Airileke Ingram

Airileke Ingram is a percussionist, producer, composer, activist, recording and global events facilitator. Born in Australia with roots in PNG Airileke grew up between the shores of both PNG and the Top End. Currently based in Peachester (Sunshine Coast) he continues to travel back and forth. Airileke's unique sound melds progressive ideas with beats of ancient Melanesian culture. Hip-hop production, fierce log drumming, Papuan chants, atmospheric soundscapes and samples from the front line of the Free Papua Movement combine to evoke one of the region's darkest stories: the illegal occupation and ongoing oppression of West Papua. This is the new sound of urban Melanesia. Airileke grew up learning traditional drumming from his ancestral village of Gabagaba (Drumdrum) near Port Moresby, the region's ‘sing sing’ grounds for drums, dance and ceremony. As a touring percussionist, his resume expanded from Melanesian heroes Drum Drum and Telek to Australian indigenous trailblazers Bart Willoughby, Wild Water, Gurrumul, Yothu Yindi & Yirrmal. In 2006 he co-founded the Wantok Musik Foundation. In 2015 Airileke was Co-Artistic Director and Composer for the “PNG 2015 Pacific Games Opening”. The show was an Olympic scale event, viewed by over 10 million viewers across the globe.