Some forty years ago, Goanna’s Solid Rock took Indigenous rights to the masses, and forty years on the call to action remains as relevant as ever. Elevating the original into current culture and inspiring a new generation of Australians, First Nations artist and Liveschool trainer Moss joins forces with Tasman Keith, William Barton and Goanna for a reimagining like no other.
Opening with the iconic sound of Barton’s didjeridu vibrations and accompanied by cicadas calling in the wind, it is distinctively Australian and of this land. The guitar riff that has transcended time enters as a driving force, energised by Moss’ signature heavy-hitting sound and unparalleled production talents. Lyrically the message of Solid Rock is carried higher through Tasman Keith detailing “my life won’t be my life if these policies remain”, his voice writing a new chapter through music. Dynamic and commanding throughout, this collaboration is charged and ready for change.
Speaking to the record, Moss says:
There’s a strength in the energy on this record, with generations coming together to amplify the same message. It’s such an honour and a full-circle moment to be trusted by Goanna to reimagine ‘Solid Rock’ and inspire next generations to push the boundaries of what is possible with the power of our stories, thinking and perspectives. This take is a reflection of where we stand in 2023 – it’s a reminder of our past, a call to action and a call out for our future.
Artwork by Patricia Mckean
While maintaining the same integrity, respect and message of the original, the Drum and Bass production gives a fast paced and epic energy to the track. To get it to this point Moss applied a range of processes including the use of AI:
The whole record has been a journey start to finish. This reimagining started as an official remix and developed into a full release, bringing both Tasman Keith and William Barton on board. We re-recorded both vocals and guitar of Shane from Goanna to really refresh the feel of the song. The female backing vocals were actually really interesting as I used an internet AI software to isolate and slice them out of the original as a stem. It’s a crazy blend of old and new in cleaning these up and layering them with the fresh takes from Shane. William Barton’s didj was also sent to me while he was on tour in Germany, so it’s been a huge experience pulling it all together.
Rolling Stone interview:
Looking to make gnarly bass sounds? Check out the free Bass Distorter rack Moss just released here!