Sound Connections
A South East Asia/Pacific Program
Sound Connections is Tura’s new multi-year initiative that reimagines the cultural and musical ties between Australia and our Indo-Pacific neighbours. Inspired by centuries-old exchanges between Northern Australia and the Indonesian archipelago, the program reconnects and reimagines these rich, cross-cultural legacies in a contemporary artistic context.
For centuries, people travelled and traded between what is now Indonesia and northern Australia, developing relationships that also involved music, language, stories and cultural knowledge. Sound Connections explores these histories while creating opportunities for new relationships between artists and communities today.
It builds on the success of the Kimberley Indonesia Project (2018–2019), and continues through Kai Jawa, which brought Australian and Indonesian artists together through performance, research and collaboration.
Reconnecting the Past, Imagining the Future
For hundreds of years, seafaring people from what is now Indonesia travelled to northern Australia, trading and developing relationships with First Nations communities. Evidence of these connections remains in language, music, stories and cultural practices.
Sound Connections brings artists, cultural knowledge holders and researchers together to learn more about this shared history and explore what these connections mean today. The program also creates new opportunities for Australian artists to work with other artists and communities throughout our neighbouring region.
Our Vision
Sound Connections aims to build lasting relationships between artists and communities in Australia, South East Asia and the Pacific through music, culture and shared knowledge.
Throughout the program, Tura aims to:
- Foster stronger cultural understanding between Australia, SEA and Pacific communities
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Highlight First Nations culture at the heart of regional connection
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Build on Western Australia's unique regional history
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Create long-term cultural and artistic exchanges
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Support government priorities in regional engagement
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Showcase Indo-Pacific voices to Australian audiences
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Bring Tura’s existing work to new international audiences
Artist Exchange & New Works
Musicians and cultural knowledge holders will collaborate through residencies, workshops, and new commissions.
Archival Research
'Tura Cultural Fellows’ will document and research musical legacies and cultural ties.
Symposia & Knowledge Sharing
Public talks and events will engage historians, academics, and artists across the region.
Touring & Showcasing
Tura’s existing and new works will be presented throughout South East Asia and the Pacific.
2025
- Research and collaboration in Indonesia
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Public showings in Jogjakarta and Jakarta
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Launch of the Kai-Jawa/Marege symposia
2026-2029
- Regional tours across South East Asia and the Pacific
- Showcases of archival material
- Premieres of new large-scale cultural commissions
- Annual Kai-Jawa/Marege symposia across Australia and the region
Jala Adolphus
Producer
Jala Adolphus is an independent producer and editor in the field of contemporary dance. She produces for a selection of leading Indonesian choreographers and directors that work across the mediums of stage and film including Garin Nugroho (2014-present) and Rianto (2014-present). She is engaged with the discourse, practitioners and events that connect artists, academics, audiences and programs both within Southeast Asia and the Pacific and between Europe. She has worked on Indonesian programming with Australian and European international festivals and government organisations and is a core member of the Asian Network for Dance (AND+) and the Asian Producers Platform (APP).
Kate Ben-Tovim
Strategic Advisor
International Producer Kate Ben Tovim manages the international production, overseeing coordination, partnerships, and logistics. Her expertise ensures smooth collaboration across borders and supports the project’s ambitious vision.
Nyak Ina Raseuki (Ubiet)
Tura Cultural Fellow (Indonesia)
Nyak Ina Raseuki, known as Ubiet, is an Indonesian composer and performer whose passion for vocal music began in her teens as a lead singer in popular music groups in Aceh and Jakarta. She studied voice at the Jakarta Institute of the Arts (IKJ) and holds a Master of Music and Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from the University of Wisconsin. A national and international performer, Ubiet now lectures at IKJ's Graduate School. Her focus on vocal ornamentation led her to collaborate with composer Tony Prabowo and Minang musicians to form the contemporary music group The New Jakarta Ensemble.
Chris Griffiths
Tura Cultural Fellow (Australia)
Chris Griffiths is a Miriwoong, Ngaliwurru, and Karangpurru man with over 20 years' experience in arts, tourism, media, and land management across north-west Australia. A respected cultural leader, mentor, and public speaker, he has worked with major institutions, served on boards, and supported landmark native title cases.
As a lead songman and dancer, he plays a key role in ceremony and community life, and he is currently the Strong Men’s Program Coordinator at Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation.
Chris is currently the Tura Cultural Fellow (Australia) for Tura’s Sound Connections (2025-29) and was Cultural Advisor and Lead Songman for Tura’s The Journey Down (2023).
