Rekindled Systems

Rekindled Systems is the song Yorta Yorta artist Allara sang that called in the spirit of Ukrainian Canadian artist Olenka Toroshenko. The following day it was Olenka’s recitation of ‘Walk into the Fire’ that unlocked the passageway to what has become a deep kinship and creative collaboration. 

While cutting beets for borshch on Sviat Vechir (Ukrainian Christmas Eve) in Jan 2020, the pair realised they are BOTH descendants of people who survived genocides intended to annihilate a peoples and their cultural identity. With resilience and direct intent, Allara and Olenka call upon the guidance of their Elders and Ancestors to navigate the troubling state of our current cultural paradigm and planet. Rekindled Systems is a living document, an ode to Mother Earth’s beings that activates the power of language, story, song and ceremony to heal spirit and culture.

The tour will bring a high standard of First Nations music and cultural cross-pollination to regional communities across Victoria, engaging local artists along the way who are deeply connected to their community and Country. Artists Monica Jasmine Karo and Culture Evolves will be sharing their creative expressions of First Nations music, stories, and dance in a celebration of cultural identity, joined by songman Corey Theatre (Gunditjmara/Warrnambool; Brayakaulung/Traralgon), rapper Bricky B (Yorta Yorta/Shepparton), and Mitchell Boney & Rebecca Phillips (Dja Dja Wurrung/Bendigo) for homeland shows.

Rekindled Systems is supported by Creative Victoria, Australia Council for the Arts and Auspicious Arts Projects