ICONYX, a young emerging artist from the East Kimberley, is a passionate songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. As an artist who navigates life without sight, her storytelling is connected to Country, influenced by family and supported with new and old technologies.
ICONYX is a proud Kukutja Pintupi woman from Wadjujuk, Noonga Budja in Western Australia. At the age of 5, ICONYX discovered she had perfect pitch while learning piano, at the age of 9 she started vocal lessons, and by 10 years old ICONYX was releasing music. Now a passionate songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and co-producer, ICONYX brings together unlikely sounds using piano, garage band, animal calls and even tin cans to create meaningful music.
As a young musician living with blindness, ICONYX is developing her sound and musicality by integrating multiple technologies.
My Auntie's got Ableton. She will flick through all the different synths and she's got these cool touchpads that I can just tap away on. It's really cool because I can just improviseICONYX
ICONYX is excited about the many capabilities technology and music production has to offer, with a variety of noises and controls adding to her unique approach and sound. GarageBand has been ICONYX 's main music-making software; its voice over feature giving her "all the information that someone who can see is getting".
ICONYX finds sounds or beats from the library of instruments in the apps and tools she uses, while also incorporating sound from objects in the world around her.
Even like flicking the tab on a can of coke in a half drunk can, using that as a sort of high hat instead, its so cool. But I literally use everything around me
It’s important to ICONYX that her music has meaning and makes people think. She acknowledges that there is a lot of pain in the country because of recent events, but see’s music as a creative tool that can educate people about history, culture and how to connect back with each other.
I reckon music is a good way to release and go about trying to educate people instead of having a big fight, big arguments. I reckon if people did everything through music it would be way more cool.
Having culture sit at the heart of her music has also brought opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders. ICONYX recalls the proud moment she received permission from Dr G Yunupingu’s family to sing and record 'Baru' in Yolngu language.
I had learnt all the words in Yolngu and I had permission from his family to record that
ICONYX's voice is emerging as impactful in the music scene and this year she has released her debut album titled ‘Blak on Trak’; a fusion of hip-hop, R&B and climatic synths exploring stories of Country and people. ICONYX encourages others to pursue their creative ideas and passions, urging that self-belief and seeking support are the cornerstones to not letting your disability hold you back.
It doesn't matter if you can’t see, if you’re neurodivergent, if you've got a disability. You can actually do it, don't just let other people tell you ‘that’s gonna be too hard’. Find people out there who are going to make it happen for you, don't let it pass you by.
The Speak My Language (Disability) program is an initiative funded by the Commonwealth Government under the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) Framework. It is proudly led by ECCNSW and the primary national Partners are ECCV, ECCQ, MCCSA, MCNT, MCOT, ECCWA, and our national broadcasting Partners SBS.
Podcast Tile Artwork: Paul Constable Calcott
