Djiva

Djiva (Jeeva) is Jessie Lloyd, a Murri and TSI from North Queensland and Della Rae Morrison, a Noongar of the South West of Western Australia.

“We believe that every life process leaves behind a vibrational residue in the earth, just as a plant leaves behind its image as a seed - so the spirit of every place is bound forever to the memory of its origin.

The word for this ‘seed power’ or life force is ‘Djiva’ and ‘Djiva’ is the spark that ignites the dormant seed into life. We hope that people hear that connection to past and future in our music and feel the same spark and spirit.”

Singing in English and Indigenous languages, the pair has been performing with their 3 piece band since 2004, releasing their debut EP the same year.
Despite its low key release, the EP received Australia-wide airplay and the band was subsequently featured on ABC TV’s Message Stick.

Invitations from some of Australia’s most prestigious festivals followed, and the band has since performed at the Dreaming Festival, Songlines, Perth International Arts Festival, Tarerer Festival, Fairbridge, Nannup and Naidoc Celebration around Australia, Djiva have also played supports for internationally acclaimed acts such as Archie Roach, Yothu Yindi, Paul Kelly and Renee Geyer.

In March Djiva performed alongside Shane Howard and John Butler plus top Indigenous artists as part of the 32 piece Helpmann Award-winning ‘Murundak - The Black Arm Band’ concert ensemble in Perth.

In 2007 Djiva released its debut album “Yowarliny” to wide acclaim. “...the year’s most spectacular celebration of Indigenous music…” Xpress Magazine

Picking up the 2007 NAIDOC Perth Award for Artist of the Year, Djiva also won the 2007 WAM World Music Song of the Year and was nominated at the 2008 WAMi Awards as WA’s Best Indigenous Act.