Nancy Bates: Aboriginal Singer-Songwriter Amplifies Incarcerated Women’s Voices through music and Advocacy
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Nancy Bates, a celebrated aboriginal Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and educator based in adelaide, is forging a powerful path in music and social justice.Her innovative work, notably the “Songs Inside” project, has garnered national recognition, culminating in a critically acclaimed documentary and a sustained commitment to amplifying the voices of incarcerated women.
Born in far west New South Wales near Broken Hill, with Barkindji / Wilyakali heritage, Bates’ career began in the 1990s, performing in various bands and honing her skills as a guitarist and songwriter. Though, it was her work within the South Australian prison system that truly defined her artistic and advocacy focus.
Bates’ “Songs Inside” project,later formalized as a program,began with a simple yet profound idea: to empower vulnerable Indigenous women through music. Working within Adelaide Women’s Prison for many years, she taught inmates to write songs, sing, and play the ukulele, providing them with a creative outlet and a pathway to self-expression.The program aimed to reduce recidivism by fostering resilience and offering a sense of hope.
The culmination of the project saw the formation of the “Song Birds Ensemble,” a group of participants who performed alongside bates at an Australia Day concert, backed by the Adelaide Youth Orchestra. Bates intentionally used this platform not to celebrate Australia Day, but to spark dialog around the concept of Invasion Day or Survival Day, as it is known by many Aboriginal people. “I wanted to use my privilege to highlight women who had been incarcerated,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of centering marginalized voices.
Artistic Recognition and Advocacy
Bates’ artistic talent has been widely recognized. Her show, “Still talkin’ Bout a Revolution,” a tribute to the work of Tracy Chapman, won Best Live Music at the Adelaide Fringe in March 2022. She further showcased the show at the Theater Royal in Hobart,Tasmania,as part of the Festival of Voices in July 2023,and toured regional South Australia in November 2024,offering songwriting workshops alongside her performances.In October 2025, she opened for troy Cassar-Daley at the Adelaide Guitar Festival, sharing songs from her new album, Share Your Love, and highlighting the work of prisoner advocacy group Sisters Inside.
Beyond her performances,Bates has consistently used her platform to advocate for imprisoned women and mental health awareness.She served as an ambassador for the Australian Performing Rights Association in 2023 and was appointed an ambassador for the Adelaide Fringe in 2025, viewing the role as a “responsibility as an artist to uphold our values, to promote creativity, to promote the arts, to promote the Fringe.”
“Songs Inside” on Film and Beyond
The impact of “Songs Inside” extends beyond the prison walls.In 2024, Adelaide documentary filmmaker Shalom Almond spent months documenting Bates’ work, resulting in the feature film Songs Inside. The film has received numerous awards, including recognition at the Sydney Film Festival and the CinefestOZ Film Prize, bringing national attention to the program’s success and the stories of the women involved. According to almond, the film centers on “putting humanity at the core” of the narrative.
Bates’ commitment to fostering emerging First Nations artists is further demonstrated through her company, Deadly Management, which provides music promotion, education, and advocacy services. In March 2024, she was named one of two Indigenous artists-in-residence at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she mentors Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander students.
A Personal Loss and Continued Resilience
Bates’ personal life has also informed her art. The loss of her partner, James, to esophageal cancer inspired her song “We Won’t Lose,” which won a South Australian music songwriting award and progressed to a national competition. the song serves as a poignant tribute to their relationship and a testament to her resilience in the face of grief.
Nancy Bates’ journey is a powerful exmaple of how art can be a catalyst for social change. Through her music, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to empowering marginalized communities, she continues to inspire and uplift, leaving an indelible mark on the Australian cultural landscape.
