Electric Fields
Electric Fields are an Aboriginal Australian electronic music duo made up of vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross.[2] Electric Fields combine modern electric-soul music with Aboriginal culture and sing in Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and English.[1] The duo have released 1 extended play.
Electric Fields | |
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![]() Electric Fields in Adelaide 2019 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Australia |
Genres | Electronic[1] |
Years active | 2015–present |
Website | https://www.facebook.com/electricfieldsofficial/ |
Members | Zaachariaha Fielding Michael Ross |
Career
In 2011, Zaachariaha Fielding auditioned for the third season of The X Factor Australia, performing Tracy Chapman's "Talkin Bout a Revolution". In 2013, Michael Ross auditioned for the fifth season performing Phil Collins' "You Can't Hurry Love".[2]
Since 2015, the duo have been performing as Electric Fields. Their repertoire moves across pop, soul and electronica, while being described as "Daft Punk meets Nina Simone in the Deep Forest".[2]
In June 2016, the duo released their debut EP Inma (which derives its name from the cultural ceremony of Aṉangu women known as inma[3]). Daniel Browning, a presenter and producer of ABC Radio National said "Co-creating music that is as exciting as it is emotionally moving – the beauty and sheer power of their musicality is breathtaking. Often featuring Zaachariaha's traditional languages of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people, Electric Fields music ranges from pop to epic-scale electronic works, through to intensely intimate story-songs."[4] Their music was played at the Spirit Festival 2016 and Adelaide Fashion Festival 2016 and on Triple J.[5] In 2016, the duo won the Emily Burrows Award, an award given to recognise and further the professional development of original South Australian music artists or bands.[6]
The duo won Best New Talent of the Year at the 2017 National Indigenous Music Awards.[7] The duo was nominated for Artist of the Year at the 2018 National Indigenous Music Awards.[8]
In December 2018, the duo was announced as one of the entrants in Eurovision - Australia Decides in an attempt to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The duo said "The Eurovision Song Contest is the Olympics of camp! It's a flamboyant spectacle and we're excited to be part of the first ever Eurovision – Australia Decides show on home soil. We want to tell a story on stage with fierce energy that will hopefully shoot through the cameras and out of the TV screens at home."[7] Electric Fields performed at the competition with their song "2000 and Whatever" on 9 February 2019 and came second in both Jury and Audience vote, and second overall.[9] In May 2019, the duo announced the Australian jury votes at the Eurovision Song Contest final. [10]


In 2019, Electric Fields toured their single "2000 and Whatever" around Australia. During performances, the duo was joined by a guitarist, a didgeridoo player and guest dancers.
In July 2019, Electric Fields received two nominations at the National Indigenous Music Awards.[11][12]
On 3 April 2020, Electric Fields' collaboration with Norwegian group Keiino, "Would I Lie" was released.[13]
Discography
Extended plays
Title | Details |
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Inma |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS Digital [15] | |||||||||||||
"No Other High" (Touch Sensitive featuring Electric Fields)[16] |
2017 | — | Visions | ||||||||||
"2000 and Whatever"[17] | 2019 | 38 | Australia Decides | ||||||||||
"Vision"[18][19] | — | Deadly Hearts 2 | |||||||||||
"Would I Lie" (Keiino featuring Electric Fields)[13] |
2020 | — | OKTA | ||||||||||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
Other appearances
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Shade Away" | 2017 | NIMA Presents: The Sound of Indigenous Australia - Now and Before[20] |
"Glorious" (Hermitude featuring Electric Fields} |
2019 | Pollyanarchy[21] |
"From Little Things Big Things Grow" | 2020 | Cannot Buy My Soul: The Songs of Kev Carmody[22] |
Awards
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony event celebrating the Australian music industry. Electric Fields have been nominated for one award.[23]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | 2000 and Whatever Tour | ARIA Award for Best Australian Live Act | Nominated |
NDA
The National Dreamtime Awards is an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community and commenced in 2017. Electric Fields have won one award.[24][25]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | themselves | Male Music Artist | Won |
NIMA
The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. The award ceremony commenced in 2004. Electric Fields have won one award from four nominations.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | Electric Fields | Best New Talent | Won |
2018 | Electric Fields | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
2019 | Electric Fields | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
"2000 and Whatever" | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
2020[26][27] | Electric Fields | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
Electric Fields & Keiino - "Would I Lie" | Artist of the Year | Nominated |
References
- "MUSICIANS Electric Fields". Creative Spirits. 17 November 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Electric Fields: Don't try putting us in a box". Sydney Morning Herald. 5 October 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "IY2019: Saving language through Dreaming story". Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
- "Inma by Electric Fields". CD Baby. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "ELECTRIC FIELDS". Select Music. 2 February 2019.
- "Emily Burrows Award recipients hit WOMADelaide". APRA AMCOS. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Electric Fields to compete for Eurovision place". SBS. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Baker Boy, Kardajala Kirridarra, Jessica Mauboy amongst National Indigenous Music Award nominees". The AU Review. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "aussievision | Post". Aussievision - Eurovision from Down Under. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
- "SBS Australia". Facebook. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
- "National Indigenous Music Awards unveils 2019 Nominations". National Indigenous Music Awards. July 2019. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- "Record Breaking Crowd for the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards!". National Indigenous Music Awards. 13 August 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
- "KEiiNO & Electric Fields release "Would I Lie"". ESC Xtra. 2 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- "Inma EP". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "ARIA Australian Top 40 Digital Tracks" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. 18 February 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
- "No Other High - single". Apple Music. 11 August 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
- "2000 and Whatever". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- "Vision". YouTube. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- "Electric Fields "vision"". AIRIT. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- "NIMA Presents the Sound of Indigenous Australia Now and Before". Apple Music. June 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- "Pollyanarchy". Apple Music. September 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- "Cannot Buy My Soul: Songs Of Kev Carmody (2020 REISSUE) LP". JB HiFi. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- "The finalists at this years' Dreamtime Awards". NITV. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- "'We are brilliant people': Nova Peris receives Lifetime Achievement at Dreamtime Awards 2019". NITV. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- "Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled". noise11. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- "2020 Finalists". NIMA. July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.