Rare Earth Records

Connecting to Country projects that work with Tribal Elders and Youth to connect with their traditional country and culture to strengthen personal and social identity for future generations. The Connecting to Country projects connect young people to their country, under the guidance of elders to teach young people about culture, language, health and the environment.
“We are creating new ways to continue to educate our future generations about country, culture, story and song lines.” (Lance Riley, Indigenous Elder 1999)
Having a connection to country and culture is important to help foster healthy social, emotional and physical development for young people and society at large.

REF have been working with the Papunya community to help create a media organisation to record the dreamtime stories. Funds from the sale of art are being used to help create a new business for the people of Papunya.

The Dreamtime is a way of sustaining culture and the environment. The main focus of Indigenous people is to keep the culture strong. This means having a connection to country and the Dreamtime.

An Indigenous vision shared with REF is for all people to continue to work together for a strong society for future generations.

“We are creating new ways to continue to educate future generations about country, culture, story and song lines.” (Elder)

REF use multimedia to create cultural education tools that strengthen Community identity. A whole of community approach is being used where Elders are guiding Youth on how to use multi media to continue cultural traditions for future generations.

Positive hip-hop has been facilitating Indigenous community development programs with the Liverpool school, Western Sydney.

The Rare Earth Foundation is a non-profit community organisation that generates funds to
support and deliver cultural development programs.

These programs are focused on developing living global cultural heritage networks.

REF believe that we are all part of a global community and together
we can engineer a sustainable cultural and environmental future.

All cultural development services, technologies and information developed remain
global property, open source, equal access and free.

REF recognises that through maintaining and transmitting Indigenous
Elders knowledge, we can help to ensure cultural vitality and
reconciliation for future generations.

REF supports projects that develop social capital and assist in
creating cultural development tool kits. These tool kits can help
strengthen the concept of a shared global cultural heritage.

REF invite you to be involved in co creating a sustainable future.

Finke community development

Finke Freestylers - Rare Earth TV Hip hop music video from community development projects in the Indigenous community of Finke (Aputula) Northern Territory, Australia in 2007. All music and lyrics written by the Finke upper primary class and Thomas Stuart, Indigenous Youth Worker. This project would not have possible without the help of Jane and Peter from the Finke school, CAYLUS, Multi Vision Media and Rare Earth Foundation.

Tjupi Band is an is a Central Australian Indigenous band from the community of Papunya, Northern Territory. They sing in Luritja and English and play desert reggae.[1] The lineup changes depending on who is available and can include Barnabus Daniels, Sammy Butcher, Jeremiah Butcher, Jason Butcher (from Spin.FX), Malcolm Karpa (from Spin.FX), Esau Marshall (from Spin.FX), Dwayne Abbott, Ethan McDonald, Samuel Inkamala, George Butcher and Peter Lowson. Tjupi Band were featured on an episode of triple j tv’s The Hack Half Hour which covered an annual Alice Springs concert, the Bush Bands Bash.

Tjupi (Honey Ant) come from the Papunya region 250 – 300k north west of Alice Springs. Tjupi Band members are made up of fellas with strong country and family ties right across the region including Mt Leibig, Kintore, Haasts Bluff, Kiwikurra communities. The main language spoken in this area is Luritja and this is the language used to perform their songs.

Papunya is the main base for Tjupi Band activity; Papunya is place with a rich music tradition. It is the home community of Sammy Butcher, mentor for musicians throughout the region. Sammy, who is famous as lead guitar for the Warumpi Band, has been a major influence in the development of contemporary indigenous music; his skill as a guitarist has been emulated by many but not matched, by any. He has encouraged the establishment of a recording studio in Papunya which has led to various independent productions and contributed generally to the fertile music environment of Papunya.

The sound of Tjupi, in many ways epitomizes Central Australia desert reggae – sparse upbeat, driving kick and snare, in-language; the songs are about loneliness for country, love lost, listening to elders, following tradition, social issues, skin pride, tribal unity.

The Tjupi line up is variable, it depends on who is ‘on the road’, ‘in town’, ‘playing football’; mainly, Tjupi includes a preponderance of members of the Butcher family. A typical set up includes Barnabus Daniels (vox, keys, rhythm), Sammy Butcher (lead, keyboards, bass, drums), Jeremiah Butcher (drums), Jason Butcher (drums).

BAND MEMBERS:
Jason Butcher Lead Guitar
Malcolm Karpa Rhythm Guitar
Jeremiah Butcher Keyboard
Dwayne Abbott Vocals
Barnabus Danials Vocals
Ethan McDonald Vocals
Samual Inkamala Drums
George Butcher Bass Guitar

You know when MC Shureshock in is the house. With total command over the mic, its nothing for him to get a room full of people hanging on his every word. Unflappable as an MC, he always knows exactly what to say.

A professional MC since 1990, Shureshock aka Cameron James Brown has MCed to practically any genre of music you care to mention. Hes rocked hardcore scenes, drum n bass nights, hip hop jams, house parties, live bands and so much more. Having worked it as the front man for new wave Aussie collective Zephyr Timbre, Shureshocks no stranger to working with a full band, either. Working the festival scene, Zephyr Timbre is probably most well-known for its support of Jamiroquai on his 2002 tour. Nowadays, however, its breakbeat thats getting the Shureshock touch.

Part of a formidable team with Australias ..1 DJ, Kid Kenobi, Shureshock has taken his MCing on tours through Europe twice. His inimitable style translates not only across genres but across cultures, with Asian tours in 2005 adding to the extensive list of international dates for the self-styled MC. Its impossible to pinpoint exactly what it is about Shureshock thats so pleasing to the ear. Perhaps its his ability to flit from genre to genre so seamlessly. Perhaps its the experience hes accrued as both an MC and as a writer. Maybe its how he can go from a shout to a whisper to a song within a heartbeat. Or maybe its just his flow smooth and smart and a different breed entirely to that of your run-of-the-mill hollering hype-man.

Whatever it is, Shureshock’s style has won him not only thousands of fans but a worldwide first. Shureshock is the only MC to appear on a Ministry of Sound compilation ever! MCing alongside Kid Kenobi on the Clubbers Guide to Breaks the pair are as dynamic on disc as they are on the dancefloor, bringing the standard of mix compilations to a whole other level. Called upon for collaboration by both Australian and international artists, Shureshock has worked with a stellar cast of musicians. From BeXta, DB Chills, Greg Packer, to big wigs Fat Boy Slim, Krafty Kuts, The Stanton Warriors, Goldie, Freq Nasty & The Crystal Method, his talents are in no way bound by genre or border.

Be prepared to hear a lot more Shureshock, both as a live MC and a recording artist. His years of performing and perfecting have moulded an innovative, intelligent artist one who, for all his achievements, is yet to reach the prime of his career.