Location: Timor Leste
From the album Maubere Timor

In 2014, a band was formed to revive music from the East Timorese resistance (Freedom Fighters) through their struggle for Independence from Indonesian occupation and to honour songs from the past that are now part of a long history. In collaboration with the Prime Minister’s Office for Veterans Affairs and Wantok Musik, ‘Maubere Timor’ was born. This project recorded an album of 12 songs that delivers an array of tracks both uplifting and melancholic to demonstrate years of hope and isolation within a nation.

Maubere Timor is an ensemble of old school Timor-Leste veterans who spread their love of power in speech and songs of their past that will solidify their heroic history and the memory of the resistance movement for future generations. Recorded by David Bridie at Wantok Studios in Melbourne, it traces the history of these men who used music as cultural and political resistance as a way of spreading messages of hope in support of their struggle for national liberation within East Timor. Song was their last and only hope in spreading awareness in support of their battle for liberty and these messages were filled with experiences and adventures of war, preparation for guerrilla fighters and to instil hope in others to continue their battle for Independence - which they eventually gained.

The live performance features a 7-piece band, including the 3 Veteran’s from Timor Leste along with 4 Timorese band members from Melbourne and Sydney, some of whom formed the Dili Allstars, one of the leading voices of support for the East Timorese people and a popular musical group in the 1990’s. The Dili’s released two albums, a special edition Portuguese tour CD, an EP, titled Increase the Peace and also tracks for the ARIA award winning Balibo soundtrack album and the Australian Canadian tele-movie Answered By Fire.

The sound encapsulates the island vibes of an ancient melodic tradition along with modern influences that take the listener on a journey like no other. Join Maubere Timor as they sling-shoot you back to the adventures of their past in support of veterans and combatants of the national liberation, those left disabled and for the widows and orphans of those who fell during the resistance.