SIMA Presents: Hinano Fujisaki + Runa Cara

Come rejoice! Hinano Fujisaki is the recipient of SIMA’s inaugural Judy Bailey Emerging Composer Scholarship, celebrating her significant artistic voice among the Australian music culture. In this one-off performance, a community celebrates her work as she assembles a bespoke ensemble to premiere new music commissioned by SIMA and the Judy Bailey Trust alongside repertoire from her recent there is a rabbit on the moon EP, 

Fujisaki’s work draws influence from Japanese folk songs to Hermeto Pascoal to Miles Davis' 1970s output. Both songlike yet free, patient yet intense, there is a beauty in her music which seems to evoke – in Fujisaki’s words – “seeing the world through child eyes, and all the wonder and innocence you have when you are young”. 

Joined by ethereal folk ensemble Runa Cara – a duo of multi-instrumentalists Bonnie Stewart (aka Bonniesongs) and Freya Schack-Arnott whose powerful re-imaginings of traditional Irish and Danish music have drawn wide acclaim and who here celebrate the release of their new single Ring Dans. This double bill will navigate soundscapes, song forms and story in its celebration of collaboration, community and culture. 

Hinano Fujisaki is a saxophonist, improviser and composer based in Eora/Sydney whose music explores a delicate cross-section of jazz, improvised, folk and ambient influences. Fujisaki’s debut release ‘Home Is’ garnered a cult following across the Australian new music scene, leading to collaborations across numerous genres and artforms. In this special SIMA presentation, Fujisaki debuts new music as the inaugural recipient of SIMAs Judy Bailey Emerging Composer Scholarship. Featuring long time collaborators from her Home Is band – Jacques Emery and Bonnie Stewart – with the exciting addition of Novak Manojlovic and Jasper Craig-Adams, this unique performance celebrates Fujisaki’s rich and essential musical voice within Australia’s musical landscape.  

Runa Cara is the partnership between Irish-Australian percussionist and indie-folk singer-songwriter Bonnie Stewart (aka Bonniesongs) and Danish-Australian contemporary cellist and nyckelharpist Freya Schack-Arnott. While each have developed significant reputations for their individual artistry and output, this collaboration sees them collaborate by drawing on the music and stories from their rich cultural heritages – as well as their unique mix of classical, jazz and experimental musical practices – to present a set of Irish and Scandinavian folk songs interwoven with ambient soundscapes and original composition. 

“Runa Cara… filled a hushed Utzon Room with music of ethereal beauty.” – Sydney Morning Herald