Kalyakoorl, ngalak warangka. Forever we sing. 

Paying homage to our beautiful, unique and incredibly special part of the world, we are proud to have created a song about Lake Joondalup for our community and future generations to enjoy.

Commissioned for Joondalup Festival, this unique composition brings together the talents of the West Australian Opera, celebrated singer-songwriters Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse, and acclaimed producer Boox Kid. The result is a mesmerizing blend of traditional Noongar language and contemporary musical elements that pays homage to the significance of Lake Joondalup in Noongar culture and history.

With inspiration drawn from the stories and experiences of local residents, Joondalup Warangka is more than just a song, it’s a living time capsule that captures the essence of Lake Joondalup and its importance to the local community.

ARTIST STATEMENT FROM GINA WILLIAMS

We acknowledge the beautiful, ancient lands of our Whadjuk moort (people) where we work, and pay our deepest respect to our elders, past and present. We were honoured to accept the commission from the City of Joondalup, and West Australian Opera to write a song about a place which has held such a special place in the hearts of Noongar people for thousands of generations and continues to do so for all of us today.  

Lake Joondalup, “The lake that glistens” an evocative name which captures our imaginations as a place of magic and big dreaming. It was here that Djoondal left her footprints as she stepped up into the sky. It was the place where Yellagonga stood proud and tall. It was a place of nourishment and healing. It was a meeting place for many Noongar groups, where we once gathered, held ceremony and traded. Noongars understood the magic of this place. Even today, if you sit and close your eyes, you can sense the vibrations as this beautiful lake remains a gathering space for us to gather to picnic and enjoy its sanctuary in a modern context.  

The song we have composed, we hope, captures the spirit and magic of this place. The moonlight casting a magical glow over the evening water. If you watch carefully you might catch a glimpse of Djoondal’s silvery strands of hair. And if you stop and listen you might hear the chant of our ancestors, or the soft padding of feet dancing in the sand. We believe that our past informs our present and secures our future and have tried to connect this by bringing old knowledge references which still exists in time and space, with the modern use of place. This work is a love letter to country, to community, to our past and our future. It is for those who want to call this place home in a beautiful new way. Again, we want to thank our allies for helping us to elevate our language and stories and we want all of us to access the language of this place. Because, as we have always maintained, it’s not enough to have just Noongar people speaking language on this land. For our language to survive, we need to have as many allies and others speaking and hearing Noongar. To us, this is a modern Dreaming song in broad daylight.  

 Kalyakoorl, ngalak warangka. Forever we sing.

–  Gina Williams AM On behalf of Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse

Experience Joondalup Warangka

You’re invited to come and listen to Joondalup Warangka at the place that inspired it, with the musical tribute set to be played every day of Joondalup Festival at the Neil Hawkins Park jetty.

As you gaze out over Lake Joondalup, let the sound of the song transport you through time and culture, connecting you to the enduring spirit of this special place and honouring the past, the present, and the future of Joondalup’s Noongar heritage and identity.

Once released, Joondalup Warangka will also be available for download. The musical score and lyrics will also be available free of charge to all wishing to learn and sing along.