Desert Stars record album in outback shed
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Desert Stars, an Indigenous rock band from Western Australia, recently recorded their third album in a shed at the Ilkurka Roadhouse, a remote outpost along the Anne Beadell Highway.
The band members, who grew up in the communities of Cundalee and Tjuntjuntjarra, came together in September to record a dozen new tracks.
Lead singer James (Jay) Minning explained that writing songs about his people’s ancestral lands, land taken from the Spinifex people for nuclear tests in the 1950s, has been musically inspiring. The band deliberately chose the isolated location to capture a raw, authentic sound, and to connect with their heritage. Producer Leigh Ivin, who also manages the roadhouse, believes the project may be one of the most remote recording sessions ever undertaken.
Despite challenges like rain on the shed’s tin roof, Ivin and the band felt the environment enhanced the album's sound. Guitarist Desmond Anderson and de facto manager Ian Baird both emphasized the importance of performing and recording on country. Baird noted the band’s resilience in the face of historical injustices and their desire to share their artistic talents with a wider audience.
The Desert Stars’ new album is scheduled for release next year, continuing a musical journey that began with their self-titled debut in 2003.
