Groovylips - since 1993
Groovylips is a collective of creative energy encompassing the visual arts, music and screen content, founded by Paul Boon. Paul has spent the last 30 years developing creative pursuits that are a product of tapping into this energy both personally and collaboratively.
This site explores these areas sharing some of the wonderful talents he works with and supports. Working with a variety of Indigenous artists over the last 20 years we showcase the cream of this talent and their work.
Groovylips Arts management has supported dozens of visual artists through a variety of projects both here and abroad.
The Groovylips Story
Groovylips was founded by Paul Rider boon, a Broome, Western Australia artist, didgeridoo player and art manager.
Paul has recorded and Performed with The John Butler Trio, he featured on the “3” and “living” albums. He performs to thousands of tourists each year at the “Staircase to the Moon” experience at the Mangrove Hotel and played at the Leeuwin concerts with Jane Rutter in Southern Western Australia. He has recorded didgeridoo for a collaboration with International DJ/producer Paul Oakenfold and worked with Keith Harris, a Grammy award winning producer for The Black Eyed Peas.
In 2006 he started band Groovylips and the Yang with Clifton Bieundurry and Rob Pascoe. They recorded a self-titled EP.
In August 2008 Paul co-produced the Kimberley leg of the Russell James project "Nomad Two Worlds" where he was involved extensively in the preparation and negotiations with artists and Traditional Owners with logistics in preparation for the 22 Jan 2009 New York exhibition.
In February 2011, he produced and performed in Los Angeles and Berlin for the Nomad Two Worlds Exhibitions. While performing in L.A., Hugh Jackman visited the event and asked Paul and another artist, Nathan Mundraby to come perform in his one man show in San Francisco as part of the Nomad Two Worlds section. They were later joined by Olive Knight in Toronto, Canada and finally by Clifton Bieundurry for a 10 week record breaking season on Broadway in New York in November and December.
In 2015, Paul performed and managed the NTW ‘over the Rainbow’ section of the Hugh Jackman Show in Istanbul, Turkey, followed by an Arena tour ‘Broadway to Oz’ in Australia through November and December. He continued this association with Jackman in Nov 2016, performing at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera House in New York.
In 2016 Paul took up a residency in the Clontarf Academy in Broome SHS working with over 200 indigenous youth in a mentoring role. He has a specialist Didgeridoo and Dance program that focusses on developing the artistic skills in Indigenous boys aged 12-18.
He is a regular Collaborator with the Tura Music foundation which engages the best indigenous musicians with some of Australia’s greatest non-indigenous musicians touring communities in the North West of Australia. As a visual artist, Paul uses sands and ochres mixed with acrylics and glues to create contemporary artworks reflecting Broome and the Kimberley. He has worked with a variety of Indigenous artists over the last 15 years with several major exhibitions.
Collaborations
Hugh Jackman shows
For the last 10 years, Paul has been an integral part of the performing and production of the “nomad” section of the Hugh Jackman touring show - a 12-minute mini-show into Jackman’s personal journey into outback Australia capturing not just the indigenous spirit of Australia but its over all soul. “What started out as just me and Nate (Mundraby) playing our didgeridoo’s to Russell James’ Nomad Films ended in a full-blown arena experience, when Cliffy (Clifton Bieundurry) joined us with his mum Olive (Knight) - an experience evolved that allowed us to travel the world”.
“What I have really enjoyed is that I was consulted on production ideas. I got lucky and took 2 didgeridoo’s in the key of D to the first shows in San Francisco in 2011, so there was an understanding I could offer ideas on what would make us sound and feel our best - this included getting the right Didgeridoo sound for the space we were playing in. What would enhance Nate’s and my didgeridoo’s on any shows and how up to 4 didgeridoos could sound in an arena.”
Nathan ‘Midin’ Mundraby
Nathan is a descendant of Jabulum Mandingalbay Clan - Yidinji Rainforest People and Lama Lama Tribe - Thaypan Country (Weipa South). He is also recognised and allowed to claim ownership to the Djirrbal Tribe - Ravenshoe/Upper Tully. Nathan is a 7th generation descendant of a proud Mandingalbay woman and Tablelands Yidinji/Djirrbal man. Nathan has the Djirrbal Indigenous given name of Midin (possum) given by his father’s mother - Dowiti Yarrakali. His Yidinji tribal name is Yabulam (black cane). He was named after a great tribal elder of generations past. Nathan was taught by his grandparents, parents, and Aboriginal Elders of the ways of his ‘people’ through stories, dancing, and art.
Nathan is a touring performer with over 200 shows with the Hugh Jackman show globally.
Nathan has just recently completed an art collection for Mineral Resources in Perth featuring several large pieces. His distinctive style is also featured in Russell James’ book NOMAD Two Worlds.
Nathan’s Art
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Naiuwa Art
Naiuwa Art is an Indigenous family-owned business of Yiddinjii (Babinda Boulders area NQ), Budjula, and Kabi-Kabi (Frazier Island/Hervey Bay and areas of southeast QLD) tribal heritage. They have become known nationally and internationally as makers of top-quality didgeridoos. They create authentic didgeridoos from carefully chosen, naturally, termite hollowed eucalyptus trees. Gerald Appo and his family work together to create their own unique wood burnt and dot painted didgeridoos.
Every didgeridoo is carefully sealed inside and out to preserve the instrument. The artwork for each didgeridoo is chosen individually taking into account the shape, size, and musical tone. Each one has its own unique look and feel. Naiuwa means "green turtle" which is the nickname given to Gerald by the Aboriginal youth he works with. He feels strongly about helping his community. The patience that earned him the nickname Naiuwa can be seen in all of their didgeridoos.
Nomad Two Worlds
New York Exhibition - Russell James, Hugh Jackman, Paul Boon and Clifton Biendurry
A collaboration of artists, as well as cultures, this project traces a creative journey of several years. In 2008 internationally renowned Australian photographer Russell James was moved by his government’s formal apology to the Indigenous people of the continent. He set off to connect with his country’s aboriginal heritage and bring about reconciliation across the cultural divide. He was inspired to fuse his own photography with classic aboriginal art. Since then, the project has expanded into a series of international collaborations and partnerships that provide economic benefit to the artists and raise the public’s understanding of the world’s most threatened cultures and communities."
Nomad Two Worlds is available in a book format.