Cultures intersect for one-night-only musical performance at Arts House

Arts House will host a powerful night of music and cross-cultural connection on June 15, with a one-night-only performance from Australian ensemble Hand to Earth and a rare solo set by Indonesian sound artist Sipaningkah.

Merging ancient musical traditions with contemporary experimentation, the event promises an evocative, genre-defying exploration of voice, sound, and spirit.

Formed organically through years of collaboration and friendship, Hand to Earth is led by Yolngu songmen Daniel and David Wilfred from Arnhem Land, vocalist Sunny Kim from South Korea, trumpeter Peter Knight, and clarinetist Aviva Endean.

Their music blends Yolngu Manikay – an oral song tradition with more than 40,000 years of history – with ambient and minimalist soundscapes.

“The whole thing started around about 12 years ago,” said Peter, who co-founded the group after working closely with the Wilfred brothers through the Australian Art Orchestra.

“We formed a really close working relationship and out of that, Hand to Earth formed and then became an independent ensemble.”

The ensemble’s distinct sonic world combines ancient vocal traditions with electronics and jazz-influenced improvisation.

“Daniel sings in language, and is the keeper of Manikay, while Sunny sings in English and Korean, intoning gestures that invoke raw elemental forces – together they sing of the stars, of fire, and of the cooling rain,” Peter told North West City News.

“It’s Yolngu traditional songs woven into kind of ambient, experimental sounds that come out of jazz and contemporary classical music.”

“It’s an unusual mix – I don’t know how to describe it in terms of genre, to be honest.”

Also appearing is Sipaningkah, an emerging sound artist from West Sumatra, whose dense, trance-like compositions blend Minangkabau traditions with avant-garde noise and rhythmic experimentation.

His performance builds on the cultural weight of Langkah Suruik, his recent Chinabot release.

Peter praised the curatorial decision to pair the two acts, noting the strong thematic overlap.

It’s really interesting that they’re bringing us together with Sipaningkah – these two acts that combine tradition and experimentation. I think it'll be a really interesting night.

Beyond its musical scope, Hand to Earth carries a larger message about connection and reconciliation.

“There’s something that we, as Australians, really connect with when we see Aboriginal musicians and non-Aboriginal musicians making something that is new – it expresses an optimistic sense of what’s possible,” Knight said.

“There were tears [at our last show]. It’s quite moving at times.”

Hand to Earth will also showcase new material from their upcoming album, recently announced on Room40.

This is the ensemble’s debut at Arts House, and a rare opportunity for Melbourne audiences to experience their immersive live performance.

“It’s about connection,” Peter said. “And for me, being brought into that culture, as a white fella; it’s a very special privilege.” •