In 2022, Tourism Australia launched a global rebrand aiming to bring tourists back after the reopening of Australia's borders. We were invited to score the 9-minute brand film which is the flagship of the campaign.

The film places unprecedented focus on the people and cultures of Australia's First Nations, and we felt its soundtrack should embrace this by incorporating as many indigenous composers, performers and languages as possible. This was to be achieved through a lengthy process of consultation and collaboration.

As the film is an animated buddy comedy, the soundtrack needed to reference this genre with orchestral cues, which were to blend seamlessly into the First Nations musical contributions. We also needed to address sensitivities around the connection between onscreen depictions of country, the music accompanying it and the birthplace of the performers and their native languages. Such depictions must be approved by the land's "Traditional Owners".

The 9-minute score comprises 15 cues and was created in three phases.

Phase 1 - we composed themes for Ruby and Louis, wrote the orchestral-only cues, and identified sections requiring First Nations contributors. We researched and approached potential collaborators with initial guidance from Tourism Australia's Indigenous Affairs Coordinator.

Phase 2 - a unique and joyful process of discovery during which we met and were guided by:

Iwiri Choir (end credits music)

Singer-songwriter Frank Yamma (opening song)

Didjeridu virtuoso and composer William Barton (who composed two cues)

Their contributions were recorded in early September 2022 in Adelaide and Sydney. Iwiri and Frank Yamma are from Pitjantjatjara country and sing in that language over scenes set at Uluru.

Phase 3 - incorporating these contributions into an overall score, with orchestral recording and mixing at Trackdown in Sydney. Marliya Indigenous Girls Choir recorded in Cairns, where the film's opening scenes are set.