They're the Zennith Boyz from Far North Queensland, bringing their rainforest reggae to the world but never forgetting their roots.

Watch: Rainforest Reggae

The constant reminders of the poverty faced in Aboriginal communities near their home town of Kuranda are a strong influence on this band.

"I'm playing roots reggae because I believe we need to get the story out about our struggle, black Australians... to me song writing is day to day life for me. What I see is what I write about", band member Astro Brim told Living Black.

Despite their awareness of hardship, these musicians keep a positive outlook. And with their recent Deadly nomination and plans for an international tour, it's no wonder Zennith say it's good times for them and for Indigenous music.

Join SBS correspondent Stefan Armbruster as he catches up with Zennith.

TRANSCRIPT

ADEN: Hi I'm Aden Brim from Zennith, born and bred in Kuranda

ASTRO: Hi I'm Astro Brim

LINDSEY: Lindsay Snyder

ISAAC: and Isaac Crowley

WILLIE: Hi, I'm Willie Brim, from Kuranda, a Bullwangi traditional owner from the area.

VOICEOVER: They're the Zennith Boyz from far north Queensland, Deadly Award nominees for album and band of the year.

ADEN: The driving force is the lyrics, and having a good time, sharing the struggles and using music, how would you say, as a tool to share with people across the world, ah.

VOICEOVER: Aden and Astro are the sons of Willie Brim, former lead singer of pioneering local band Mantaka.

WILLIE: I guide the boys through a lot of the paths that they must journey through, particularly before we leave and go on tour, we do make connection with country so there's a spiritual element that's involved with our music as well.

VOICEOVER: Zennith are from the tourist mecca of Kuranda, in the rainforest a short drive inland from Cairns.

ASTRO: Welcome to Kuranda, this is the little village of Kuranda, this is where all the Zennith Boyz this is where we all grew up.
ADEN: We love our reggae here, it's an inspiration from back in the Mantaka days, back in the 1980s.

VOICEOVER: Bass player Isaac has been jamming with members of Zennith for more than a decade.

ISAAC: The sound is evolving, so it happened over 30 years ago, Willie and his band, when he was in his 20s, his band Mantaka. The same sounds there now with his son's writing the Kuranda reggae sound. It's some hip hop, skanking rainforest reggae.

WILLIE: I first started off playing in a church band, being the drummer for a local brass band, so we used to do the ANZAC parades, but after that, church, growing up, the influence of reggae music, hippies, marijuana, in the communities back in the 70s, changed the mental framework or something up here.

VOICEOVER: Surrounding Kuranda are Aboriginal communities neglected by the State Government.

LINDSAY: This is my neck of the woods where I'm more likely at home.

VOICEOVER: They're a brutal reminder of the poverty suffered by the local Aboriginal people. It's a strong influence on the band.

ASTRO: At the moment I'm playing roots reggae because I believe we need to get our story out about our struggle, black Australians, it's important for us to do that right now and there seems to be a big curiosity world wide about what's actually happening here in Australia right now, to me song writing is day to day life for me, what I see is what I write about.

WILLIE: We've had a few generations come through in very poor conditions when there's a town 6 to 7 kms way that looks like a million dollars, and then the kids have to come home to the shantie that's provided by none other than our superioirs, so called, and I encourage them not too get too savage with their wording, because we're not like that.

VOICEOVER: Their Deadly nominations come as Zennith record their new album and prepare for their first overseas tours to Vanuatu and United States.



Source: Living Black SBS