Emma Louise And Husky Gawenda Sing A Beautiful Duet Of The Sound of Silence
In July 2012, Australian musicians Emma Louise and Husky Gawenda delivered a memorable performance of the Simon & Garfunkel classic, The Sound of Silence, during an episode of the Australian television program RocKwiz. The song, originally released in 1966, is widely recognized as a cornerstone of the folk-rock genre and has seen countless interpretations over the decades. While some artists choose to intensify the track or experiment with unconventional instrumentation, this particular rendition remained faithful to the spirit and structure of the original composition. The performance serves as a testament to the effectiveness of the show’s format in bringing together distinct musical talents for brief, high-quality artistic encounters.
The success of the performance is largely attributed to the natural vocal chemistry between the two artists. Emma Louise provided a rich, velvet-toned delivery that complemented the higher, restrained vocal register maintained by Gawenda. Their collaboration was facilitated by the unique format of RocKwiz, a music-themed quiz show where invited guests serve as team captains. A mandatory element of the show’s structure requires these team leaders to perform a duet at the conclusion of each episode. Despite the spontaneous nature of this pairing, the two performers found a seamless synergy, supported by the nuanced and empathetic accompaniment of the show’s in-house band, which provided a subdued musical backdrop that allowed the vocals to remain the primary focus.
At the time of their appearance, both artists were emerging figures in the Australian music scene. Emma Louise had begun to build a reputation for her folk-oriented songwriting. She later achieved significant international attention through her track Jungle, which gained further prominence when German DJ Wankelmut released a dance-oriented remix titled My Head Is a Jungle. This version became a viral success, eventually finding a new audience on platforms like TikTok years later. Beyond her dance collaborations, including a feature on the track Hollow by producer Flume, Emma Louise has maintained a focus on folk music. She released the album Lilac Everything in 2018. Her career trajectory has been marked by a balance between her folk roots and occasional forays into electronic production, though her core artistic output remains deeply rooted in the storytelling traditions of folk music.
Husky Gawenda is best known as the frontman of the Melbourne-based group Husky. Around the time of the RocKwiz performance, the band had secured a deal with the Seattle-based label Sub Pop, signaling their growing influence in the industry. The band has continued to perform and record, notably serving as an opening act for Neil Young & Crazy Horse during their 2013 Australian tour. Gawenda has also pursued independent projects, releasing his solo studio album, The Rocket Ship is Haunted, in September 2022. He has indicated that he intends to continue his creative work both as a solo artist and as a member of his band, ensuring that his musical journey remains multifaceted.
Watch the full performance on page two
