Allara Briggs Patterson is a proud Yorta Yorta woman who has been capturing the essence of the playing both upright and standard bass which go hand in hand but also her love for music and sharing her story with audiences not just here in Naarm but across the country and internationally.
I’m Speaking with non-other than Allara Briggs-Pattison who showcases her style of neo-soul, jazz, country, folk and Irish tradition. Allara’s approach to music is inspirational to other female musicians and indigenous Australian’s as she recently finished her Bachelor of Music Performance and shared the stage at the Sydney Opera House with Archie Roach being the youngest on stage at 22 years old. Hitting every note with confidence and conviction she leaves her audience feeling warm and fuzzy while taking their breath away.
Allara will be on a plane travelling with some deadly singer songwriters/ performers and creative souls, Monica Jasmine Karo also known as Mpath Soul and Maylene Slater Burns. They will be attending The Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference as ambassadors for Songlines, students of music, culture, healing and connections. ( Words from Mpath Soul’s intsagram post ).
Healing our Spirit Worldwide (HOSW) – The Ninth Gathering will take place on the the unceded and ancestral territory of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) People.
The Ninth Gathering is being held in Vancouver and will bring together Indigenous people from around the world. The event will be held at the Vancouver Convention Centre and we are expecting approximately 5000 people. The theme is “celebrating resiliency”, which honours our Indigenous teachings and explores wellness, governance, and self-determination.
Allara is driven by collaboration and improvisation, inspired to bring language and cultural practice to the forefront of her work. Mentored by matriarchal Songwomen; her Djetja, Dr Lou Bennett AM, Deborah Cheetham AO and anganya Nancy Bates, Allara has become an unstoppable force for love, art, music and transformation, empowered by her yakapna (family) and her Ancestors, dhama yenbena (old people).
Allara’s approach to music is inspirational to other musicians and First Nations people. Finishing her Bachelor of Music Performance in 2016, she kicked off her music career accompanying Archie Roach at the Sydney Opera House, at the time being the youngest on stage at 22 years old.
Allara, she started off by receiving the International Women's Day First Peoples Emerging Artist Fellowship supported by Helen Marcou from Bakehouse Studios and Briggs from Bad Apples Music. She performed across multiple states and collaborated with numerous First Nations artists across Australia and was a nominee on the Longlist for the Corner Award 2019. Ending the year as a nominee for The Music Victoria Awards 2019: Archie Roach Foundation Award for Emerging Talent, Allara is on the cusp of a brilliant career and a must-see artist in 2020.
Through 2020 Fires then Covid, a year Allara was bound for great things - she did not let that stop her. During National Reconciliation week waves were made with the drop of her latest second single 'Murnong Farm'. Since July Allara has been working as the Lead Facilitator of the inaugural First Nations Womxn in Music Victoria 12 Week Program, bringing womxn from across Victoria and Australia together. Continuing to perform multiple gigs as live streams, the MLive Gallery Sessions at Monash and VIC NAIDOC week Concert at Arts Centre Melbourne were some highlights as the First Nations duo Allara and Culture Evolves (Brent Watkins, Gunai Kurni, Noongar Yamatji didgeridoo player, dancer and artist) moved online audiences to tears while generously sharing their stories in an educational yet creatively profound way. Finally Allara was nominated for a NIMA (National Indigenous Music Awards) in the category New Talent of the Year.