Armed only with samples, vocals and a trumpet, Charlie Needs Braces have released an album of immediate mood-lifting magic. NYAA WA is a Bjork-like, modern psychedelic pop record with a heart steeped in Aboriginal folklore and a deep environmental message.
Australia’s Charlie Needs Braces are Charlie Woods and her sister, Miri. NYAA WA means “take care” in Charlie’s mob’s GuriNgai language. The songs on the album emphasise the importance of taking care of lands, waters, and wildlife. They also highlight the need to preserve sacred sites from development.
Opening track ‘Dyarrubin’, is named after the Dyarrubin River, the traditional name for the Hawkesbury River that runs from the NSW Central Coast to Northern Sydney. It’s a reminder to continue to protect and take care of the Country, just as Charlie’s ancestors have done for so long before.
‘This Land’ is inspired by the deep meaning and stories embedded in the Aboriginal names of places. Each name carries a history, a connection to the land, and valuable information about the area. The song highlights the importance of these Indigenous names and the stories they tell. It encourages all of us to reconnect with and respect the true heritage of the places we live in.
Recent single ‘Wompoo’ is inspired by the native Wompoo Fruit Dove that lives in the North Coast of Australia. It’s written and sung by Charlie’s sister Miri.
“I grew a great love towards the cute, clumsy semi-majestic and endangered dove whilst growing up on a bush block on Bundjalung Country.The story is about being able to come back to the area I grew up on and reconnect with the wildlife, and being able to feel the warmth of knowing that there’s a safe habitat and place for the wildlife that lives there”-Miri Woods.
Another highlight is ‘Woy Woy’, meaning ‘water’ in the GuriNgai language. It tells of Charlie’s experiences filming videos in Tasmania.
“At night the stars and Milky Way reflect over the water and you can hear and sometimes see the fish jumping in and out of the water in the moonlight. The last time we were there we were making a film clip and there were flatheads, bream, snapper, whiting, barracuda, and crabs. It was delicious and suited the adventures we were having whilst filming’
NYAA WA is full of earworms and singable choruses that will have you dancing around your house like a loon.
Charlie Needs Braces will tour Australia in March and April.
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