is highly regarded internationally for his role in a number of critically acclaimed projects. Beginning with the group Eden in 1988, Bourke has combined his skills as a songwriter, percussionist and studio engineer/programmer, and has successfully collaborated with musicians from varying ends of the musical spectrum.
In 1999 Pieter and Lisa Gerrard, founding member of Dead Can Dance, composed the soundtrack for “The Insider”, a film by American Director, Michael Mann. “The Insider” starred Russell Crowe and Al Pacino and was released to both public and industry acclaim worldwide. It was nominated for 3 Golden Globe awards, including best soundtrack. “Their work was so spectacular that we went from Lisa doing three or four cues to she and Pieter becoming the composers for the picture,” said Mann, who was so pleased he invited the pair to move to Los Angeles and work with him closely on finishing the music for the movie. “It’s been a great, great experience working with them. I listen to their music and I’m transported. Hopefully it does that to you.”
In 2001 Pieter Bourke and Lisa Gerrard wrote the score for Mann’s next movie, “Ali”, which once again received a Golden Globe nomination for best soundtrack.
Pieter and Lisa had been collaborating since 1994 when Gerrard was recording her first solo album, “The Mirror Pool” on which Bourke performed percussion. He then became a touring member of her band for concerts in North America and Europe in 1995. Pieter also played percussion and keyboards for Dead Can Dance on their 1996 “Spiritchaser” world tour, during which the band performed extensively throughout Europe, North and South America. These experiences led to Bourke and Gerrard’s 1998 duet record, “Duality”, an album of luminous, tranquil and moving music created with voice, percussion, keyboards and samplers.
Pieter Bourke has also enjoyed a fruitful partnership with David Thrussell, a Melbourne based musician and DJ best known as the central member of Snog and Black Lung. Initially brought in to co-write some Snog material with David in 1993, the duo began a frenzy of writing that would result in the Snog Albums, “Dear Valued Customer” (1995) and “Buy Me, I’ll change your life” (1997), plus a swag of singles and remixes.
At the same time, Bourke and Thrussell formed the ethno-electronic project Soma, as an outlet for their instrumental work together. On the albums “Hollow Earth” (1994) and “The Inner Cinema” (1996), the pair began fusing their respective musical tastes and styles to create what have been described as milestones of modern sonic sculpture. “We were interested in contrast and the unexpected clash of sounds and rhythms from a very broad palette involved. I’ve always found the clash of organic and electronic sounds appealing.” With astonishing savvy, Bourke and Thrussell combined elements of trip hop, trance rhythms, dub effects and sci-fi spheres, ambient soundscapes and world music elements to create a sound that is full of imaginary force and musical surprises.
“My main instruments are synthesizers and percussion. The first instruments I bought as a teenager where a mono-synth and a drum machine. I remember hearing about synthesizers when I was in primary school, and even then, the idea of a device that could create a multitude of sounds excited me! Once I had some gear of my own, I threw myself into understanding songwriting and music production. I’m also fascinated by different rhythms, and spent many years exploring Middle Eastern, Indian and Reggae drumming.”
Being exposed to a lot of the pre-techno electronic and “ambient” artists from the last twenty years has been instrumental in shaping my aesthetic, as has the sonic experimentation of dub music. And I really got the chance to turn up the dub factor with Secret Masters!”
was found adrift in the Caribbean Sea after the vessel his family had bought to travel around the world on capsized during a (rather fierce) hurricane. Rescued by a strict Rastafarian Fishing sect, Donnie was initiated into the ways of Jah and given a mission to spread the word through Dub and Reggae music. Donnie is a founding member of the SECRET MASTERS with Pieter Bourke and a DISC JOCKEY and is now based in Melbourne, Australia.
Donnie has been an active player in the Melbourne Reggae/Dub scene since the mid 80’s. He has worked under the titles General Strike, Centriphugal, The Taysten8r and Dj Prong and played with bands Young Dub, Sunburnt Sea and Aquajezus and Eden . He has embraced all styles of Jamaican music from Roots and Culture, Ragga, Dub and Dancehall and this is reflected in his vast and varied record collection and electric dj sets.
He started pioneering underground Melbourne club, CENTRIPHUGAL, with cohort Digital Primate in 1998 which ran for 4 years where his eclectic sets were legendary. Centriphugal released Lifegiver and 1,2,3,4 through Sydney label Creative Vibes and supported Mad Professor on tour. Donnie was also a member of the Deep Licks Crew (General Strike) with a regular sat arvo slot at Revolver nightclub in Melbourne.
His latest project (with musician Pieter Bourke) SECRET MASTERS, released their first album, THE LOST DUB TAPES, in 2004 to rave reviews around the country. Donnie travelled to Jamaica recently to record local artists (and pick up heaps of new vinyl) for the new SECRET MASTERS album Words, Power, Sound - due for release on nov 6th.
Kylie Auldist has been singing since she could talk. The earliest recording taped while she was six years old with her Dad Ian on guitar!! From there she progressed to singing in pubs with bands from every genre. To quote Melbourne's PBS Radio website: “Kylie is something of a treasured hometown secret! - She’s never been on Idol or Neighbours but she CAN sing!!...” Kylie Auldist delivers emotionally charged powerful vocals with a versatility of style.
Kylie’s musical roots originate in the dusty plains of Western NSW (Australia) where from an early age she began performing country and western, rock and blues with her father in local pubs. In the 90’s, Kylie moved south to Melbourne and soon found herself fronting a succession of funk and soul bands like Mother Funk, Curtis Late and Polyester, the latter touring solidly around Australia.
Kylie formed Heavy Earth in 1997 and their rootsy funk sound garnered them invitations to play at all the major east coast blues and music festivals including the Melbourne Blues Festival in 2003. They also released the self-produced album --- I Do This --- in 1999. In Melbourne she has performed with Funk, Soul and Hip Hop outfits including Polyester, Mega Bias and The Bamboos. Kylie has appeared on recordings and as a backing vocalist for Australian music legends such as Renee Geyer and Jimmy Barnes, playing many high profile gigs both in Australia and overseas.
In 2007 The Bamboos took Kylie to Europe and the UK where she met and signed with UK record company Tru Thoughts. Her first solo album 'Just Say' was co-written and produced by The Bamboos and Lanu main-man Lance Ferguson. 'Just Say' was released in May 2008 to critical acclaim, receiving accolades from the likes of Mark Lamarr (BBC), Bobbito Garcia & Andy Smith.
On her 2nd, ‘Made of Stone’, the Australian singer has again enlisted the production skills of Tru Thoughts label-mate Lance Ferguson to create a sizzling collection of original, grown-up pop with warm, retro-inspired funk and mod soul flavours.
Which brings us to the Secret Masters project. Kylie heard “Is This Love” by Bob Marley And The Wailers when she was at an international school in India in 1980. “Somebody gave me a tape and I was hooked. It was the first reggae song I had heard and I could not believe how beautiful it was. Working with the Secret Masters has been a musical adventure for me. It’s great to be involved in something that’s different from my norm and I am really pleased with how it sounds.”
Web:
www.kylieauldist.com
www.myspace.com/kylieauldist
Anthony Henry - a.k.a. "Tippa Irie" - emerged from England's Saxon Sound International - the star-studded travelling sound system that has been at the forefront of the U.K. reggae dancehall scene for the past 25 years and helped launch the careers of artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Smiley Culture. Tippa Irie was part of the new generation of British MC's who developed the 'Fast Talking' style chat which today can be heard in modern day rappers like Busta Rhymes. Tippa toured extensively with his friend and long-time sparring partner, Pato Banton, throughout the Eighties including an appearance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash and their US debut tours together. The UK DJ duo of Tippa Irie and Pato Banton had become one of the genres favourite combinations. As the Nineties began, the dynamic duo pursued their solo careers.
Tippa Irie has produced fifteen albums to date and has a string of number 1 hit songs to his credit including "Hey Mama" with the Black Eyed Peas, "Hello Darling", "Raggamuffin Girl" (featuring Peter Hunnigale), "Stress" (featuring Lloyd Brown), "Superwoman" (featuring Winsome), "Baby I've Been Missing You" (featuring Janet Lee Davis), "Sensi" feat the Long Beach Dub AllStars and "Shouting for the Gunners"--a song originally recorded for the Arsenal Football Team which reached the Top 30 status on the British pop charts.
To this day, Tippa Irie remains one of the most requested Reggae entertainers internationally. The surviving members of Sublime made sure their Long Beach Dub All Stars debut for Dreamworks Records had the necessary dancehall credentials by commissioning Tippa Irie to contribute "Sensi" on their 'Right Back'(1999) CD and be their special guest on their subsequent North American tour. In 2000 he was invited to support UB40 on their sold-out Labour of Love III UK tour. Later Tippa was called back in >the studio with Long Beach Dub All Stars to record "Life Goes On" featuring Half Pint and Jurassic Five's Charli2na on LBDA's 'Wonders of the World'(2001) CD for Dreamworks Records.
Impressed with Tippa's rapid-fire lyrical arsensal, Jurassic Five asked Tippa to record together and the end result was a wicked Tippa and Charli2na combination entitled "The Struggle". The rap world took notice and soon enough Tippa was once again summoned to record with some of the music industry's biggest stars. Most recently Tippa was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Rap Song category for his collaboration with Black Eyed Pea's Will-I-Am on "Hey Mama", a track featured on the international chartbusting 'Elephunk'(2004) CD on A&M/Interscope Records and also on the Black Eyed Peas LP 'Monkey Business' (2005) on the track Dum Diddley.
Tipps latest offering is entitled "TALK THE TRUTH" (2007) and was released on his own lablel LockDown Productions LTD and distributed trough out the world from Greensleeves Records. "Talk The Truth" features an impressive 22 tracks and guest artists include Atlantic recording artist Elephant Man, Jurassic 5’s Chali 2NA, veteran reggae artist Frankie Paul and China Black’s Errol Reid peppered with an eclectic mix of producers at the helm: Mafia & Fluxy, Peter Hunnigale, Peckings, LockDown Productions and Pow Pow. In 2008 Tippa linked up with Yeti Beats from LA to work on another LP where he shows that he is not limited to any genre and no slave to the norm. The LP will be released in late 2009. Never the less the entertainer followed his roots and so he spends nuff time in the studio right now to record another LP with Far East Band from Germany.
Web:
www.tippairie.com
www.myspace.com/originaltip
Email:
Management@TippaIrie.com
Natty Wailer….a new singer / songwriter from the old school reggae of the legendary Wailers.
A dedicated Rastafarian and self-appointed reggae ambassador, Natty Wailer finds himself with a need to spread his culture.
He performs and tours with his band “Natty Wailer and the Reggae Vibes”, which he formed in 2000. He has written and produced many songs, including the album “Lifted”, which is a reflection of his purpose. Natty performs songs written by himself as well as those by Bob Marley.
Currently based in Belfast, he feels like a man with a mission and a passion to keep this indigenous music, with its global views, alive. “As a Rastafarian, philosopher, singer and songwriter, this is my objective while entertaining the masses with this uplifting beat... Reggae”.
Natty Wailer and the Secret Masters first teamed up in 2003, when he asked Pieter Bourke and Donnie Dub to play keyboards and bass guitar for some select live shows in Melbourne. Now Natty returns the favour with a rootsy vocal performance on their song ‘Country Life’. “Yeah man, I am proud to be a part of the Secret Masters album. Natural living is the best and that is why ‘Country Life’ is an appropriate song for me to sing…..and until the whole world understands the concept of ‘One Love’ I will be forever singing these songs....of love and liberation”.
www.myspace.com/nattywailermusic
Banny Wallace is a Jamaican artist and musician who relocated to Melbourne, Australia in the early 70’s. He is a rootical force of nature...a mystic revealer.
Banny moved to Australia from Portland, Jamaica, and started several legendary Roots Reggae bands once here, most notably ‘Afri-Jah’ and ‘Lion’. A percussionist, drummer and vocalist, his performances on stage were driven and electric, with the band held together by a twisted jungle heartbeat. He was inspired by ex ‘Daddy Cool’ member Ross Hannaford, with whom he played. Banny schooled many aspiring musicians in his various yards over the years and through the ‘Survival Reggae Club’ during the 80’s.
As Banny’s calling changed in the 90’s, he began to focus more on wood carving. He eventually gave up performing music, although he still has a box full of amazing percussion and other handmade musical instruments.
Secret Masters are privileged to have collaborated with Banny Wallace on the hypnotic and powerful tune, ‘Only Love’. His simple but powerful lyric is delivered in his characteristically rich and warm voice, providing the perfect closing track for the album.
Not a lot of information is known about Mad Dog. Donnie Dub met him in a chance encounter at a record shop in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Donnie takes up the story;
“I was buying some tunes in Mo’ Bay and while I was in the store I could hear this guy singing and toasting to the records the sales person was spinning. He was a young guy, late 20’s perhaps, but he had a wonderful voice. We got chatting and I eventually asked him if he was interested in working on a tune together. I happened to have a disc of Secret Masters riddims with me, so the sales guy played it through his system. I asked Mad Dog if he could do a weed tune, as every great reggae album should have at least one ode to the Herb. So, on the spot in the store, he launched into ‘More Weed’, which I thought was a killa. On the strength of that, we booked a session in a local studio and the next morning we recorded the tune fi real.”
“I remember that on the way to the studio, he was singing these great Gospel songs and I thought, if only we had more time, because this guy has a great singing voice too. Another cool thing was he said he was friends with Bounty Killer and Leroy Smart. So who should call him on his celly but Bounty! And who came into the studio, but Mr Smart himself! After hearing the tune we were working on, he turned to Mad Dog and said, “Bwoy, you ready fi Kingston now mon”
SHANTI REB-LAH is said to be the up and coming positive Reggae talent to look out for. Popularly known as Shanti Reb-lah or "Reblah" began displaying his talent from his primary school years in Jamaica. At a young age he answered to the call of Rastafari. He had recorded for many known producers throughout Jamaica and voiced for several from abroad as well. He has had his video playing on REtv, Hype TV, MusicPlus, Cableview and JUICE cable video stations in Jamaica. He is currently working on a few album projects. Shanti Reb-lah's philosophy teaches that a clean heart, purity of soul and hard work leads to prosperity and blessings.
Web:
www.myspace.com/shantireblah
arrived in Australia from the UK in 1988, as a fully capable reggae drummer, at the ripe old age of 11. This was the same year he joined Melbourne band Lion with his guitar-playing father. Three years later Jericho horns were formed (age 14) with his father on guitar and bass legend Tony Michaels completing the rhythm section. This morphed into Bubble Up with Lincoln Irie (aka Stick Mareebo) on the mic, a horn section and backup singers. They played cutting edge Dancehall Riddims fresh from JA.
At age 16, Damajah formed a new group, again with his dad, called Pulse Radics. Damajah says, “During this period I met my BEST Breddrin-Jahboo- aka Mc Ramblah. We used to hang out in our spare time, play versions and chat some lyrics. Jahboo was my lyrical sparring partner. He said to me,”Hey man you need to get out there and chat on the mic.” I kept thinking I would bring trouble to myself by doing this so I kept my up and coming style of Ragga Dj a secret for two years.” When he turned 18 Damajah began to hang out at all sorts of clubs (with Jahboo for backup –just in case) for the opportunity to chat the mic. “I found that some people really liked what I was doing which inspired me to keep going.”
Two years later Damajah discovered the Deep Licks Crews’ Saturday afternoon Reggae sessions at Revolver nightclub and became a regular on the mic running improvised lyrics over the Dj’s vinyl versions. It was here that Donnie Dub (then known as General Strike and a regular seleckta for Deep Licks) met Damajah and heard the skills that would lead to the sessions which produced his three killa tracks on the Secret Masters debut album- The Lost Dub Tapes.