March-July 2011:

From April 2011 Alesa will be touring around Australia as part of her Hidden History Album Project Research. This project aims to research the historical figures and events that feature in the conflicts between Indigenous Australians and early European settlers during the colonisation of Australia, delving into both the aural and written heritage that is of deep cultural and historical significance to Indigenous and non-indigenous community members. A final selection of stories from this research will then be converted to lyrics and songs by an internationally recognised award winning songwriting team, and used to create an album of contemporary Australian folk/roots songs that explore the largely unknown events and historical figures that feature in Australian history. The finished album will then be released for national distribution and toured with the aim of promoting understanding and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

To read about Alesa's experiences and research please visit our sister site:

The Hidden History Blog

February 2011:

Greetings and welcome to the first edition of my new newsletter for 2011!

Firstly thank you to everyone who helped make our 2010 a remarkable experience. To all the people in my band, the people who came to see us play, bought albums, booked us to play at festivals, and who promoted us through radio various other channels, the support for the independent release of Secret Garden has been really touching, and it would not have
been possible without your contribution. Such a blessing to put so much love into something and have people respond with so much positive energy! Am feeling really blessed :)

So, at the risk of blowing my own trumpet (which is pretty much what artist newsletters are all about wouldn't ya say haha), I'll share a couple of wonderful things that have happened since release:

-A track from the new album, "The Owl, The Fairy & The Grasshopper" was announced the Winner of the Best World Music Song for 2010 at the Q Song Awards, and "Get Me Out Here" was also nominated for the Best Blues/Roots category. I also gave a rather tipsy acceptance speech.... I'll be happy
if any footage taken of that night is destroyed haha NOTE TO SELF! Save the party for after one's category has been announced.

-A wonderful review (my first live review in fact!) by Australian Stage of our live show at the Brisbane Powerhouse Main Theatre which featured the amazing Fourplay String Quartet. To read full review visit: Visit the Review

-Recently a great review for Secret Garden was published in the Courier Mail: "Alesa Lajana's second album has been around for a while but is well worth attention. Abundantly talented, innovative, skillful and adept at acoustic and lap steel slide guitar and vocals. 4/5 stars"

-Secret Garden was placed at number 39 on the Top Albums of 2010 list on the US review site Wildy's World (only two away from Kate Miller-Heidke! Very cool!). I didn't really know anyone knew who I was over there! Visit the Review

(On the topic of the US, I did make a little trip to California after the album launch last year and played a little gig in the Weinstein Gallery. This gallery is owned/run by some of the most beautiful people I have ever met; abundantly passionate about life, art, food, wine, music and happy times. It was my first visit to the states and I'll never forget it! Thank you to all involved.)

-As of last week I have embarked on a new, huge, and particularly exciting research project that delves into the haunting and brutal stories of early Australian history, focusing particularly on the conflicts between First Nation people and frontier settlers. More specific details on that later, but I must convey how excited I am to have this opportunity to marry my
passion for music with my passion for history and justice.

When I shared the project proposal with a beautiful lady I met many moons ago while playing at the Woodford Folk Festival, (and then crossed paths with again end of last year), we discovered that she was a descendant of one of the historical figures I had been studying. After years of bumping into each other it was remarkable to discover such an amazing connection.
Even more amazing was that upon mentioning I was on the hunt for a banjo, she decided to give me hers! It's without a doubt one of the most wonderful gifts I have ever been given :) It took a little time to get it back into playing condition but once it was back from the banjo doctor, the spirit of history was rich in it's music and I wrote my first two banjo songs. Thank you Susie. You are so wonderful! xx

On that note, I would also like to announce the latest addition to my 'fleet' of amazing custom hand made instruments, a beautiful 'Bellbird Banjo', built by the amazing Peter Nahuysen. Peter is based in Brisbane Australia and his clients include some pretty amazing artists eg. Béla Fleck

Visit Bellbird Banjos

I'm so in love with banjo and I don't care who knows it!! Now all I need is a shot gun and a flask of single malt whiskey and I'll be all set to frighten small children from my porch. The Melville, the Bear Creek and the Bell Bird. Bliss!

SHOWS FOR THE DIARY:

On the 26th March I will be taking a break from research to play a concert with Canadian based Scottish guitarist Tony McManus at the Old Museum in Brisbane. This will be a really special night. Mr. McManus does not tour to Australia very often, so be sure to pencil it in the diary.

And finally, for those of you that live in Australia I hope you all
survived Mother Nature's onslaught. Amidst the rain, floods, fires, and cyclones, she certainly managed to remind humans that we are a fragile lot. The flood water in Brisbane certainly had me thinking that a guitar might have to be sacrificed to a life as a boat, but luckily it didn't come to that. I do know many people that were not so lucky, and my heart goes out in particular to those who have lost loved ones (family & friends
both human and of the 4 legged variety).

Thanks for reading and stay classy!

Warmest
Alesa Umubarthina Lajana

NOVEMBER 2010:

Secret Garden has received another wonderful review :) To read you can visit the US review site Wildy's World

Alesa Lajana has been announced for the wonderful Woodford Folk Festival 2010/2011, featuring the full band, including Kylie Southwell, Will Eager, and Fourplay String Quartet members Shenton Gregory, Peter Hollo and Tim Hollo.

AUGUST 2010:

"The Owl The Fairy & The Grasshopper", from the new album Secret Garden, was recently announced the WINNER of the World Music Song of the Year at the 2010 Q Awards. "Get Me Out of Here" was also nominated for Best Blues and Roots Song of the Year.

JULY 2010:

After launching the new album Secret Garden at the Brisbane Powerhouse to rave reviews, we are happy to announce that the album is now officially for sale. Already picking up two Q Song Award nominations prior to it's release (2010 Blues & Roots/World Music Song of the Year), Secret Garden promises to be somthing special for everyone involved in its production. A big thank you to Fourplay String Quartet for being part of our string section for the launch night, everyone from the Brisbane Powerhouse, and also everyone who came along to make the night as fun and magical as it was.

Australian Stage Review for Secret Garden Album Launch

Check Out Q Song Award Nominations for World & Blues/Roots

To purchase a copy of Secret Garden email sales@alesalajana.com.au

MARCH 2010:

I feel as though it has been ages since I have last forced some correspondence upon my mailing list :) Life in Alesa land seems to get busy and fluffy around the edges at times. I have been on many adventures, had some important history lessons, lost some dear friends, made some new ones, and written tunes about all of the afore mentioned topics. More on that in a moment! Firstly I would like to say thanks to the new people from Dogstar who have joined my mailing list. Welcome!

Right. Conditions are perfect. It's business time.

RECORDING:
The new album is called "Secret Garden " and is named after the title track. After almost two years of messing around with demos on my laptop I am gearing up to get all of this new music out of my head and onto a CD. My recording sessions began in mid December in Brisbane, and not a moment too soon. I think being this close to a project for so long starts to send one
into a strange state of delirium, so it's time to send it into the world. We are recording and mixing with our wonderful engineer Ben Stewart (who is himself a fine singer song writer). This will be the first album of all original material that I have written.

There are more songs on this album than there are instrumental pieces, so I feel that I am definitely pushing my writing and sound into new areas. In particular, I feel as though I dipped back into my earliest influences; the music that first inspired me to play guitar in the first place. It's really nice to honour those influences. They are so special to me and live on in my playing always. To my heroes and muses, I salute you!

Extra special thanks to Kym and Anje for letting us inundate their home for certain parts of the recording process thus far. You guys are so beautiful and we are really grateful for your hospitality!

JULY 2010 TOUR:
Cities/towns we will be visiting include Yungaburra, Brisbane, Cairns, Sydney and Maleny. We will be on the road for most of July and are doing a few special shows featuring Fourplay String Quartet!

PICS OF RECORDING SESSION:
Some photos of the recent sessions for the new album are up on facebook and can be viewed (even if you are not signed onto the site) by visiting: Alesa Lajana's Facebook

BELATED STORIES OF 09 ADVENTURES:
Some of you may already know that earlier in 2009 I delved into some serious study on the topic of the European occupation of 'Australia', and the subsequent effect on the Indigenous people of this country. Like many people after they start researching this topic in greater depth, I was shocked and devastated to learn of the atrocities that were committed against the Aboriginal people within the last 300 years. Even more shocking was that I had never learned anything about these events while I was at school. With this fresh in my mind, I decided that I would confront my high school and ask them why they had failed to teach me a balanced account of 'Australia's' history. On Tuesday the 9th June I met with Mrs. Lecinski, the deputy principal of West Moreton Anglican College. During my years at
the college, she had been my senior English teacher. Unfortunately the man who was principle at my school while I was attending had since retired, and I had decided it was better to pose these questions to someone who was directly involved in my secondary education. When I questioned Mrs. Lecinski as to why the school had seemingly made no effort to teach me
about Indigenous Australian history, I received a less than satisfactory list of justifications which, thinking back now, actually sounded more like excuses than well founded argument. This was followed by a brief summary of what the school is doing now to make a difference. They have taken the step to acknowledge Indigenous Australians. I think it's great
that we all acknowledge the traditional owners of the land upon which we walk, but how will that actually make a difference unless you ALSO teach young children why we are doing that in the first place? I received absolutely no education from West Moreton Anglican College on the matter of Indigenous history and the European occupation of this country. West
Moreton Anglican College is a private school which charges ample fees to provide a thorough education which will in turn prepare it's students for their journey into adulthood.

I would like to officially say that West Moreton Anglican failed me and many other students, and it would be very gracious if they could acknowledge their mistake. I hope schools everywhere realise how important it is to our national community to be aware of what our minority groups have endured. Any racism, sexism, homophobia and general intolerance I have encountered in my life has stemmed directly from an individual's poor education (which does not exclude those lessons learned at home). Education is everyones responsibility, and does not end once we leave the school grounds. I really don't think it is an acceptable argument to blame the fact that the national syllabus has not included Indigenous studies on a grand scale. I don't know about you but I don't need to wait for the government to tell me that murder, rape and genocide are wrong. I'm pretty confident I can pass on that info myself. I really hope you can all take the time to think about how your own education shaped up in regards to this topic and hopefully take steps to rectify any shortcomings.

On that note, please check this incredible video featuring Sir Ken Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

On a much happier note, I had the great privilege of supporting Fourplay String Quartet on their Fourthcoming album launch tour. A wonderful adventure which featured some delicious culinary delights (particularly at the Raspberry Farm in Tasmania!) and lots of touring silliness. A special note of appreciation to all of the Fourplay crew ad Top Shelf for letting
me join them. Good times!

IN CLOSING:
Well, that is about all I can commit to cyber paper just now. I hope you enjoy the links and 09 Adventure number one. We will be posting up some sneaky peaky music soon so keep checking back at the website for more info on that front and also for official tour dates. Until then, I'll leave you all with a link to this beautiful song performed by Steve Earle called Fortworth Blues, passed on to me by an old friend.

Peace and blessings to you all,
xx Alesa

SEPTEMBER 2009:
Greetings! Would you like to celebrate Fathers Day and support Australian music atthe same time? As a very special Fathers Day offer, and to help celebrate Alesa Lajana's album Celtic Gypsy, we would like to offer you a very special 2 for 1 Cd deal! For every purchase of Celtic Gypsy you will receive a signed copy of Home Calling absolutely FREE! Yes that's two for the price of one!

This is a very limited offer and only available up until Fathers Day in Australia, the 6th September 2009.

All you need to do is visit the ABC Online Shop (or pop into your local ABC Shop/Centre), purchase a copy of Celtic Gypsy, then email your receipt to sales@alesalajana.com.au along with your postal address. Our sales team will promptly dispatch a signed copy of Home Calling into your hot little hands. It's that easy!

Please note that the date on the receipt must be between the the 1-6th September to be eligible for the give away.

Happy Fathers Day Australia!

AUGUST 2009:
I have just returned home after a wonderful tour around Australia opening for Fourplay String Quartet as they launched their new album "Fourthcoming". My set at the Basement in Sydney was captured live on film by the wonderful team from Flywire Films and we will post this up shortly. The set featured some all new music which will make up part of the new album, so stay tuned for the sneak peak. After warming up some of the new music for my own fourthcoming album, I am very excited to have arrived at our final phase of pre-production. The album will feature Shenzo Gregorio on bass, as well as a few other special guests.

To listen to my interview with ABC Radio Tasmania, simply click play below.

If you have recently visited the Facebook page then you might have seen one of the beautiful dogstar dresses that was used for the latest album photo shoot. For those of you who have not yet had a chance to visit here is a preview of what is to come.

The dogstar CD giveaway is almost all wrapped up. If you still want to check in to see if there are any left you can visit one of the three Brisbane stores, or the dogstar website.

To add your reviews of Celtic Gypsy visit the ABC Shop.

July 2009:
A big hello from Applewood Studio where I am rehearsing the tracks for the new album while keeping an eye on the chickens and little Lemmy, the little ozzy terrier that thinks he's people :) I have been very busy working on the new album and it has taken me a long time to feel like we are almost finished.

There are some wonderful things I would like to share with you in this news edition. Firstly a very very special offer to lucky ladies living in the Brisbane area. We have recently collaborated with the unequivocally talented fashion designer Masayo Yasuki. Masayo and her very talented team are the founders of the Brisbane based label called dogstar. I am proud to announce that we are proudly endorsing dogstar as the new look for the new album that is currently nearing the end of it's pre-production phase, as well as our new publicity campaign. On the 13th July dogstar will begin to release their beautiful new Laika range into their stores (I have seen a sneak peek and it's all to die for!). As a special offer to dogstar customers and fans out there, if you spend more than $100 in the dogstar stores (South Bank, City, The Valley), you will be eligible to receive a FREE copy of my CD! The CD's for giveaway are limited so be sure to make the most out of this offer while they last.

To see what dogstar is all about you can visit www.dogstar.com.au

The next thing I would like to share with you is a link to a short film called Aeroplane Dreaming for which I wrote and recorded the music. The man behind this gorgeous little film is called Tristan Pemberton from Flywire Films. He heads a team of wonderfully talented cast and crew. Be sure to check out the other shorts on his site as well! Watch Aeroplane Dreaming

February 2009:
This is just a quick note to invite you to check out 3 of my tracks on triple j unearthed. Feel free to rate and review them if you have time :) Visit Triple J Unearthed Hope you enjoy!

December 2008:
Hi everyone! Hope you are all gearing up for a wonderful festive season. It is hard to believe how quickly the years are flying by! Firstly I would like to thank everyone for all their support over this year. It is such a wonderful job to be able to play music and it would not be possible without your enthusiasm and passion to be an audience. I think I speak on behalf of all artists around the world when I say this. Thank you! This year has been a particularly special year with the release of Celtic Gypsy through ABC Classics, and a massive trip to Europe to launch the CD in Cologne, Germany. This was followed on by a visit to Spain to immerse myself in the breathtaking spirit of Flamenco music. It's easy to never want to leave that country if you are a guitarist :) With sweet memories of warm Andalusian nights and fiery Flamenco I have now returned to Australia. Currently I am locked away in the lush hills of northern NSW Australia reminiscing about the guitar mother-country and composing music for my next album. If you are on the hunt for a copy of Celtic Gypsy as a Christmas present for that special someone, they are available at all ABC Shops or ONLINE.

There are a lot of exciting surprises in stall for 2009! I look forward to seeing you all sometime in the new year. Until then, have a wonderful festive season abundant with delicious food and merriment.

October 2008:
Announcing the release of Alesa's debut commercial album, "Celtic Gypsy"! A part of the ABC Classics collection, this album blends Alesa's intricate guitar skills with soaring vocals and celebrates the wild, untamable Celtic spirit. Visit the ABC Shop to purchase. Not content to party on in Australia, Alesa has been globe trotting, with visits to Greece, Hong Kong, France and Germany, and has performed at several concerts,notably as a support to Michael Fix in Cologne.

APRIL 2008:
Alesa recently released her new album Home Calling at the 2008 Port Fairy Folk Festival. It has been warmly received and was recently featured on the Daily Planet with Lucky Oceans. To hear this broadcast you can visit the Daily Planet Site.
ABC Classics are set to publish the revised version of Ceol Si in August 2008. This will be backed up by a national tour of Australia. Keep an eye on the Tour calendar for dates.

JANUARY 2007:
Alesa has commenced her B. Music Performance at the VCA Melbourne, studying with the highly regarded classical guitarist Antony Field. She will be performing at the instrument makers concert that is part of the Port Fairy Folk Festival in March, representing Melville Guitars. There will also be some classical concerts popping up over the next few months. Alesa will be performing some BACH arranged for 10 guitars, didgeridoo and piano. This will be led by the amazing Donna Coleman, head of Classical Piano studies at the VCA. The Loop Bar in the heart of Melbourne will also be hosting a concert from the VCA guitar department. Alesa will be performing solo, as well as in a guitar quartet alongside Michael Avery, Perter Gregorian, and Peter Boyd. Together they will perform a piece by Charlton.

May 2006:
Much new music on the way! Alesa and internationally celebrated tabla player Dheeraj Shrestha are to record brand new repertoi this July, which will be released on the commercial revamp of Ceol Si. Those who have heard the original will be happy to know that the new version will include double as much music, mainly original compositons (and Alesa singing for the very first time). If you want to catch Alesa and Dheeraj Shresthra in concert, keep an eye on the concert calender. There will be Brisbane shows popping up in the near future. More album news to come!

September 2005:
In September, Alesa will be travelling to beautiful sunny Cairns to perform at both the Backdrop and Up Tempo World Music festivals. Both these festival programs showcase some wonderful national and international artists, including Dobacaracol from Canada, and Australia's very own Jeff Lang and Regurgitator . It would be well worth checking out the lineup if you find yourself in the norhern reaches of Qld.
Whispers of an overseas excursion for Alesa next year have now been substantiated. The exact intiniary is as yet not decided, but visits to New York and parts of Germany have already been confirmed.

June 2005:
Alesa has spent a great deal of this year writing new material. As well as producing instrumental compositions, she has begun to introduce some vocal stylings into the mix. Recent collaborative efforts have included studio sessions with master Indian tabla player Dheeraj Shrestha. These recordings have introduced a wonderful new dimension to Alesa's music and she looks forward to further work with Dheeraj in the latter part of the year. In addition she has begun writing new material with gypsy jazz extraordinare Ewan McKenzie. There will definitely be traces of Manouche gypsy swing featured on her debut commercial album, thus equating to a very strong world music theme for the finished recording.

December 2004:
After taking some time off during the festive season, Alesa resumed her performance schedule with a string of concerts at the magical Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland. The festival featured a delectable array of local, national and international artists, including West End Composers Collective, Bob Brozman, Rumberos, Xavier Rudd, Waiting for Guinness, Kafka, Stringmansassy, Monsieur Camembert, Sars, Jeff Lang, Mystery Pacific, Doch and many more.
The event proved a wonderful opportunity to showcase the recently released works from Alesa's debut album Ceol Si. Her concerts were well received and it remains one of Alesa's favourite places to perform.
The new year will see preparations for the commercial release of her album Ceol Si through ABC Classics. This will feature additional bonus compositions played on her brand new Bear Creek acoustic lap-steel from Hawaii.
Up and coming shows will have her playing alongside artists such as the Martinez Brothers, Eric Bibb and Tony McManus. This should prove an inspiring and exciting introduction for 2005!

October 2004:
It has been a remarkably hectic year for Alesa. After completing a string of concerts early this year, she spent many months cultivating and fine tuning repertoire for her debut album Ceol Si.
In June, Alesa was informed by the Australia Council for the Arts that her grant application to fund studio costs had been successful. The album arrived back from the printers in early September.

The launch for Ceol Si was held in Brisbane at Cerello's Bar/Cafe and attracted many guests, including representatives from the ABC, Woodford Folk Festival, and Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Her debut effort has inspired a warm repsonse, and has received air play on both local and national ABC radio.
Alesa's touring schedule is set to pick up pace towards the conclusion of this year. She has some exciting performances coming up, and a fantastic new Bear Creek guitar on the way from Hawaii.