Watching William Barton perform is mesmerising, as he switches seamlessly between vocals, his guitar, and his true craft — his didgeridoo.
The Kalkadunga man was born and raised in Mount Isa in north-west Queensland, and performing there is now small fry for the internationally recognised musician who has graced stages all over the world from Carnegie Hall to Finland.
A prominent recent performance was an acclaimed cover of Men At Work's Down Under, which he played on the didge at former Prime Minister Bob Hawke's memorial service, alongside the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Mr Barton spoke of his heritage and his music as one.
"Music is a language," he said.
"When you are open to listen to other musicians and listen to the land, you can converse with any musical style."
The beginnings
Growing up in Mount Isa, Mr Barton was taught from a young age to respect the land, and listen to the sounds of the wide, open landscapes of north-west Queensland.
Music was also a large part of his life from a very young age.
"I would frequent the Mount Isa Folk Club with Mum and Dad," he said.
"I was taught the didgeridoo by my uncle — Uncle Arthur Peterson — who was a significant figure along with my father in the community of the Mount Isa region.
"Mum and I, we took on more the music aspects with the culture … relating and reflecting to the landscape and how inspiring it is as a musician and visual artist, and as a poet as my mum is."
It did not take long for Mr Barton's talents to be seen, and he began travelling Australia as a young teenager.
"I remember travelling to Woorabinda [in central Queensland], I was barely a teenager," he said.
"I was living in Sydney for a little while, probably in my very early teens, working with a dance troupe.
"I went overseas with them for the first time when I was 15 years old."
Keeping with country
Mr Barton has since travelled the world, working with artists such as Herbie Hancock, James Morrison, and Basement Jaxx.
But he said returning home was very important to him.
"Even though I've always travelled, Mount Isa was always my home," he said.
"I always think of that on the concert stages of the world.
"When your work takes you abroad, all you have sometimes is the memories and the sounds — the music you have in your heart and soul."
