The Kala Ukulele with Desert StoryLines Logo Bag – Sunburnt Country by Chantelle Mulladad is part of the Desert StoryLines collection — a collaboration between Kala Brand Music, Jacaranda Music, and Keringke Arts. This special series celebrates genuine Aboriginal artwork by three talented artists from Santa Teresa, Northern Territory, transforming Kala ukuleles into meaningful expressions of culture, storytelling, and connection to Country.
The idea for creating a range of ukuleles featuring Aboriginal Art began in 2008, when Chris Martin, CEO of Martin Guitars, visited Australia and expressed his admiration for Aboriginal artistry. That moment set in motion a collaboration between Greg Cooper of Jacaranda Music and Keringke Arts—a renowned Aboriginal art centre located about 100 km southeast of Alice Springs. Over time, and with support from Mike Upton of Kala, this vision evolved into the Desert StoryLines project.
Each artist—Margaret Bloomfield, Evelyn Young, and Chantelle Mulladad—has contributed original artwork for the series. Jacaranda Music and Kala Brand Music Co. have entered into formal agreements with Keringke Arts to ensure each artist receives a 6% royalty from every ukulele sold. Kala USA will also contribute royalties once the collection launches internationally in December. Every instrument includes a Desert StoryLines logo gig bag and a swing tag detailing the story and meaning behind the artwork.
The featured piece, “Blackwood Apple” by Evelyn Young, depicts the bush food known as the Black Apple or Bush Plum. Evelyn explains: “This painting is about the bush food called ‘Black Apple’ or ‘Bush Plum’. The black apple looks like a plum but with seeds. Where I live, we still collect food from the bush like we have for generations – they are always there, in our country for us to collect. We try to teach the next generation to respect country and pass on our knowledge to them.”
Each ukulele in the Desert StoryLines series is more than a musical instrument — it’s a piece of living art that honours culture, community, and tradition.
