Smiling Face of Australia is the new release for Idi (Ras) Banamungu, the West Australian based vocalist, songwriter, percussionist and music therapist, and the follow-up to his hugely successful single My Sunshine. The new track is once again a stirring combination of roots music, blues and Afrobeat and as the title suggests, overflowing with positive energy and captivating style. As Idi has said about the new track: ‘This song is like my short review telling the whole world how beautiful Australia is, how good the Australian people are and how well they manage to share their happiness to all people from all nations and all cultures. Australia is a multi-cultural country, but people live in peace. In this I express my emotions, how I love Australian people.’ Smiling Face of Australia gives the listener a unique musical experience, one that contains urgency, soul, and a strong message. Ras Banamungu and The Det-n-ators International are an exciting live act that incorporates dancers and backing vocalists. Having also won the prestigious Akademia award and Poze productions award for best album and EP with I am Messenjah and Let’s Make our Business Forgiveness, the celebrated Rastafarian was also awarded for his heart-stopping live performance at the Coast to Coast awards in Melbourne 2019. From the opening dynamism to the seductive chorus hook, Smiling Face of Australia will reel you in. And when one considers the motivation behind the track, one can only be swept along with the tide of good feeling. When asked about his sound the enigmatic musician says: ‘I think it’s wide open for a brand-new sound and that’s where I come in. My African and reggae influences blend well with western rock and pop influences, they work perfectly. I baptized my style Shakalaka Doo.’ And there you have it, Shakalaka Doo as heard in Smiling Face of Australia.
Vince Leigh for THEAUSSIEWORD.COM