About

Welcome to Country

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council

As we gather on Gadigal land – a place of ancient stories, resilience and renewal – Aunty Joan Bell, a proud Wiradjuri Gadigal woman, offers this Welcome to Country on behalf of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. This council works to protect and preserve Aboriginal culture and heritage in our area.

We pay our respects to Gadigal Elders past and present. We honour the leaders whose courage and wisdom guide us today. Following these cultural protocols shows respect for thousands of years of tradition and for the living cultures of Aboriginal people who have always been here. It reminds us to act with care and respect while we’re on this land.

The Welcome to Country projection was created by We Are Warriors and Johnathon Karalis. It was filmed at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Calling Country 

We Are Warriors creative director Nooky returns to lead this year’s Calling Country, welcoming you to Gadigal land. An inspiring collaboration of First Nations artists Jem Cassar-Daley, Aaron Kennedy and Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal) bring to life a powerful narrative of connection, memory and renewal, with an evocative soundtrack produced by Nooky and Tasker.  

The soundtrack begins with a Djiranganj welcome song performed by Warren Foster, followed by a Dharrawal–Dhurga song that speaks to the wild dog and his 2 names, Mirrigan and Warrigal. This piece was composed by Cecil McLeod and Richard Scott Moore, both renowned cultural teachers. The final song is a Djiranganj song from Wallaga Lake, telling of fishing with the woven handline and abalone hook, carrying the rhythm of sustenance and tradition. 

Through creativity and culture, the work celebrates harmony, resilience and strength as we step together into the new year. The visuals expand with glowing animals, plants and symbols of life, while the story unfolds through movement and transformation, from spear to boomerang, from tears to luminous waratah, from spirit to moon. Each element reflects the enduring presence of Country and the beauty that rises from loss. 

Together, these artists capture the voice of community and culture, expressing pride, strength and renewal as Sydney welcomes 2026. 

Pylon projections 

As these songs echo across the harbour, the pylon projections respond with a unifying message: from the stars to the rivers, every living thing carries our song, reminding us that Country holds us all. 

The Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons are reimagined as giant living sculptures, created in collaboration with VANDAL and the Royal Botanic Garden, to highlight native plants unique to Sydney. A powerful narrative is showcased of nature reclaiming the city – growing, moving and blooming across the skyline. 

A story unfolds in 3 creative segments. Ground Dwellers brings the hidden world to light, with fungi and ferns such as the ruby bonnet, ghost fungus, coral lichen and bird’s nest fern glowing across the stone. Sky Seekers rises tall and proud, with Sydney’s own red gum, scribbly gum and cabbage tree palm stretching skyward, joined by the golden wattle and blueberry ash. Finally, Bloomers bursts into colour, with Gymea lilies, Christmas bells, fringe lilies and the waratah illuminating the pylons. 

The visual display tells the story of the deep connection between land and the city. Renewal begins when we let nature lead. By weaving science and art, the project honours the beauty already here and places it at the centre of our celebration. The visual animation uses each plant’s natural DNA sequence from the Genomics for Australian Plants database. This DNA code, mixed with cutting edge AI technology, allows the plants to unfold with organic movement and colour they direct. Each sequence influences how the plants grow, shift and illuminate, creating a choreography that feels alive, as if nature is redesigning itself. 

This collaboration captures the spirit of rewilding, expressing creativity, culture and connection. 

Midnight soundtrack 

Jono Ma is the visionary composer behind the midnight soundtrack, marking a homecoming after years abroad. His composition is a high-energy sonic tribute to the city bombastic, turbocharged and deeply personal. 

This year’s soundtrack is imagined as a direct conversation with Sydney, shaped by its rhythm, spirit and pulse. Originally conceived as an ethereal piece, the track evolved into something dynamic and joyful, driven by movement, emotion and pure party energy. 

Adding depth and soul to the soundscape are gospel vocals from Annie and the Caldwells, a family ensemble hailing from Mississippi. Their voices bring warmth, power and spiritual resonance, weaving through acid house textures and moments of celebration. 

Inspired by his late mentor Andrew Weatherall, Jono lets the music speak through feeling rather than detail, a soundtrack designed to let go, turn up and welcome the new year with sound that’s alive, unapologetic and unforgettable .  

Artists

Jem Cassar-Daley is an indie-pop singer-songwriter whose celestial voice and heartfelt storytelling have quickly made her one of Australia’s most exciting emerging artists. A Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung woman and daughter of country music legend Troy Cassar-Daley, Jem carries her family’s legacy while carving her own path, winning acclaim for her award-winning track King of Disappointment and captivating audiences with her luminous performances.

Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal), is a Bundjalung/Yugambeh artist whose practice spans painting, music and tattooing. His bold, lyrical works draw on Country, identity and personal history, blending traditional ochres and foraged dyes with contemporary forms. Exhibited at leading institutions and embraced by global brands, Shal’s art is both deeply cultural and strikingly modern, a testament to resilience and creativity. 

Aaron Kennedy is a Jerrinja and Djirringanj Yuin artist whose work explores landscapes, cultural knowledge and environmental themes. Working across painting, printmaking, digital art and weaving, Aaron’s practice reflects a deep connection to Country and a commitment to storytelling through visual form. A member of the Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative, his art highlights both tradition and contemporary issues, carrying forward the strength of Yuin culture. 

Nooky is a proud Yuin and Thunghutti rapper, producer and radio host whose work bridges music and community. As creative director of We Are Warriors, he empowers First Nations young people while bringing bold, unapologetic energy to the stage. Known for his fierce lyricism and leadership, Nooky continues to shape culture through both his artistry and his advocacy. 

Tasker, also known as Caleb Tasker, is a Sydney-based producer, songwriter and performer whose versatility spans genres from hip-hop to surf rock. A member of The Terrys and collaborator with artists including Chillinit, George Alice and 3%, Tasker is known for his obsessive studio craft and explosive live energy. His music reflects a restless creativity, bringing fresh sounds and bold ideas to every project. 

Jono Ma is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and founding member of Jagwar Ma, celebrated for blending psychedelic rock with electronic textures. After years of international collaboration with artists such as Foals, Flight Facilities and Genesis Owusu, Jono returns home to Sydney with a midnight soundtrack that channels the city’s pulse. His work is dynamic, bombastic and soulful, inspired by the acid house legacy of his late mentor Andrew Weatherall. 

Credits 

Calling Country

We Are Warriors 

• Nooky – Founder and Creative Director 

• Tressa Jackson – Project Director 

• Ben Miles – Chief Design Officer APAC R/GA 

• Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal) – Artist 

• Aaron Kennedy – Artist 

• Jem Cassar-Daley – Live performer 

• Tasker – Producer 9pm soundtrack  

• John Karalis – Videographer (Welcome to Country) 

Midnight soundtrack 

• Jono Ma – Composer, producer 

• Annie and the Caldwells – Vocals 

• Maanyung – vocals, clap sticks 

• Matteo Zingales – strings, brass, percussion 

• Josie Mann – vocals 

• Jonti Danilewitz – synthesisers, vocals 

• Ewan Pearson – mix and master 

• Sam Shepherd/Floating Points – effects unit 

• Jin Ping – Paramount 

• Sonar Music  

• Eric Welles – Nyström – Luaka Bop 

Recorded at Sonar Music, Space Mountain Studios Sydney and EMS4 London. 

Pylon projections

VANDAL 

• Chris Scott – Creative Director 

• Phillip Muzzall – Creative 

• Melody Ha – Executive Producer 

• Alice Robinson – Producer 

• Joseph Pole – AI Animation Lead 

• Nicholas Tsaoucis – AI Software Engineer 

• Jeremy Mansford – Calling Country Animator 

Fireworks

Foti International

• Creative Director – Fortunato Foti

Lighting

32 Hundred Lighting

• Iain Reed

• Thanh Tran

• Ziggy Ziegler

• Ben Ronczka