Vika & Linda Bull are two of Australia’s most beloved and enduring voices. The Melbourne-based sisters have forged a career spanning nearly four decades. With multiple studio albums, ARIA nominations and an OAM for services to the performing arts, they are admired by fans and peers alike.
They are known for blending soul, gospel, rock and country with their rich Tongan heritage and continue to evolve their sound, creating music that is deeply personal, proudly Australian and timeless in spirit.
Vika & Linda are currently on their largest national tour to date with the band The Bullettes to celebrate the recent release of their ninth studio album, Where Do You Come From?.
Vika & Linda spoke to Glam Adelaide about their national tour and new album, sharing how music has shaped their lives.
Linda:
”Music has always been a huge part of our lives. The Tongans are great singers and great harmonisers. We went to church from a very young age. We’d listen to the Tongan choir. It was encouraged by our father. Mum and Dad had great taste in music. They had a great record collection. Dad loved Willie Nelson and Linda Ronstadt. Mum would listen to her Tongan tape.”
Vika:
“It’s from listening to the Tongan choirs that we learnt how to harmonise. We have that in our DNA. It’s very important that kids have a good musical education from a young age.”
Earlier this year Vika & Linda both were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.
Linda:
“We were together when we got the call and we were surprised, but really rapt about it. To be given that award and included in that group of artists who have all done such amazing work, it’s a privilege.”
Vika:
“We don’t really think of ourselves like that so it was a huge surprise. We are thankful that our partnership was recognised by ARIA. We are the first female duo to be inducted and the first Polynesian Australians to be inducted as well. We did have to sit down and think for a moment why we were being inducted.”
Their new album Where Do You Come From? was released in June this year. This new album marks a defining moment for the sisters, stepping forward to tell their own story in full. While they’ve written at different points across their career, Where Do You Come From? is their first album of predominantly original material since Princess Tabu (1996), a return to songwriting rekindled through the process of writing their 2022 memoir No Bull.
Linda:
“The idea behind the album came from life. It was just personal experience from our lives. Our trials and tribulations really that’s what it was. We’ve done a lot of songwriting on this record with co-writers. A lot of people have contributed and it’s been wonderful collaborating with different songwriters. Mark Seymour’s been a big partner with us over the years and he’s co-written four songs on this record with us.”
Vika:
“It started from writing our memoir, No Bull. We didn’t think it was remarkable, but we think multi-culturally it is: where we grew up and the way we grew up. ‘Where Do You Come From’ was sort of pivotal for the theme of the album and we branched out from there.”
This weekend Vika & Linda will perform two concerts here in South Australia at the Barossa Arts Centre and the Thebarton Theatre.
Linda:
“We’ve got a fantastic band, they’re just the best. It is a three-piece power trio featuring bass, drums and guitar and then they all sing as well. We’ll be doing songs from the new record and we’re doing a lot of old stuff as well.”
Vika:
“It’s not like new record and then old songs. We sort of mixed the old in with the new across the set. So it’s a bit of a journey through our music. We talk about the songs as well and share the stories behind the music.”
Tickets for both performances are on sale now.
Linda:
“There is nothing quite like performing in front of a live audience because they very quickly tell you if they enjoy it or not. Adelaide audiences have always been some of the best we’ve performed to. You all have excellent taste in music! We cannot wait to be sharing our new music with our audiences this coming weekend.”
Vika & Linda – Where Do You Come From Australian Tour
Friday 3rd July: Barossa Arts Centre, Tanunda at 7.30pm
Saturday 4th July: Thebarton Theatre at 7.30pm
https://drop.cobrand.com/d/VikaLinda/WhereDoYouComeFromTour
Photo credit: Brian Purnell
