A LOCALLY produced rap featuring Jaara elder Uncle Rick Nelson is helping people keep hygiene at the front of their minds during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Uncle Rick's COVID-19 Rap was uploaded to Facebook and YouTube in the past week and has racked up thousands of views. The song also features singer Chase Norfolk.
Chewton's Declan Furber Gillick, who is an Arrernte man from central Australia, wrote and produced the music after Bendigo & District Aboriginal Co-Operative's Camilo Demarco came up with the idea for the song.
"BDAC had a bit of an inclination to get a health message out and suggested getting Rick invovled," Declan said. "I have been living here since October and have had a bit to do with mob. They sent me ideas for hte messages they wanted in the rap and I wrote it and a beat in about 30 minutes."
After recording the song at Ghost Studios in Castlemaine, BDAC, Nalderun and People Pictures collaborated on a film clip for the song.
"It's up on YouTube and Facebook and between the two (platforms) has got a lot of traction," Declan said.
"With Facebook we have been telling people to share it because starts playing as soon as comes up. People love it, a lot of other co-ops around the country want to get a (hold of it)."
Declan said Uncle Rick was a good person to have involved with the songs.
"Rick is a good leader," he said. "He's got a lot of authority and sway and (the song) has more of a platform thanks to him. The message goes further.
"He was pretty good (on the microphone). I have done a fair bit work getting people to rap when they haven't done it before. After little while he picked up and has a distinctive and great texture with his voice."