"What Used To Be" performed by Donna Williams and The Aspinauts

Following one of the hottest Melbourne temperatures on Australian record and a four day heatwave, on the 8th of February bushfires then swept across Victoria, leaving thousands homeless, devastating communities, killing thousands of bush animals and trapped pets and leaving almost 200 hundred people dead and families, friends and neighbors in mourning. My older brother and neice and my cousin's young family each ran for their lives with only the clothes on their backs as all burned to the ground. Others were not so lucky.

The fires changed the lives of Victorians. Climate change was knocking loudly on our consciousness. We were no longer in a 20 year drought. We were in a new world, one we hadn't planned on.

I wrote the song, "What Used To Be" as part of dealing with the tragedy of those events and with Donna and The Aspinauts we recorded the live demo featured in this slideshow.

We performed the song at the Rock n Rebuild Bushfire Relief Concert in March held in Hurstbridge and organised by Kinglake resident, Kane Marsh. The concert raised over $10,000 for the Bendigo Bank Bushfire Relief Appeal.

Featured in the clip is Donna Williams (vocals), Russell Edwards (keyboards), Andrew Sherman (lead guitar), Earl Wollff (bass guitar) with Paul Spears on drums.

Further info can be found at

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday

http://www.donnawilliams.net
http://www.aspinauts.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doEIsz6roCw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bplSoKonKo

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• black+saturday

[NadezhdaRozagy1]

you're a real star, Donna and you talk about what really matters

[1210donna]

thanks Roza, nice to see you here.

[AutieMumAlly]

I love the clip guys :)

Ab Fab music. Keep up the great work and keep producing the awesome sounds.

[1210donna]

ta Ally

:-)

[MatthiasMinor]

Great show Donna and co.

Fab music and look forward to seeing many more :)

[1210donna]

will do.  we're working on a debut album in a few weeks time. hoping its out on iTunes and CD Baby by end of June.

:-) Donna *)

[sydehawk]

Very nice song. Beautiful and peaceful.

Thanks for sharing. :-)

[wadjela]

Great song, still relevant one year later.

Copenhagen Conference should have been held in Melbourne or Adelaide.

With our Pacific neighbours sinking in the ocean, and us in Australia without water and facing bushfires and highest temperatures in a century, there would have been no contest. 'Big bisiness' would have been trounced.

South West WA are currently facing terrible heatwaves and bushfires, many in the town of Toodyay are homeless.

[sparklijelibean]

Hi Donna,

Kool, love the lyrics. My mum says she can completely understand where you are coming from.Made her cry. She said she can see who she is now in the mirror. Lot of feeling and emotion,that is what counts most. Passion, you can't have enough., thanks for your support.

Keep rockin and rolling

David :)

[ahmadomusic]

I know... it's beyond cool!

[carol3hawks]

Once again...You ROCK!

Music is medicine for the soul...Your song is a Hoozey!

Carol

[somepieces]

hi donna, i like your song and your band as well. i hope you have a lot of fun to sing your life and to say what you have to say.

freedom and peace!

[2009kengokengo]

Thank you for new song.（^▽^）

I can listen on the birthday and am happy.

:D

[breezymum]

Very nice!

Keep up the awesome work guys.

Nikki