Article Review — “Desert reggae music provides soundtrack, tells stories of WA communities”
By Giulia Bertoglio and Emily JB Smith – ABC Goldfields (October 2024)
Reviewed by Reggae Cultural Movement
Introduction
In their heartfelt feature “Desert reggae music provides soundtrack, tells stories of WA communities” (ABC Goldfields, 2024), journalists Giulia Bertoglio and Emily JB Smith explore the rise of desert reggae — a sound that blends reggae rhythms with Aboriginal languages and traditions.
Through the stories of musicians Michael Hogan and Isaac Bates Jr, they highlight how this music connects land, culture, and community, giving voice to the heart of Australia’s desert regions.
“When you sing in language, it’s like you are singing to your people.” — Michael Hogan
Reggae in the Red Centre
Across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands of Western Australia, reggae has become a soundtrack of resilience and identity. Artists like Hogan, leader of Daylight Reggae, and Bates Jr, frontman of Moonlight Reggae, use the genre to tell stories of love, struggle, and hope.
Their songs weave English, Pitjantjatjara, and Ngaanyatjarra lyrics, preserving language and culture while addressing social challenges such as addiction and incarceration. For these musicians, reggae is more than entertainment — it is community storytelling set to rhythm.
“Music is important for the Ngaanyatjarra people. It brings families and friends together.” — Isaac Bates Jr
Reflection
At Reggae Cultural Movement, we are inspired by how desert reggae turns local stories into global messages. Just as reggae once voiced Jamaica’s struggles, it now amplifies the stories of Australia’s First Nations peoples, transforming pain into power and music into memory.
Desert reggae stands as proof that reggae’s universal rhythm — one of unity, justice, and love — can thrive anywhere. From Kingston’s streets to Western Australia’s red deserts, the message remains the same: music connects, heals, and endures.
“Reggae reminds us that no matter how far the drumbeat travels, its message remains the same — unity, pride, and the power of the people.”
Reviewed by Reggae Cultural Movement
One Movement. One Culture. One Love.
