This song was created as part of a four week Desert Pea Media mentoring program in the remote desert community of Wutunugurra (otherwise known as Epenarra) in Australia's Northern Territory in 2013. A partnership between DPM and Barkly Shire CDEP, the project focused on two major programs in Alyawarr Country - Wutunugurra and Ampilatwatja NT, spanning two months in total. The outcomes will be released in October 2013 on an limited release EP/DVD publication titled 'The Alyawarr Sessions', which will be circulated around Alyawarr communities free of charge. The package includes a 16 page booklet that documents the community songwriting process, and some cultural information about the focus areas. Here is a section of text from the booklet focusing on this particular production - The people of the Alyawarr Aboriginal language group have lived on the edge of the Simpson Desert in the Northern Territory for thousands of generations. Alyawarr language is spoken north west of Alice Springs, in the Utopia homelands, Ammaroo (Ampilatwatja), Wutunugurra (Epenarra), Murray Downs, Alekarenge, Canteen Creek, Alpurruralum (Lake Nash) and also Tennant Creek. The Alyawarr belief system comes from a complex network of story, song, dance, place, family and a deep connection to country. Storytelling has always been an intrinsic part of Alyawarr culture. DPM arrived in Wutunugurra on Monday the 27th June, 2013. Due to the very popular local AFL carnivals happening at this time, the process of engaging community members was slow and frustrating, but that's sometimes how life is in the desert. Seven days in, we were still trying to engage participants of the target age group for the first production. We were eventually introduced to a local community leader, who in turn introduced us to a group of young men we had not yet seen in the community. Bandanas, baseball caps and basketball singlets were the flavour, as ten guys emerged from a house looking like something out of a Cypress Hill video. The crew was very enthusiastic, and we arranged to meet that afternoon to start writing the first song. The contemporary music from every DPM project is always based on original compositions, reflecting the wishes and tastes of the participants. Music composer and producer Joel Westlake enquired about their preferred style of hip-hop music. To his surprise, they quickly replied -- "Mexican". While we were not previously overly familiar with Mexican hip hop, let it never be said that DPM backs down from a challenge. 'The Good, the Bad and the Dusty' is a fusion of Mexican, indigenous and spaghetti western style hip-hop. This is a song about celebrating local culture, respect, and the importance of listening to elders in order to understand and connect with your cultural identity. Produced and Directed by Toby Finlayson Written by Toby Finlayson and Joel 'Roc West' Westlake Music written and produced by Joel 'Roc West' Westlake Music video shot, directed and edited by Toby Finlayson Choreography by Gail Mabo Audio Mixing/ Mastering by David Nicholas

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