Sunday Arts Magazine

12 Apr 2021

Ajak Kwai talks about her fifth album “Let Me Grow My Wings”

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Australia’s renowned songwoman of contemporary South Sudanese music, Ajak
Kwai will release her fifth studio album, supported by a live album launch at
Melbourne’s Night Cat on Friday, April 23.
With Ajak’s dedication as a passionate activist for refugees in Australia, the album
is aptly titled Let Me Grow My Wings, an eclectic collection of twelve self-penned
songs which reflect her observations, influences and connections since moving to
Australia in the late nineties.
Performed in English, Arabic and Ajak’s native language, Dinka, the record sees
Ajak honouring the traditions of her homeland, yet defying stereotype in what is
best described as “modern South Sudanese rock” (credit to award-winning
composer, songwriter and producer Jan Skubiszewski who mixed and performed
additional instruments on five songs).
Backed by a pulsing rhythm section, piano and guitars feature throughout, with
rhythmic rock gems like the opener, Love Not Bitterness (sung in English, urging
people of the world to choose love over hate), Cool (Track 3 – Ajak’s message to
young people, sung in English and Dinka, telling them they don’t need to act the
fool to be cool, Life Is A Mystery – sung entirely in Dinka – in which Ajak questions
why she ended up in Australia whilst so many of her people lost their lives (the final
track on the album), and the album title track (Track 2) – one that Ajak says she
feels closest to and is the first single off this album – in which she expresses (also
in English and Dinka) her desire for the people in her community to have the same
opportunities and be treated equally in Australia.
Then there are emotive ballads such as In Our Hearts (Track 7), featuring the
Yogyakarta State University College of Music Choir, with a poignant message (in
English and Dinka) that we are all the same, no matter what colour or race and

Don’t Make The Woman Cry, Ajak’s dedication to women, urging suppressors to
choose kindness over harm.
Says Ajak, ‘My experiences in Australia inform my songs and my music. Music is a
universal language – maybe one day we will forget our differences and hold the
hands of one another.
‘This album is a collection of those hopes and dreams for an integrated future
where we are one and can share and be accepted for what my community has to
offer.’
Ajak also explains, “It has taken years to complete this album, as I’ve kept getting
distracted with my work as a community promoter and educating people at the
Migrant Resource Centre, which takes me to many areas of Melbourne’.
She hopes that by taking time out to concentrate on her own art and completing
this album, she will inspire people with her music and lyrics to create a more
positive environment for themselves.
Let Me Grow My Wings will be available worldwide on CD and download, on all
major online stores from April 23, 2021.
In addition to Ajak’s band, the album’s impressive credits include
Jan Skubiszewski, Nicky Bomba, Simon Lewis, Boris Conley, Chris Basile
(prominent on guitar throughout), Kate Madden, Robin Mai and Aaron Wilson
(who has also directed her forthcoming music video for the title track). Filmmaker
and Ajak’s longtime friend, Margot McDonald executive produced the project. The
songs were recorded at Nicky Bomba Studios, Jan Skubiszewski’s Red Moon
Studios, and Simon Lewis’ Panorama Studios, where it was also mastered.
In her live shows, Ajak, with her stunning, distinctive vocals fronts a four-piece rock
band consisting of lead guitarist Kumar Shome, Matt Erickson on bass and Kofi
Kundpe on drums/percussion, occasionally joined by special guest musicians.
As well as being ambassador for the Melbourne International Arts
Festival, she has performed at major festivals around Australia and internationally,
including Mofo, WOMADelaide, Panama Festival and the Tamar Valley, Port
Fairy and Woodford Folk Festivals.

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