EWAH & The Vision of Paradise have a permanent place in our hearts here at the southern outpost of Backseat Mafia, for their brand of icy melodic post punk music, fit for the wilds of a relatively isolated Lutruwita/Tasmania. Today they announce news of a new album ‘Belief System’ due out on 12 March, 2027, and accompany the announcement with another brilliant track ‘White Ghosts’, featuring proud Truwulway woman and multidisciplinary artist DENNI, aka Madam Pakana.
Apart from solo work from Emma Waters (singer/guitarist for the band) the last time we heard from the full band was the stunning ‘The Warning Birds’ back in 2022 (see my review here). The new single ‘White Ghosts boldy moves forward with its political themes about the invasion of Australia and the impact on the local First Nations population and the environment, with a soaring delivery. DENNI’s vocals hover on the periphery, forceful and proud and she adds a direct personal commentary born from the experience of her ancestors and continuing to the present:
Ooh, will we ever see eye to eye
Eye to eye
When all that’s mine was taken
My anger mistaken
My trust misplaced
Cause nothing is really changing
No justice for genocide
It’s justified by greed
No justice for genocide
It’s justified by greed
Emma’s lyrics provide a scathing narrative:
Fire, the language, the language of healing
Gunfire, the language, the language of war
Australia fair, yeah
Smoke in the air, yeah
As a background, an initiative called Voice would have been a permanent advisory body that would give advice to the government about the issues that affect First Nations peoples. In a referendum, the Australian population rejected this important initiative, a tragic decision that impacted trust.
Waters speaks of the issue close to her heart:
These feelings have been in me since I was a kid, being spun myths about the first people
of this country and feeling that injustice. The Voice referendum was a tipping point where
this angst found its way into the music I was working on.
Of reaching out to DENNI, she says:
I was nervous. DENNI’s the real deal and I’m always fearful of rejection or of being clumsy and getting it wrong. But thank goodness, she was in and her work is truly amazing. This collab has been an opportunity to grow and learn from a real leader and exceptional artist.
DENNI says:
Working with EWAH has been a breath of fresh air in a climate that feels increasingly
disheartening for First Nations people, here in so-called Australia and across the world. At
a time when division is holding us back, this collaboration felt like walking alongside a true
ally — a powerhouse woman and artist who embodies solidarity through her actions. Featuring on
White Ghosts reminded me how powerful it is when we come together with purpose, truth and a shared vision for change.
The instrumentation has a military precision and beat: driving, insistent with the trademark Antarctic chill to it.
Throughout the track there are sounds of insects; swarms of invasive European wasps and native bees, in particular the female carpenter bee, heard at the end of the song. The green carpenter bee (Xylocopa aerata) is a threatened species, already extinct on mainland South Australia, and only remains in pockets of fire prone bush on western Kangaroo Island and the Dividing range and in conservation areas of NSW.
This is angry, powerful and anthemic and a clear indication that EWAH & The Vision of Paradise are one of the most exciting bands around:
‘White Ghosts’ is out now and available to download and stream via the link above and here.
