Barkaa is tough, proud, outspoken. Unafraid. On her albums she tackles domestic violence, racial violence, systemic violence, and she does it with all its due rage. What you don’t hear on the records is the Baarka between songs. The baarka who reshaped her life by unleashing herself from her pain. The person you don’t hear, the person you don’t see is Baarka.
Which is exactly who exploded onto the stage at Woodford, Barkaa, the force of nature that got the crowd to move instantly. All surging inwards as they jostled for a position at the front. You could see the lyrics resonance on the faces of the punters, each feeling the anger in their own little way. Transforming their own individual pains into a release brought on by music as Barkaa unleashed her rage on the stage.
Then it was laughter, Joy, Gratitude. An adoring Barkaa greeted the crowd like they were friends who had just surprised her with a birthday cake. The Barkanji woman who has overcome all traumas and transmuted them into a substance more precious than diamonds or gold, showed the human behind the artist.
This is why you should go see Barkaa. Wherever she is playing. To see the human that dwells beneath the star. There is no egotistical mask. No façade. There is nothing fake about Barkaa. The experiences she presents are genuine events. There are no thuglife gangsta fairytales. Only life spat back at you. In convenient 3 – 4 minute rhythmic bursts of world class lyrical verse.
There is no one like Barkaa in the world right now, no one. And I am grateful for it. Knowing the pain that needed to be alchemised in order to save her own soul it would be criminal to wish for another Barkaa.
As she brought out the darling children of the Jinibara cultural dance group you could see why. Each child burst out onto the stage like a rock star. Phones flashing from Instagram selfies as they showcased the culture they had displayed at the cultural stage earlier that day to no applause.
Once again, mid song this time, you could see the real Barkaa. An adoring mother, sister, aunty, a woman whose own hideous mistreatment unleashed some of the greatest music to come out of Australia.
It is harmony Barkaa seeks, a harmony that can only be found in the release. Once spat out the traumas that define her music dissipate leaving only the woman forced into becoming a warrior through circumstances beyond her control. Allowing you to see the truth behind rage. It comes from a place of love, which is to say hurt. A fierce protective spirit that could only heal as the truth was sent out into the world.
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