Electric Fields

Electric Fields are an Aboriginal Australian electronic music duo made up of vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross.[2] Electric Fields combine modern electric-soul music with Aboriginal culture and sing in Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and English.[1] The duo have released an EP and several singles.

This article is about the Australian band. For electric charge, see Electric field.

Electric Fields
Electric Fields in Adelaide 2019
Background information
OriginAustralia
GenresElectronic[1]
Years active2015–present
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/electricfieldsofficial/
MembersZaachariaha Fielding
Michael Ross

Career

In 2011, Zaachariaha Fielding auditioned for the third season of The X Factor Australia, performing Tracy Chapman's "Talkin Bout a Revolution". In 2013, Michael Ross auditioned for the fifth season performing Phil Collins' "You Can't Hurry Love".[2]

Since 2015, the duo have been performing as Electric Fields. Their repertoire moves across pop, soul and electronica, while being described as "Daft Punk meets Nina Simone in the Deep Forest".[2]

In June 2016, the duo released their debut EP Inma (which derives its name from the cultural ceremony of Aṉangu women known as inma[3]). Daniel Browning, a presenter and producer of ABC Radio National said "Co-creating music that is as exciting as it is emotionally moving – the beauty and sheer power of their musicality is breathtaking. Often featuring Zaachariaha's traditional languages of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people, Electric Fields music ranges from pop to epic-scale electronic works, through to intensely intimate story-songs."[4] Their music was played at the Spirit Festival 2016 and Adelaide Fashion Festival 2016 and on Triple J.[5] In 2016, the duo won the Emily Burrows Award, an award given to recognise and further the professional development of original South Australian music artists or bands.[6]

The duo won Best New Talent of the Year at the 2017 National Indigenous Music Awards.[7] The duo was nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2018 National Indigenous Music Awards.[8]

In December 2018, the duo was announced as one of the entrants in Eurovision - Australia Decides in an attempt to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The duo said "The Eurovision Song Contest is the Olympics of camp! It's a flamboyant spectacle and we're excited to be part of the first ever Eurovision – Australia Decides show on home soil. We want to tell a story on stage with fierce energy that will hopefully shoot through the cameras and out of the TV screens at home."[7] Electric Fields performed at the competition with their song "2000 and Whatever" on 9 February 2019 and came second in both Jury and Audience vote, and second overall.[9] In May 2019, the duo announced the Australian jury votes at the Eurovision Song Contest final. [10]

Electric Fields performs in their hometown of Adelaide during their "2000 and Whatever" tour, July 2019
Zaachariaha Fielding sings "Nina" at an Electric Fields concert in Adelaide, South Australia

In 2019, Electric Fields toured their single "2000 and Whatever" around Australia. During performances, the duo was joined by a guitarist, a didgeridoo player and guest dancers.

In July 2019, Electric Fields received two nominations at the National Indigenous Music Awards.[11][12]

On 3 April 2020, Electric Fields' collaboration with Norwegian group Keiino, "Would I Lie" was released.[13]

The duo were joined virtually by Jessica Mauboy, Missy Higgins and John Butler for a performance of Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody‘s song about the Gurindji strike, "From Little Things Big Things Grow". The performance was recorded at the Adelaide Botanic Garden conservatory, and broadcast for the season finale of ABC Television's 6-part pandemic series, The Sound, on 23 August 2020.[14]

In August 2020, they performed three acoustic sets at the Ukaria Cultural Centre in Mount Barker in the Adelaide Hills, in a collaboration with online streaming platform Sunny Side Uploads.[15]

In October, the duo will perform at the 2020 AFL Grand Final.[16]

Discography

Extended plays
Title Details
Inma

Singles
Title Year Peak
chart
positions		 Album
AUS
Digital
[18]
"No Other High"
(Touch Sensitive featuring Electric Fields)[19]		 2017 — Visions
"2000 and Whatever"[20] 2019 38 Australia Decides
"Vision"[21][22] — Deadly Hearts 2
"Would I Lie"
(Keiino featuring Electric Fields)[13]		 2020 — OKTA
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Other appearances
List of other non-single song appearances
Title Year Album
"Shade Away" 2017 NIMA Presents: The Sound of Indigenous Australia - Now and Before[23]
"Glorious"
(Hermitude featuring Electric Fields}		 2019 Pollyanarchy[24]
"From Little Things Big Things Grow" 2020 Cannot Buy My Soul: The Songs of Kev Carmody[25]

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. Electric Fields have been nominated for one award.[26]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Lost to
2019 2000 and Whatever Tour Best Australian Live Act Nominated Hilltop Hoods - The Great Expanse World Tour

National Dreamtime Awards

The National Dreamtime Awards is an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community and commenced in 2017. Electric Fields have won one award.[27][28]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2019 themselves Male Music Artist Won

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. The award ceremony commenced in 2004. Electric Fields have won one award from four nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017 Electric Fields Best New Talent Won
2018 Electric Fields Artist of the Year Nominated
2019 Electric Fields Artist of the Year Nominated
"2000 and Whatever" Song of the Year Nominated
2020[29][30] Electric Fields Artist of the Year Nominated
Electric Fields & Keiino - "Would I Lie" Song of the Year Nominated

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2017[31][32] Electric Fields South Australian Live Act of the Year Won
Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields) South Australian Live Voice of the Year Won
2018[33][34] Electric Fields Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year Won
2019[35][36] Electric Fields Live Act of the Year Won
Live Electronic Act (or DJ) of the Year Won
Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields) Live Voice of the Year Won
2020[37] Zaachariaha Fielding (Electric Fields) Live Voice of the Year Won

Biographical details

Zaachariaha Fielding is the oldest of nine children of a family in Mimili, in the APY lands of north-west South Australia. During the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, he went to stay with his family and started painting with his nieces and nephews. Returning to Adelaide, he joined a group of artists at the remote APY Gallery Adelaide, taking the opportunity to develop his talents in visual art. His first exhibition, Zaachariaha Fielding: Gold and Silver Linings, was mounted at the gallery from November to December 2020.[38][39]

References
  1. "Musicians Electric Fields". Creative Spirits. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. "Electric Fields: Don't try putting us in a box". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  3. "IY2019: Saving language through Dreaming story". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  4. "Inma by Electric Fields". CD Baby. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  5. "ELECTRIC FIELDS". Select Music. 2 February 2019.
  6. "Emily Burrows Award recipients hit WOMADelaide". APRA AMCOS. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  7. "Electric Fields to compete for Eurovision place". SBS. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  8. "Baker Boy, Kardajala Kirridarra, Jessica Mauboy amongst National Indigenous Music Award nominees". The AU Review. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  9. "aussievision | Post". Aussievision - Eurovision from Down Under. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  10. "SBS Australia". Facebook. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  11. "National Indigenous Music Awards unveils 2019 Nominations". National Indigenous Music Awards. July 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
  12. "Record Breaking Crowd for the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards!". National Indigenous Music Awards. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  13. "KEiiNO & Electric Fields release "Would I Lie"". ESC Xtra. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  14. Triscari, Caleb (24 August 2020). "Electric Fields, Missy Higgins and more cover Paul Kelly for 'The Sound'". NME. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  15. Skujins, Angela (25 August 2020). "Watch Electric Fields perform at the Ukaria Cultural Centre". CityMag. Photos by Jack Fenby. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  16. "All-Aussie music lineup announced for AFL's grand final at the Gabba". SMH. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  17. "Inma EP". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  18. "ARIA Australian Top 40 Digital Tracks" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  19. "No Other High - single". Apple Music. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  20. "2000 and Whatever". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  21. "Vision". YouTube. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  22. "Electric Fields "vision"". AIRIT. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  23. "NIMA Presents the Sound of Indigenous Australia Now and Before". Apple Music. June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  24. "Pollyanarchy". Apple Music. September 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  25. "Cannot Buy My Soul: Songs Of Kev Carmody (2020 REISSUE) LP". JB HiFi. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  26. "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  27. "The finalists at this years' Dreamtime Awards". NITV. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  28. "'We are brilliant people': Nova Peris receives Lifetime Achievement at Dreamtime Awards 2019". NITV. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  29. "Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled". noise11. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  30. "2020 Finalists". NIMA. July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  31. "NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees". NLMA. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  32. "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  33. "NLMA announce 2018 nominees and Live legend". NLMA. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  34. "Winners of the 2018 NLMA". NLMA. December 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  35. "HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!". NLMA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  36. "AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…". NLMA. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  37. "Nominees announced for 2020 National Live Music Awards". NLMAs. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  38. Skujins, Angela (2 December 2020). "Zaachariaha Fielding is turning canvases into confessionals". CityMag. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  39. "Zaachariaha Fielding: Gold and Silver Linings: November 2020". APY Gallery (in Kinyarwanda). Retrieved 3 December 2020.

Further reading
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