A MOUNT Isa Aboriginal hip hop artist is on the line-up to play at the Yabun Festival in Sydney next year.
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Joseph Dargan, who goes by the stage name of Lucky Luke, said performing at the high profile indigenous festival on January 26 will drastically increase his exposure.
“It’s going to be massive because there’s like, 15,000-20,000 people going to it every year and they are going to be political minded.
“That’s what my music is about. Unity and advocating for my people. Everyone that goes there is on the same page.”
Previous performers have included Jessica Mauboy, Dan Sultan and Archie Roach. Each year’s line-up has 10 performers, Dargan said.
Dargan was recently on the record saying the timing of Triple J’s Hottest 100 Countdown was awkwardly timed being held on Australia Day. He felt he could not enjoy listening to the music due to the significance of the date for Aboriginal people.
However, the difference with the Yabun Festival was it celebrated Aboriginal people’s survival and included everyone in togetherness, Dargan said.
“It’s a good way to try to bring everybody together and shows that instead of pointing out the bad things that happen.
“There are forums where elders come in and speak on issues. It’s just showing people our culture and celebrating that we’re still here, we haven’t got wiped out, and it’s putting everything in a positive light.”
He applied for the festival early this year without expecting to be picked up. He received an email several weeks ago that he would be part of the line-up.
“Everyone uses it too much in the reality shows; surreal,” he said.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s real or anything like that. My whole musical career is one lucky thing after another.”
Dargan did not believe his career would be as successful as it has been. His goal had been to make it to Itunes. “I didn’t think to get national airplay and big concerts.
“After this my career is going to pick up.
“If I can get 1000 people that like my music I will be happy.
“I’m not just some dude on Facebook doing this and doing that.”
Dargan said that the stories he tells through his music are true, and that’s what set him apart. “That shines through and when you’re actually telling the truth and being real, people can relate to it.
“A lot of Aussie hip hop is about good times and summer on the beach drinking and doing drugs.”
Dargan said it had recently become the trend to be more political in Aboriginal hip hop. It’s a reason why he is changing his style in his next album ‘Walkabout.’ It will be about do-overs, starting out, horrible flatmates, living off noodles on a shoestring budget, having a crappy car.
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