Joondalup Festival has partnered with WA Opera to launch Joondalup Warangka (Joondalup Song), a new soundtrack set to play at Lake Joondalup throughout the festival, which begins on March 15.
Created in collaboration with award-winning singer-songwriters Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse ,and acclaimed Noongar singer songwriter and producer Boox Kid, the song incorporates stories crowd-sourced from the local community, with residents sharing their personal experiences and connection to Lake Joondalup in late 2024.
The song will play daily at the Neil Hawkins Park jetty throughout the Joondalup Festival, offering visitors a chance to experience its soundscape while overlooking the lake that inspired it.
Williams said the song was composed in the hope that it captures the spirit and magic of this place, which has held a special place in the hearts of the Noongar people for thousands of generations.
“This work is a love letter to country, to community, to our past and our future,” she said. “It is for those who want to call this place home in a beautiful new way.
“Noongars understood the magic of this place. Even today, if you sit and close your eyes, you can sense the vibrations as this beautiful lake remains a space for us to gather to picnic and enjoy its sanctuary in a modern context.”
City of Joondalup mayor Albert Jacob described the project as a time capsule, capturing the magic of Lake Joondalup as it is today.
“We are excited to unveil this powerful song to our community that pays homage to the rich Noongar heritage of this region and the city’s biggest natural wonder,” Mr Jacob said.
“Joondalup Warangka is a legacy project that will live beyond Joondalup Festival, capturing a moment in time with a sense of place that will be treasured for generations to come.”
West Australian Opera’s executive director Carolyn Chard is pleased with the song’s composition and meaning.
“We aim to move people through song and we hope audiences will be moved by the song, which represents Joondalup residents and captures the spirit of community woven into the incredible work by Gina, Guy and Boox Kid,” Ms Chard said.
This year’s Joondalup Festival is being held from Saturday, March 15 to Saturday, April 5.
For more information on the Festival, visit joondalupfestival.com.au .