Granite Island Discs: Rulla Kelly-Mansell

Emerging Adelaide artist Rulla shares his favourite tunes and music-related memories.

What five songs would you take to a desert island?

1. Bob Marley and the Wailers – ‘Could You Be Loved/Redemption Song’

2. Archie Roach – ‘We Won’t Cry’

3. Paul Kelly – ‘When I First Met Your Ma’

4. Karma County – ‘Secret Country’

5. Ben E. King – ‘Stand By Me’

If you could only pick one, what would it be?

Archie Roach, ‘We Won’t Cry’. We did [Triple J’s] Like a Version with Uncle Archie two weeks before he passed, and the week after, we had the National Indigenous Music Awards. Marlon and me, Emma Donovan, Yirrmal, Fred Leone, Leah Flanagan, Shellie Morris, William Barton, Birdz and The Putbacks performed ‘We Won’t Cry’ all together as a tribute. It was an emotional and special moment, one that I’ll cherish forever.

What’s your favourite album?

Archie Roach, Jamu Dreaming. I can remember Jamu Dreaming being the first album I heard from start to finish. It’s beautiful – from start to finish.

What’s your favourite song by an SA artist/band?

It’s hard to pick favourites… ‘Down City Streets’ by Ruby Hunter was my uncle’s funeral song – he spent a lot of his life sleeping in parks, so the lyrics are very moving and special to our family. ‘Tomorrow Will Do’ by Hilltop Hoods: I remember driving home from a jam one night and it just made me feel like Adelaide is a home away from home. And I’d pick ‘January 26’ by A.B. Original. One half of A.B. is none other than Dan Rankine aka Trials, a Ngarrindjeri brother. ‘January 26’ and their album Reclaim Australia moved the needle in this country – it made every black fulla feel staunch, united and proud!

Favourite music-related memory?

Darwin, July 2022. We played the last of a 30-plus show national tour in Darwin, supporting Xavier Rudd. That was the night we found out about Uncle Archie’s passing, about 30 minutes after finishing our set. Xav, Marlon and I played the song we did with Uncle for Like a Version in Xav’s set, which became the last song of his entire tour. [That week] I turned 30, Mum and Dad had flown up to see us perform at the NIMA’s and it was [when] I met my partner. A lot happened, and it just holds a special place in my heart.

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