How Jordie Lane and Yirrmal penned a new reconciliation anthem

Working with one of Australia's finest singers taught Jordie Lane more about Indigenous culture

Australian singer-songwriters Jordie Lane and Yirrmal have joined forces for a wonderful song called 'For Everyone', officially released last Friday just in time for Reconciliation Week.

The two artists do not have a long history together. When Jordie Lane thinks back to the first time he heard his collaborator sing, he immediately recalls the affecting power of that voice.

"I first met Yirrmal Marika at Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland on New Year's in 2016-17," Lane tells Double J. "We were both scheduled onto the same In The Round show, along with Ainslie Wills and Wallis Bird.

"I’d never heard Yirrmal sing before. I was sitting right next to him. Holy shit! When he first opened his mouth the whole crowd and all of us on stage were floored."

The decision to collaborate didn't happen straight away. Lane is based in Nashville and Yirrmal is based in Arnhem Land – logistically the idea didn't make much sense.

But then came an opportunity that prompted Lane to see if it could work.

"I was asked by filmmaker Darius Devas to score the soundtrack for a documentary he was making, and he had asked if I could compose an end credits song," Lane explains.

"I instantly thought of Yirrmal. I hadn’t seen him since that show we’d done over a year before, but I got hold of his management, and he was right up for it. I was very excited, I think we both were."

That documentary is called Spirit Walker: Clinton's Walk For Justice (and it's available on SBS On Demand now). It follows the final part of Indigenous Australian activist Clinton Pryor's 6,000km walk from Perth to Canberra, where he sought to meet the Prime Minister and Governor General in the name of justice and change for his people.

"We wanted to write a song that told his story and shared his message," Lane says. "For us, this was that all people should be born equal, and all deserve to stay that way, to make a difference and to feel accepted and respected.

"For Yirrmal and I personally, it was about us getting to know each other and learn about how we both grew up, in totally different places. Me in inner suburban Melbourne, and Yirrmal, in a place called Yirrkala in Eastern Arnhem Land.

"But now, here we were, writing and singing a song. Walking together."

Because the two artists live impossibly far apart, time was of the essence when they got the chance to sit down and write.

"It was so fun," Lane recalls. "We had one day to write the song from scratch, and one day to record it.  

"We spent a while watching the film and [figuring out] what we both interpreted the key message of the song was going to be."

It was here that Lane received some invaluable lessons about Indigenous culture, the kind of rich reward that he could never have enjoyed without tapping Yirrmal to collaborate.

"There’s so much beautiful imagery in there, and Yirrmal was amazing at turning Clinton’s mission into lyrics.

"He explained to me the power and importance of fire and the flame in Indigenous culture, and so that was our starting point in the first verse: 'I see an old man, dancing in the flame, telling me to stand up, for my rights'.

"The song grew from there and became a duet with two voices coming from opposite ends of the country, ultimately to stand and walk to together. As a sign of strength and understanding, of moving forward together."

Collaborating with a new musical partner is not always easy. You can't force creativity to happen if the chemistry isn't right. No such problems for these two, though.

"I think we both found it easy. which doesn’t happen with everyone," Lane says.

"We were both a bit nervous at the beginning I think. And when you have 24 hours from just re-meeting each other to then write a song and fully produce a recording, the pressure is on. But somehow it didn’t ever really feel like that.

"We actually spent a fair bit of time eating sushi and drinking coffee at the local shopping centre. So, it’s a wonder it all got finished in that time!"

Lane approached this project as an opportunity to offer his talents to help tell a story he found important and inspirational. But, as tends to happen, he ended up getting as much out of the experience as he offered.

"This experience has given me so much more knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture and the injustices faced," he says.

"Learning from Clinton’s story, and meeting and becoming friends with Yirrmal has been a special experience."

Read more about Reconciliation Week right here