Today, proud First Nations artists and newly formed Blak collective Dallas Woods, Nooky and Angus Field aka 3%, reveal their first run of live shows - taking place inside a group of undisclosed Victorian Prisons in late November. The group has also announced their first public appearance for ARIA’s Great Southern Nights initiative, with a free show on 25 November from Parramatta’s Crown Hotel.
The chosen prison locations reflect the trio’s pertinent message found within their recently released debut single, “OUR PEOPLE”, which is lent a sample from iconic ARIA-nominated single “My People” via dance royalty, The Presets. From fusing the soaring vocals of Field with the rap and MC songwriting talents of Woods and Nooky, the track twists and transforms itself into an anthem that arrives at a momentous and unprecedented time in First Nations history to take on Indigenous deaths in custody.
On their debut run of shows, 3% say:
“It could have been easy and predictable for 3% to do a run of shows around our single “OUR PEOPLE” up the east coast of Australia. While planning a tour and hearing the news of another Black death in custody in WA, we paused to think about what it all means to us.
3% will take our first-ever tour run into the prison system in Victoria. Five shows across five days taking our stories and our art to the mob locked up and trapped in this insipid cycle of poverty, injustice, incarceration, trauma and racism.
We want for people to understand how our first single speaks to the serious issue of over 400 Black deaths in custody with no convictions. Kids as young as 10 years old locked up in criminal institutions – to be traumatised and damaged by the system, forever!
We want to celebrate our release with ‘OUR PEOPLE’ who continue to be locked away in cells from country and family and to let them know that we are with them, that they are loved and that we will use our voice and our music to scream loud and to let everyone know that we will not be silenced.
We dedicate these shows to our people who have lost their lives while in custody. A multitude of Royal Commissions and yet, still no convictions! RIP to our fallen warriors & fuck the broken system!!!”
Woods, Nooky and Field first performed "OUR PEOPLE" at their live debut and SXSW Sydney showcase in late October from The Lord Gladstone, which saw US-based global icon, Chance The Rapper take to the stage to show his support for the trio and introduce Inkabee’s and FLEWNT’s set. A surprise appearance and moment of recognition from Chance, the showcase additionally featured a prodigious lineup of First Nations artists including Moss, Barkaa, Dobby, Yung Brother, Bars Of Steel. It was an incredibly powerful showcase, falling on the end of the week of silence after the loss of the Voice to Parliament referendum
“OUR PEOPLE” feat. The Presets is available to stream now via 1788 Records/Virgin Music and has received praise from Music Feeds, The Music, Purple Sneakers, ACCLAIM, ABC, alongside radio support from triple J, CADA and community radio. The single’s incredibly powerful video, directed by Nick Rae and Brayden Fun Films, cuts between shots of the past and present, painting a visceral image of the history and struggle faced by First Nations peoples. It was recently nominated for triple j's 2023 J Awards for Best Video, and was named rage's feature video upon release.
3% collective includes lynchpin and host of triple j’s Blak Out, Nooky. Nooky’s own music celebrates Blak excellence with long-running themes of attack on First Nations issues, and tributes to his hometown of Nowra. Launched in 2022, is Nooky’s co-created, purpose-driven company, We Are Warriors that continues to celebrate the far-reaching potential of Blak excellence and connection to role models in shaping the futures of First Nations youth, via its one of a kind business model and brand.
Joining the group is Noongar rapper and MC, Dallas Woods, who is often credited as ARIA-Award winning artist Baker Boy’s mentor and co-writer on his ARIA winning debut album, Gela. Woods' own lived experiences of growing up in a cycle of poverty and abuse is inherently channeled into his raps as part of 3%. Meanwhile, Gumbaynggirr singer songwriter Angus Field, bringing his unique vocal talent and skills to the studio, ready to distill the magic made when referring themselves to warriors who are ready to earnestly tackle the topics left unspoken.
After first stepping into the studio in 2022, the trio spurred by their mutual admiration of each other’s craft and united by their unique and extraordinary talents, have together honed a sound that represents connection in the face of different tribes and countries. Under a name that refers to their people, who make up just 3% of the Australian population, the First Nations collective are now ready to unleash a taste of their music that journeys themes of closing the gap, reclaiming stolen land and Indigenous deaths in custody.
Attend what is set to be one of the new collective’s first of many seminal live performances from Parramatta this November – and stay tuned as “OUR PEOPLE” continues to forge its path to becoming a contemporary Australian anthem.