By Jed Lanyon
Award winning composer and musician Tom Fitzgerald is calling on the Yarra Ranges residents to take part in a community led creative music project, which he believes is the first of its kind in Australia.
Mr Fitzgerald, who resides in Healesville, has performed with the likes of Elton John, Sting, James Taylor and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, while being nominated for an Academy Award and a Walkley Award.
Mr Fitzgerald is asking locals to find their favourite sounds and play musical instruments to be a part of Good Iso Vibrations, which will form a collection of sounds and music about the experience of isolating during the pandemic.
“It’s a creative community music project for Yarra Valley communities to help them cope with Covid-19 and feel a bit better about things emotionally and mentally.
“People can record their sounds on their mobile phone and send them in through email or as an attached file.
“They could put in the sounds of a river, the forest with birds chirping or even their dogs and cats. It could even be the sound of someone making a cup of tea or just something that makes them feel a bit more together and comforted.”
Mr Fitzgerald will then create a five part concept album featuring different times of the day, each featuring their own music.
“Interwoven will be the community’s contribution and interesting improvisations from musicians.”
Mr Fitzgerald is currently working on the project with Warburton musician Michael Arvanitakis and Wurundjeri elder Murrindindi.
“Michael plays a huge number of instruments so brilliantly, he’s a clever chap… Murrindindi, he’s like a cultural advisor. He’s produced some sounds from clap sticks and the didgeridoo and he will advise as to how I’ll mix them with other sounds.”
Mr Fitzgerald said the Yarra Valley thrives as a creative community.
“I was amazed at the general creativity and depth of numbers of artists in the area. It’s just fantastic.
“Healesville has a tremendous amount of musicians. We’re lucky to have Rochford Winery, and the Yarra Valley Opera Festival, it’s a really nice place that has world class music.”
The project is sponsored by Regional Arts Victoria and will be performed and live streamed as a concert from healesville’s YAVA Gallery in January.
For more information on Good Iso Vibrations, visit: https://goodisovibrations.com
