Stella Day Out Orange - Songwriting and Storytelling

Listen to Nardi Simpson talk about her novels and the influence on songwriting and music. Moderated by Fiona Sweet.

In partnership with Collins Bookstore.

Nardi Simpson is a Yuwaalaraay storyteller from New South Wales’ northwest freshwater plains. As a member of Indigenous duo Stiff Gins, Nardi has travelled nationally and internationally for the past 22 years. She is also a founding member of Freshwater, an all-female vocal ensemble formed to revive the language and singing traditions of NSW river communities. Nardi is a graduate of Ngarra-Burria First Peoples Composers and is currently undertaking a PhD through the Australian National University’s School of Music in Composition. Nardi is the current musical director of Barayagal, a cross-cultural choir based at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Nardi’s debut novel, Song of the Crocodile, won the 2017 Black&Write! Fellowship and the ALS Gold Medal, and was longlisted for the 2021 Stella Prize and Miles Franklin Literary Award. The Belburd is her second novel. Nardi currently lives in Sydney and continues to be heavily involved in the teaching and sharing of culture in both her Sydney and Yuwaalaraay communities.

Fiona Sweet is the Creative Director and CEO of Stella. She is the past Artistic Director and CEO of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale and the inaugural Director of the National Centre for Photography. Fiona is an influential and in-demand public speaker, industry judge, photographic portfolio reviewer and assessor in Australia and internationally. She was the director and founder of Sweet Creative and is recognised for her inspiring and intelligent delivery of uniquely crafted festivals and arts events. She is also a former Board Director of the Australian Graphic Design Association, the Melbourne Fringe, and co-founded Melbourne’s Acland Street Projection Festival. Fiona currently sits on the LCI University Photographic Advisory Committee, and the Advisory Committee for the Discipline of Photography at RMIT and is a past recent board member of the Melbourne Jewish Book Week. She was the recipient of an Ian Potter Travel Grant in 2018 for her research on international art festival best practice.

Host or Publisher Stella Day Out