A design commission presented by MPavilion, Open House Melbourne and Melbourne Music Week, MERGE is a collaborative project that sees five local music acts respond to — and perform in — local heritage locations: Villa Alba Museum, Waller House, Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) and Trades Hall.

The artists chosen for MERGE, The Opals, Mara Schwerdtfeger, Shelly Senbei, Hachiku and IJALE, represent a microcosm of the eclectic musical talent that has made Melbourne a global music hub. IJALE responded to the history of colonial co-option of black and indigenous labour and creativity across Australia and the world, and performs at the ATW in front of tapestries designed by Wurundjeri-willam (Wurundjeri-baluk patriline) artist Mandy Nicholson and Kaantju/Umpila artist Naomi Hobson. Tune in and watch these pre-recorded performances as part of MPavilion 2020’s virtual program, featuring custom designed garments by RMIT Bachelor of Fashion (Design) students.

WATCH THE PERFORMANCE

Melbourne Producer, Vocalist and Performer IJALE is a self-contained master of his sound. A keen music fan and avid creator, he blends a myriad of afrocentric sounds and western influences that reflect his Nigerian heritage, his Australian upbringing, and the multifaceted taste of an open-minded listener living in the internet age. These concoctions vary in style from piece to piece, but are usually punctuated by hints of African percussion, infectious bass lines and layered electronic textures, all of which pay direct homage to the hallmark genres of black creativity, including Jazz, Soul, RnB, and Hip Hop. The main unifying connection throughout IJALE’s music is his unique voice and cuttingly honest lyrics that display both intellect, observation and personality.