DENNI is a Tasmanian Aboriginal singer and songwriter who is passionate about her heritage and keeping her culture alive. Her new EP Runaways dropped on October 22.
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How has your Tasmanian Aboriginal heritage inspired you?
My name is Denni Louise Proctor. I am a pakana woman and storyteller of the trawlwoolway nation lutruwita/Tasmania. I have always been active in the community, and so has my family. We are a proud people. It is a constant struggle to bring our peoples story to the surface, keeping the fires burning our ancestors lit.
The history of lutruwita Tasmania is not something you can really google. I grew up in duel communities, between NSW where I was born and Tasmania where my family is from. I've really dedicated my 20s to being an active member of my community and use my art to advocate, heal and grow.
Tell us about your new single - where did it stem from?
I had to really dig deep and channel my own life experience. It's been a revealing process working on such big ideas that I have been wrestling with in my music for some time. Writing on themes of social injustice, emancipation and the strength of my people.
Tell us about your new EP - what can we expect? What themes does it deal with and why?
I was really inspired by the music from the islands and the music I was introduced to growing up. Stories of longing for home, love, loss, emancipation. Stories that will never leave me. Art has been an important part of my life, but it has taken me to my adult years to really see its benefits and take it seriously.
In my upcoming EP I touch on topics like parallel worlds, factions not communicating, loneliness, unity, empathy and following your passion. It's always interesting as an Aboriginal artist to not show political themes and to disconnect from your own lens of culture and world views. Runaways EP is essentially about worlds colliding, stories of self-determination and an insight into my artistic Universe. Runaways is the dream of leaving it all behind, chasing your passion and moving with the waves of change. These themes capture my evolution as DENNI, a pakana artist and storyteller.
What was COVID-19 like for you? How did it affect you?
When it hit, like many people I lost all my work. I had a full calendar of touring work into 2021 so when that fell through I lost my unit moved back in with family and started a uni course. At first it affected me in a negative way because everything I had planned for had fell apart but looking back this EP wouldn't have come together without that massive change.
Where did your passion for music come from?
I've really dedicated my 20s to advocating for social change, as an active member of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and pakana storyteller. Advocating through my music platforms, the importance of truth telling in this country about our true history. Spending time in Adelaide studying at CASM during forced community closures, funding cuts and political movement that led to mass protests around the country. On the steps of Adelaide parliament house was where I first read a protest poem; this moment would shape a big part of my adult life.
Growing up I would go to 'putalina festival' at Oyster Cove in southern Tasmania with my family, where I would eventually get to support Archie Roach, an Australian music legend who I grew up listening to. I really love history and putting pieces together, I think music fulfils a really big part of that for me.
Sharing my story through art and culture has opened so many doors and the only way that I know how to show my gratitude is to keep at it, to keep growing and expressing my passion for social movement through the music that I write.
What do you want people to know about you and your music?
I started out as an indie folk singer, travelling the country. I formed bands in Tasmania and experimented with genres, playing many stages across the country. For the last three years I have expanded my career in the music industry, having worked with Terrapin Puppet Theatre, travelling the country as an Actor Puppeteer.
Recently I've been writing a lot and going through heaps of changes in my life, this is really reflective of the stories I'm about to tell in my up-coming EP Runaways.