Six Australian songwriters have collaborated with almost one hundred women across Australia to create The Soldiers Wife; a multi-faceted project offering a voice for the women and families whose loved ones have served Australia.
To celebrate the release of The Soldiers Wife the group will be giving a very special performance at The Queensland Cabaret Music Festival in Brisbane on Thursday, June 29.
The past 30 months has seen a small group of Queensland songwritersgo on a truly remarkable songwriting journey to tell the stories of womenwhose partners have served in conflict over the past 60 years.
The songwriters have talked to almost 100 women, aged from 25 to 104, from varying backgrounds and conflicts, from remote and regional areasto inner cities.
The artists use their voices and their muse to hold legacy to these storiesand share them on stage; these are not just stories of incredible women, they are stories of our history and of the new generation.
Stories like Queenslander and The Soldiers Wife contributor Suzi Vincentwho lost her husband Tony in 2011 from Metastic Melanoma originatingfrom his naval service in Vietnam.
“I think it is very important that the wider public get to know about our stories – about our experiences and how these have impacted on our lives. It is so beneficial for all the women involved to feel valued and heard,” said Suzi.
“We are just the conduits and the catalysts for these stories to see the light of day. For us it’s been an extremely humbling experience, not only to gain the trust that we have, but to be able to deliver these stories to the very best of our abilities, through song, through music “ said project coordinator, Deb Suckling.
The artists involved represent a mix of vast songwriting experienceand community experience and talent. Australian Music Prize nominee and vocal powerhouse Jackie Marshall; North Queensland based Roz Pappalardo (best known as one half of Women in Docs); fast rising newtalent Emma Bosworth, country blues artist Kristy Apps, Melinda J Wellsand Deb Suckling (Lucy Star Satellite).
Now these stories have been documented into a double album and a book– giving further voice to these women and families and creating a way for the wider community to listen and learn from these experiences
THE SOLDIERS WIFE, launched in April 2014 – ‘The Soldier’s Wife’ project found Queensland local songwriters and singers spending time with the partners of Australian servicemen – both past and present – and putting the experience, emotions and lives of those women into song.
In 2017, ‘The Soldiers Wife’ will continue after six of Australia’s finest female songwriters have partnered with almost one hundred women, aged from 25 to 104 years old, from varying backgrounds and conflicts and both remote areas to inner cities, to share their personal journeys.