Mixed Relations
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Bart Willoughby |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Music albums, singles, EPs |
Mixed Relations was an Australian ensemble initiated by Bart Willoughby toward the end of 1988 in Sydney. Their music combined elements of reggae rock, pop, and jazz. Willoughby, who had previously been part of No Fixed Address, Coloured Stone, and Yothu Yindi, took the lead with percussion, vocals, guitar, and didgeridoo. The band performed widely throughout Aboriginal communities, major Australian metropolitan areas, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, the United States, Europe, Canada, and Hong Kong. Their track "Aboriginal Woman" achieved a position at No. 89 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 1993 chart.
History
The first public appearance of Mixed Relations occurred at the Aboriginal Music Festival held in Darwin in December 1988. By August 1991, they had embarked on tours across Europe and Canada, presenting a distinctive blend that merged indigenous Australian rhythms with Western musical instruments.
Their initial EP, Take It or Leave It, was released in October 1992 under Red Eye Records. The group featured Willoughby alongside Murray Cook (keyboards/bass), Leroy Cummings (guitar), Alvin Duffin (drums/percussion), Brenda Gifford (saxophone/piano/backing vocals), Alice Haines (vocals/percussion), and Vanessa Lucas (bass/violin/backing vocals). In February 1993, they issued the single "Aboriginal Woman", followed by their first full-length album Love in April. Critics commended the album for its innovative integration of urban styles with indigenous influences.
Willoughby characterized the band's musical approach as a bridge between traditional Aboriginal sounds and modern genres, highlighting an emphasis on artistic freedom through collaborative creation and sonic experimentation.
"Aboriginal Woman" secured a place in Triple J's 1993 Hottest 100 rankings. Later that year in November, Willoughby was honored with the best indigenous performer award at the Australian Music Awards.
Other contributors to the band included Megan Briansky (keyboards/vocals), Sharon Carpenter (percussion/vocals), and Suzanne Irvin (keyboards). The group ceased activity in 1995 when Willoughby returned to his Pitjantjatjara community to pursue music education. He recommenced his solo career in 1997 and later revived No Fixed Address in 2008.
Alice Haines departed in 1992 to perform in the national tour of Bran Nue Dae, subsequently starring in the film Serenades, developing her own stage production titled Alice (2001), and releasing a solo album Matter of Time (2005). Following Mixed Relations' dissolution, Murray Cook became a member of Mental As Anything, Selwyn Burns collaborated with No Fixed Address, Coloured Stone, and Blackfire, while Vanessa Lucas briefly affiliated with Tall Tales and True. Brenda Gifford later described her tenure with Mixed Relations as an enriching experience that broadened her exposure to diverse audiences both within Australia and internationally.
Albums
- Love (April 1993)
Extended plays
- Take It or Leave It (October 1992) Red Eye Records
Singles
- "Aboriginal Woman" (1993)