=https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au/about/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-AU}}</ref> The label connects remote Indigenous communities to mainstream global music markets<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skinnyfish Music - taking an ancient culture to the world |url=https://www.tag-group.com/touring/blog/skinnyfish-music-taking-ancient-culture-world |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=TAG Touring |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2017-07-18 |title=Arnhem Land band share stage with Queens of the Stone Age |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-18/queens-of-the-stone-age-big-break-for-the-lonely-boys/8719012 |access-date=2024-10-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> through business development mentoring, education and promotion.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Australian Performing Arts Market |url=https://apam.org.au/2018/program/details/skinnyfish-sound-system.html |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=Australian Performing Arts Market |language=en}}</ref>
Skinnyfish undertake extensive community engagement around the production and cultural preservation of First Nations music, through consultation with the musicians, family members and community elders. They also support a model of fostering economic independence in their artists<ref name=":0" /> and encourage local music at community events.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-17 |title=Christmas party kicks off Palmerston school holiday program |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-17/christmas-party-kicks-off-palmerston-school-holiday-program/9265584 |access-date=2024-10-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
In 2009 they struck a deal with Dramatico Entertainment for the Pan-European release of all the label's albums, after the success of "Gurrumul" across Europe <ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=K |date=23 January 2010 |title=THE DEAL MAKERS |url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=47696892&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site |magazine=Billboard |volume=122 |issue=3}}</ref>
In 2023 in an international, cross-cultural effort with Dr. Lily Yulianti Farid, Skinny Fish Music helped to facilitate the recording of a Yolngu-Macassan version "Bayini", a significant story for Yolngu peoples.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-30 |title=After 200 years, Bayini has found her authentic voice |url=https://www.monash.edu/arts/monash-indigenous-studies/global-encounters-and-first-nations-peoples/news-and-blog/after-200-years,-bayini-has-found-her-authentic-voice |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Monash Indigenous Studies Centre |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable artists associated with Skinnyfish Music == * Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-08-08 |title=Australian music would not be the same without the National Indigenous Music Awards |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-09/national-indigenous-music-awards-20-years-nimas-story/104169008 |access-date=2024-10-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Lonely Boys<ref name=":2" /> * B2M (Bathurst to Melville) * Saltwater Band * Mark A Hunter, ''Songs from the Buffalo Country'' (2008)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title="He encapsulates Old Darwin": the music of Mark A Hunter |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/darwin-evenings/skinnyfish-mark-a-hunter/13608148 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Nabarlek Band<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-21 |title="The garage band without a garage": The story of Nabarlek |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/darwin-evenings/skinnyfish-nabarlek/13571080 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Ego Lemos, ''O Hele Le'' (2009) * Wildflower Band * Manuel Dhurrkay * June Mills, ''I'll be the One'' (2005)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barney |first=Katelyn |date=2006 |title='Women singing up big': the growth of contemporary music recordings by Indigenous Australian women artists |journal=Australian Aboriginal Studies |volume=1 |pages=50}}</ref> * Shellie Morris * Mambali Band * Tom E Lewis * Dewayne Everettsmith
== Community engagement == The label engages with Indigenous communities through touring music groups and artists to festivals, where the main message is of cultural pride, healthy lifestyle education<ref>{{Cite news |title=Skinnyfish musos and NT remote communities- ackle Covid19 awareness with popular song campaign |url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/lifestyle/skinnyfish-musos-and-nt-remote-communities-tackle-covid19-awareness-with-popular-song-campaign/news-story/cef4e0e16dba6443506a7723f12204f5 |work=NT News}}</ref> and social change promotion.<ref name=":0" />
The label has also been notable for its championing of fair compensation for artists.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Brynn |date=2018-07-27 |title=AIR Awards winners Skinnyfish and Milk! Records show independent sector is thriving in the face of digital disruption |url=https://themusicnetwork.com/air-awards-winners-skinnyfish-and-milk-records-show-independent-sector-is-thriving-in-the-face-of-digital-disruption/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=The Music Network}}</ref>
Skinnyfish Music has played a significant role in addressing pressing social issues within remote Indigenous communities.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-18 |title=Skinnyfish Music celebrates 20 years of powerful voices |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-19/skinnyfish-music-celebrates-20-years/11124768 |access-date=2024-10-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title="They wanted to be role models": The story of Tiwi Islands band B2M |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/darwin-evenings/skinnyfish-b2m/13620492 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=ABC listen |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Projects and festivals == * Galiwin'ku Festival - Healthy Lifestyle Festival started in 1998 and was managed by the Ngalkanbuy Health Clinic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Galiwin'ku Festival {{!}} Skinnyfish |url=https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au/project/galiwinku-festival/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Barunga Festival - A celebration of remote Indigenous community life, held annually on the Queen's birthday long weekend June in the small community of Barunga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barunga Festival {{!}} Skinnyfish |url=https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au/project/barunga-festival/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-AU}}</ref> * Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival {{!}} Skinnyfish |url=https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au/project/darwin-international-jazz-arts-festival/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |language=en-AU}}</ref> - held on one night in July (the Dinidjanggama ''heavy dew season'') of Garramilla, Gulumoerrgin, Larrakia country<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-22 |title=Darwin International Jazz & Arts Festival |url=https://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/explore/whats-on/darwin-international-jazz-arts-festival |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=City of Darwin {{!}} Darwin Council, Northern Territory |language=en}}</ref> Initiatied by Skinnyfish Music in 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023 |title=Darwin International Jazz Festival to feature musicians, artists, cartoonists and music for dogs |url=https://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/darwin-international-jazz-festival-to-feature-musicians-artists-cartoonists-and-music-for-dogs/news-story/e6db22686be311d32a47430a7dacff3c |work=NT News}}</ref> * Skinnyfish Sound System - Modern Tribal Late Night Dance Party<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-01-18 |title=Skinnyfish Sound System {{!}} triple j Unearthed |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplejunearthed/artist/skinnyfish-sound-system/ |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=www.abc.net.au |language=en}}</ref> bringing indigenous musicians from remote Australia to remix their traditional songs to popular beats<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-23 |title=Skinnyfish Sound System: traditional Aboriginal music gets the electronic treatment |url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radionational/archived/booksandarts/skinnyfish-sound-system/8831924 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=ABC Radio National |language=en-AU}}</ref>
== Awards and recognition == * 2013 - Grose and Hohnen awarded Australian of the Year for the Northern Territory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recipients By the Year - Australian of the Year |url=https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/listing/2013 |access-date=2024-10-20 |website=australianoftheyear.org.au}}</ref> * 2018 - Outstanding Achievement Award, Australian Independent Record Awards.<ref name=":1" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.skinnyfishmusic.com.au Skinnyfish Music Label]
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Category:Australian independent record labels Category:Record labels established in 1999