Stories

Joseph Douglas

Generations Fellow

Somehow this place makes me feel light as a feather, perhaps it is the metric tonnes of brick and mortar surrounding me, or the gargantuan engine of the soviet rocket ship inside the museum.

Joseph Douglas, aka Joey Leigh Wagtail, is a Dunghutti/Gumbaynggirr man hailing from South West Rocks who has been playing and writing music since high school. Coming from a lineage of musicians, Douglas has developed an eclectic style that continues to evolve.

The Powerhouse Generations Fellowship connects artists with established industry experts and mentors, to pass on intergenerational knowledge and create pathways in the music industry. Between November 2022 and April 2023, Douglas was in residence at Powerhouse to develop his music and explore instruments in the collection.

Joseph Douglas sits crossed legged on the floor in front of a row of guitar amps. In the background is a shelf lined with guitar cases.

Joseph Douglas seen from behind standing in front of three shelves filled with various wooden objects.

Learning the history of the place, particularly how it was built and by whom, gives me a daily reminder that I walk on the shoulders of giants. My ancestors, they were the first to master aerodynamics with the invention of the boomerang and seeing how far human ingenuity has come since then, baffles me but also inspires, that I too have a part to play in this divine creative process.

A Wooden board with the guitar neck with eight strings laid flat against it. — Rectangular timber console with horizontal impression of guitar neck on top. Eight strings connected at one end to bridge. Pickup with eight poles underneath hinged cover. Eight machine heads in headstock. Four metal legs (not original) support the console, attached to pedal board. Five pedals with connecting rods (one rod missing) to bridge/roller mechanism in console.
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Joseph Douglas faces the camera holding a small banjo. He is wearing a yellow felt hat, striped t shirt and blue rubber gloves.

Joseph Douglas leans over a keyboard, twisting an effects knob.

I finally got to see the collection at Castle Hill. I felt a bit intimidated by the amount [and] sheer size of some of the pieces and wearing gloves to touch the instruments didn’t feel natural to me but it was fun.

Banjo mandolin consisting of timber headstock and neck of black painted wood. Headstock has eight metal tuning machines in two blocks of four. Dark brown/black Bakelite tuning knobs. Neck has 17 frets. The name "H.E.C. Mc.LENNAN" is stencilled down centre front of headstock. — This banjo mandolin is significant as an early example of the instruments made by Hector McLennan. McLennan, who was a performer and player of the banjo for many years both in Australia and England, later formed the Pacific Guitar Company which was one of the few large scale manufacturers of guitars and mandolins in Australia. This instrument, marked "McLennan" rather than "Pacific", helps to document the early beginnings of the company.
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A close up of two hands playing a pedal steel guitar. The left hand is plucking the strings while the right hand is holding a metal slide.

Joseph Douglas with a Powerhouse staff member observing a painting from the collection. The staffer is wearing green rubber gloves while pulling the painting off a metal shelf and pointing to a specific part of the image.

After years in the process, I have now got a copy of the final masters of my debut album in my hands! Hearing it for the first time a weight lifted, a fog cleared; I just felt content and peaceful but also really aware the whole time.

I have no judgement or expectations for the songs, nor do I mind what they are about. For me it is just playing with words and chords and seeing what happens.

Generations Fellowship

The Generations Fellowship connects artists with established industry experts and mentors, to pass on intergenerational knowledge and create pathways in the music industry. Established in 2020, this is a partnership between Create NSW, Powerhouse and Australian music management and touring company, Astral People.

Valued at $100,000, the Fellowship supports three early career solo artists or groups to carry out six months of professional development. Each Fellow is provided with $25,000 in financial support, and in-kind support in the form of studio space at Powerhouse Ultimo or Powerhouse Castle Hill, with industry mentoring and networking facilitated by Astral People throughout each residency.