Australia’s Eurovision duo Electric Fields share the story behind their new song, One Milkali (One Blood)

Australia’s new Eurovision duo were huddled in a Port Rd storage unit when they wrote their competition song One Milkali (One Blood). Here’s the SA story behind the tune.

Inspiration for a new song can come in the most unlikely of places – just ask Electric Fields duo Michael Ross and Zaachariaha Fielding.

Adelaide’s electro-pop superstars will represent the country at the famed Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in May, with a self-penned dance anthem called One Milkali (One Blood).

Keyboardist Ross revealed the song is a uniquely South Australian production, from the chorus chant sung in Fielding’s language, Yankunytjatjara in the APY Lands, right down to their makeshift songwriting studio.

“We actually wrote some of the lyrics in a Kennard storage unit on Port Rd in Thebarton. I was moving house and we had set our studio up in the storage unit,” Ross laughed.

“The song was written on Kaurna country in Adelaide and it’s been recorded, produced and mixed, all in this state.

Electric Fields, vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding, right, and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross, left, will represent Australia at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Picture: SBS/Nick Wilson.

“It’s very much an artistic expression from South Australia, and we like it that way.

“The amount of support that artists actually get in Adelaide … they just nurtured us right from the start.”

Also featuring Kaurna Narungga man Jamie Goldsmith on the didgeridoo (yidaki), the song is focused on “human connection”, Ross said.

“It’s about how we are all connected.

“The way we have expressed that connection is through blood cells and atoms and how we all share the same atomic make-up … the same blood.

“Hopefully we can remind people that we’re all the same, and that is a great excuse not to fight each other.”

The first duo to represent Australia at the competition, Electric Fields almost made it to Eurovision in 2019 when they were runner-up to Kate Miller-Heidke.

Ross said it felt “magical” when they received confirmation they would be performing at the global event, which is watched annually by over 150 million people.

“It was a bit like a Christmas morning moment but a moment from when you were a kid,” he said.

“There was wide-eyed wonder and excitement.

“It’s almost like we’ve been picked for the Olympic team in a way, and if it was an Olympic sport, it’d be something like synchronised swimming mixed with hurdles.”

Australia has taken part in Eurovision since 2015, with Adelaide’s Guy Sebastian, Dami Im and Jessica Mauboy among those who have taken to the global inter­national stage.

“We’ve been thinking of that stage and that platform and how many eyes and ears actually focus there for three minutes,” said Ross.

“We’re very confident with the purpose that we’re going with and we have put that purpose into the lyrics and the music – and we’re going to put that into the performance too.”

Controversy has marred the lead-up to Eurovision with a campaign from nations and artists demanding Israel be excluded for human rights violations.

Electric Fields, vocalist Zaachariaha Fielding, left, and keyboard player and producer Michael Ross, right, will represent Australia at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest. Picture: Morgan Sette.

Former Australian Eurovision star Montaigne is among those who have signed a petition calling for their removal.

Ross said it was important to use Eurovision as an opportunity to share a message of unity.

“I just believe art and creativity is one of the things that connect all of us and if we can add some medicine to that conversation, we’d like to,” he said.

“We always need to be reminded to be kind to each other.”

Before heading overseas, Electric Fields will perform with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra at an Adelaide Festival event called Floods of Fire on Sunday night March 17.

“It’s our first time performing with the ASO, we’re very excited,” said Ross of the Festival Theatre show, which kicks off at 7.30pm.

Tickets: adelaidefestival.com.au

Originally published as Australia’s Eurovision duo Electric Fields share the story behind their new song, One Milkali (One Blood)