DRMNGNOW

I woke up this morning a Dr apparently. 5 years blood sweat & a whole lot of challenges to the spirit with so many times in limbo - but finally made it.. grateful for those in the small circle of support that helped me believe that I could Make it through to the often at times seemingly nowhere to be seen finish line of this crazy task of a Phd. I knew deep down I was never going to give up till I made it to that line however this was one thing I started in this life Ive lived to this point that I was adamant was only going to end one way and that at the finish line..And so here we are, that has happened Biami willing. I hold firmly to the position as such that we dont need to be reconised in colonial spaces at all. We are already all that we are in and of itself. However If I am to say one thing it is that in doing this work more than anything affirms that our knowledges are of not only equal standing to any other stream of knowledge , but distinct knowledge systems that have not just a rightful place, but a necessary place to be held up and respected as vital. Grateful also to all that have came before in these spaces well before me , their knowledges and cumulative Indigenous knowledge systems both here and globally that also inspired, provoked and took me deeper along this knowledge journey. Together our knowledges make a potent tool that is truly ustopppable. This body of work simoly does not exist without each and everyone of you and your vital knowings and teachings. Still has not sunken in and not sure when it will. But grateful for closed chapter on this one is an understatment if ever Ive spoken one.. Special mention to my beautiful mother Aileen A for shaping me in a way to always be open to learning and attempting to understand something over judging something and how that is the very seed to who I am as a person who craves to learn and grow knowledge & to ultimately always strive to be a better person. Above and beyond all. I know the road ahead to continue to serve communitty is the strength of such work as this lays, but for now taking a deep breath or two for the song of woka to sing some mulana ina. Dissertation in bio

With the Release of 'Pray' has drawn the close of a series of pieces over the past 12 months that have formed the Ngarwu project - which begun with the song of that name meaning Listen in Yorta Yorta . These peices where all written , recorded and self produced on Yorta Yorta country. I commenced writing these in 2021 in amidst of the depths of the trying times  that we all experienced to some degree This time in the world enabled me to go deep into a form of songwriting and production I had never before went to previously .  As someone whose sense of music Sovereingty had long meant eventually self producing a full project, I biami willing  achieved this. But what has come to means more even is  that 4 of the 5 of these songs ended up to featuring  Yorta Yorta hooks. Whilst I did this within songs that where within the medium of hip hop genre wise- ultimately these works are  an immersion in song with Yorta Yorta language  that has been a lifetime in the making . They are sacred messages that are much bigger than me.  When I first started writing songs in the mid 2000s I bemoaned deeply the fact that I didnt have access my mother tongue . I wondered the land as a young Yorta Yorta man feeling cheated and broken by colonialism for taking my mother tongue away. I then begun learning Yorta Yorta language in 2012 after finding myself working on a project focused on the rejuvenation of our language which gave me my first exposure to our language altogether. To go from slowly starting to speak these words to singing them meant the breaking through of many layers that colonialism formed that Ifelt so heavily. Fast forward almost 20 years later from those moments of fearing this would never come to be I feel beyond blessed in finding a path through these songs a now  sense of strengthening of my ancestral baiyiya dana connection to the old people in ways I always dreamed. I am still a baby with lotjpa, but what I do know is I have truly found one of my most imortant  life callings I could possibly have - that being doing but  a small part in returning Yorta Yorta baiyiya to Yorta Yorta woka.

Ngarwu (Listen ) Thank you from my dipa/ dipa to all that have listened to and supported Ngarwu over the past week since release. Its been medicine to be sharing baiyiya with the world after alot of healing work, focusing on growing as a yenbena, a custodian of woka , a community member , and sitting deeper with baiyiya( song ) than ever the past couple of years including working on the Ngarwu project that I look foward to sharing more with you from all very soon. Dungudja dhomodhomonga wuta Shall we all continue to do as we can in these precious times to - Ngarwu Dorra Yenbena Lotjpa Listen to Ancestors Talk Produced by DRMNGNOW Mixing & Mastering @dizz1 Film @dyllan_corbett Film assistant @river_loizou Ft @wulumbarra @yorta_dja_illam @brickyb___ @galnya_yenbena and other Yorta Yorta yakpna, filmed on Yorta Yorta woka

2025, was an end to a chapter multiple years in the making dating back to returning home to living on Yorta Yorta woka in 2020. Amongst all - the core focus was to get my Phd finalised & Biami willing accepted as passed. Still surreal as I write,  things have come to now be , formally  I became offically conferred as a 'Dr' as of Dec 17th. Slides one and 2 are me taking a moment in the forest in September in Switzerland a week affer I got notice that I had been approved for graduation.. Breathing in and out so much that will be on ongoing inhale and exhale moving into 2026. Outside of  focus on Phd completion the plan for 2025 was to continue to focus on community orientated projects home on woka.  Ended up undertaking some highly critical day to day work with my Yorta mob. Continued to practice Cultural burning  on  Yorta  & Dja Dja Wurrung lands .  Worked with youth on  powerful archival story capturing projects & continued ongoing Yorta Yorta language work. Started the year itself with one of the most powerful unified Yorta Yorta acts I have experienced occupying woka on Jan 26th. Not by permission but in our Sovereigness. Sat on more committees etc then I planned to at various levels. Creatively clocked up a decade of 'professional' participation in music & 20 since I first picked up a guitar.   Had music included on documentary as theme music for one of my true inspirations , Uncle Robbie Thorpe & Was blessed to perform at various special events for community. Saddly mourned the loss of  some precious loved ones whom will be held dear always. Went to the "UK" for the first time.  Alot to speak to on that in time.. Set foot in China for first time. A precious moment in deepening my connectivity to my Chinese + broader East Asian lineages. In closing ,heading into 2026 ,so much more of myself I wish to give to the world now the mammoth marathon that was my Phd journey has finalised. Look forward collecting myself & having exponentially more bandwidth for making space most importantly for continuous healing and  growth this year and building with  many dear super duta/star humans. Dhomodhomonga  nginak wuta Love you all N

DMRNGNOW #LiveatRRR | We were thrilled to be joined by @drmngnow in the Triple R Performance Space last month, hosted by Lauren and Simon of Breaking and Entering. The Yorta Yorta artist from Shepparton-Mooroopna performed songs from their project Ngarwu - meaning 'listen' in Yorta Yorta language - moving through hip-hop, spoken word and atmospheric electronics. DRMNGNOW performs 'Pray' – check out the full video on our YouTube channel now! 🎥 by @rick.m.douglas This Live at RRR performance was sponsored by @up_banking , Australia’s #1 rated banking app. #DRMNGNOW #3RRRFM #LiveatRRR

Love and gratitude to all that came through in studio or that tuned in Friday night for live at @3rrrfm set alongside my brothers @pataphysics and @dj_pgz . Was beautiful to be able to share in the space after first performing a short 10 min set there in 2017 on @howhighthemoon_rrr - pre DRMNGNOW era - with just a loop pedal with basic kick and snare backing beat and guitar. From that to now sharing an entire set of self produced music from the Ngarwu project alongside other snippets shared on the night. Ive had the honour to host in the space back when I was broadcasting at the station - with a Naiidoc week special in 2019 that gave me a sense of what mob occupying the space and filling it with magic could feel like . So To have the undivided attention of a full set in the space was a blessing that I sensed it would be. Gratitude to RRR as a space to uplift quality music - above and beyond all. Not just that which is most popular etc and so on. Special shout out to @lauren_and_simon For hosting the night and supporting the Ngarwu project from when the lead single Ngarwu dropped in May last year. Meant alot to finally celebrate a project that I hadnt got around to specfically doing so in a live setting until now. Grateful for all that brought the moment together at RRR particularly the ongoing advocacy for mob to be able to share in these spaces by broadcasters still involved with the station. (Special mention @vanessammorris ) For those that didnt make it down or catch live to air. In any case utmost love to all - appreciate you all yakapna and know that the baiyiya continues. Dungudja dhomodhomonga N

Been heavy in my thoughts the past couple of weeks thinking of yakapna in Brazil with COP30 on.  a couple years ago Had the deep honour to travel to Abya Yala to spend time listening to and sharing stories of sovereign land protection amongst brothers , sister , Aunties and Uncles to share learnings. That trip changed me. Seeing what our dear yakapna there are up againgst breaks my heart deeply. There - standing up to protect country can mean life or death... But one of the most infuriating parts is the compicity of companys sure and saddly enough - including those from here. Under the radar of Treaty talks  by regional governments- philanthropics funded by dirty extractive industry donating money to 'reconcile ' from harm they have caused, and a prime minister who just signed a multi bullion dollar minerals deal to another settler colony.. with whose permission exactly from Indigenous people? And one then must ask what other deals are either done or awaiting to be affecting not only our Indigenous lands - but potentially many others? If they would bypass us theres no telling where epse they are doing the same? And to that thought - what companys are they enabling to wreak harm on other Indigenous kins lands. So as things have unfolded in Brazil with the exlusion Of Indigenous people at COP30 -  Australia is right at the heart of activities leading to this.  Excluding Indigenous people from actions that affect us most severely - destruction our our sacred lands. To think on but a small amount is deeply bizarre. So called Australia -  what you do unto Indigenous people anywhere - your doing unto all. We are watching -  But when will the virtue signalling of those in power that can play a part actually end in exchange for thorough Indigenous led justice - not just the eternal chain of lip service we have come accustomed to being fed- that again and agin leads to harm to Indigenous populations and in that ongoing colonialism. Sending utmost love from Yorta Yorta woka N

Grateful for this precious sacred experience being welcomed to Wurundjeri biik last weekend to share baiyiya/ song upon requesting permission to do so by dhoma batja @thane_garvey for.Minyerra show Drinking from the same cup original way through reed straw - treated as equal stepping on biik. Not an entitlement - but a precious honour with also responsibilty to come with intention. Grateful to be able to come with an intention with song onto biik . Not as an entitlement but as a precious gift and responsibility to walk in a good way - to share in a good way that is just and appropriate. To share song on woka/ country as a guest is and always will be one of the most sacred things to me. Each and every time it is something profound. A passage of permission. A passage of honouring all that has come before in place. In spite of what is happening around us - we can choose to lead the way with love exchanged within out sacred practices. And that cannot be taken from us. Our sacred inherent intentions and ways of being and doing. Grateful for brother Thane to enter into a space of communion for us to represent this. That said in sharing Minyerra- it is not only a special place in my heart. Not a side project - but central to who I am as a custodian through song in the varied ways that may manifest..Minyerra is project centred deeply with the axis of country as fundamental root source of song. Through both creation and sharing of. Grateful beyond words to bring baiyiya through Minyerra into places of sharing as it grows more into what it exists as is already on a spiritual level before even expressed as sound - into the present physical reality. And especially in being given right passage to do so. That is crucially important. *** This Minyerra set was held on Unceded Wurundjeri lands @ Abbotsford Convent as supported by @liquid_architecture programmed by batja @jhowardjaadwa with support from @cityofyarra *** Image @laing.damien I

Liquid Architecture is proud to present MINYERRA. Join us at dusk on Saturday 8 November at the Abbotsford Convent for an evening of ambient electronics, field recordings, and cultural ceremony. MINYERRA is an ever present buzz that emanates forth from the sacred biyala (redgum) and wala (waters) of Kaieltheban land. MINYERRA is sonic lore manifest, a meeting of country and analog synth textures. MINYERRA is a sound project of Yorta Yorta artist Neil Morris (aka DRMNGNOW) that is built around sound as an expression that sits in the ethereal spaces between woka (country) yenbena (ancestors) and mulana (spirit) of all living beings on Yorta Yorta woka expressed through sound collages centred in atmospheric textures and pulsing rhythmic voicings. As a project that steps away from the hip hop of DRMNGNOW this work falls in a realm that evokes shades of musical influences ranging from many examples of where Indigenous music meets electronic sonics, whilst also reflecting musical influences such as Sun Ra, Shabazz Palaces, Gill Scott Heron, FLying Lotus, Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Boards of Canada and early Detroit Tech . Joining MINYERRA will be proud Wurundjeri man, Thane Garvey-Gannaway. For over 15 years, Garvey-Gannaway has worked with the Wurundjeri Corporation across a range of areas, including the Cultural Heritage Unit as a field representative, the Narrap Land Management Team, Policy and Partnerships, and currently within the Education and Events teams. As a part of the Wurundjeri Education Team, he has had the opportunity to conduct hundreds of Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremonies and has led numerous cultural walking tours and educational sessions across Wurundjeri Country. Alongside his dedication to cultural preservation and education, Garvey-Gannaway is also an active board member of Music Victoria and work within the music industry as an event organiser and DJ. 🎟️ Tickets via link in bio @minyerra.minyerra @thane_garvey

Here with my brothers Larry and Vernon of @larrygurruwiwi_and_malawurr in Switzerland . Here to share baiyiya / song here in these times where humanity is come to so many cross roads as Yorta Yorta and Yolngu yiyirrs bring our baiyiya together. Talks of treaties being signed incluing the UNDRIP built into them back home , the standing here and seeing the calls of Palestine still failing to be heeded by the powers that be. Such as in this place I stand in this pic with my brothers at the UN. The contrasts - tensions - complexities- pain , unreocgnised humanity, continue along with questions of rightful sovereignties and what and how that needs rightful recognition May our cultures continue to be a beacon to galnya dana - good ways of walking and being into right and just ways here collectively on our ghana woka. Look forward to doing that here tomorrow night in Lens @fondationopale . Grateful to be here N

Sunday night from 6:30 pm with my brothers @larrygurruwiwi_and_malawurr also ft @afromoses_official @lazybonesloungemarrickville Marrickville in so called Sydney Come through for some musical medicine yakapna - free for mob.

'Pray' Out now Full visual on Youtube Free audio download via @bandcamp Written , produced, recorded & filmed on Yorta Yorta woka by @drmngnow Mixing and mastering @dizz1 @mixedbydavey Visuals @the.dr1fter