RISING to prominence after singing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri’s band The Black Sorrows, sisters Vika and Linda Bull are now front and centre.
Captivating audiences domestically and worldwide, Linda never imagined their standing in the entertainment industry would be where it is today.
“I don’t think we wanted to be backing singers forever,” she told The Guardian ahead of their performance at the Swan Hill Town Hall on Friday.
“We always wanted to do both back and lead, but backing is really hard and there comes a point when you want to sing a song from start to finish yourself.
“It drove us to be better.”
And it wasn’t just better – it was a cut above.
The sisters have traversed diverse pathways with rock, country, gospel, reggae, R&B, soul and blues, as well as paying tribute to their rich Tongan heritage.
A highlight reel of their career includes three classic albums with The Black Sorrows, six studio albums, two live albums and a chart-topping anthology.
They have sung on ARIA No.1 albums with Paul Kelly, Kasey Chambers and John Farnham, toured with CW Stoneking and Deborah Conway, performed for the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and the King of Tonga, and have been nominated for four ARIA Awards.
More recently, they performed at mentor Judith Durham’s memorial service, Carols by Candlelight, New Year’s Eve in Sydney and the Australian Open.
Vika and Linda never expected the success they achieved in the past four years.
Like many artists, Vika and Linda performed online to their fans during COVID, at a time when soulful and powerful harmonies were yearned for.
“We didn’t think we would go No.1 – the first female duo to do that,” Linda said.
“We were stoked and thankful, but we never quit.
“Of course, you have your doubts about whether you wanted to do this, or should still be doing this.
“There was no doubting our talent because we could sing well together – it’s just the industry that’s tough … you need to have thick skin. You think to yourself, ‘Do I need to put up with this rubbish?’
“But you just do, you persevere and not quit, which is why we are here now.”
The sisters released three records during the pandemic.
“It was devastating for the industry that we love and has supported us,” Linda said.
“We stuck together, which is how we do everything … on the phone all the time.”
Linda said she was excited to be performing in front of regional audiences, which included the Red Hot Summer Tour in Mildura on March 5.
“Regional audiences are receptive and enthusiastic because they don’t have to travel,” Linda said.
“It’s important to make an effort because you can’t expect people to come to you. The city audience gets spoilt with lots of acts coming through, but regional audiences’ level of appreciation just lifts a bit more, especially after COVID and the floods.
“Because of those terrible events, it makes you work harder and appreciate the people there even more. They don’t have to spend their hard-earned money, but the fact they turn up and want to be entertained means a lot.”
Linda said she was surprised by how many hidden gem music venues there were in regional centres.
“When we walked into the town hall for the season launch a few weeks ago, I thought how magnificent this place was, and that we should play up here more often,” she said.
“It’s a sophisticated venue and it gets me all the time how on par it is with everything else – great sound, great lights with easy access.”
Linda said the Swan Hill audience could expect three decades of music and a myriad of genres.
“We are bringing our whole band – drums, keyboard, bass guitar – and doing basically our favourites, songs from our back catalogue that go back 35 years, to new ones, recent records during COVID, a bit of gospel,” she said.
Linda said she loved hearing her and Vika’s voices together.
“Sibling blood harmony is different to singing with someone you aren’t related to,” she said.
“We are always trying to get the sound right, which we know when it is and when we miss it.”
When they weren’t touring, Vika and Linda published a memoir last year, titled No Bull, recounting the highs and lows of their respective careers.
“It’s not all tell-tales or about famous people and gigs played, it’s more about family, connection and life together on the road,” Linda said.
“It has reached a few younger sisters who are on the long road because it’s not all short roads to success.”
Vika and Linda’s 90-minute Swan Hill show starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets range form $59 to $65 and were still available at swanhilltownhall.com/events/vika-linda-bull
