Musical diversity kindles unique Australian R&B culture

SYDNEY -- Until recently, Australian R&B/soul musicians mostly mimicked U.S. artists, but a rapid shift to eclectic new sounds in recent years has created a musical scene that reflects the diversity of modern Australia better than any other musical genre.

The change was driven by an adventurous shift in attitudes to embrace eclectic sounds such as Aboriginal languages, the didgeridoo, Afrobeat, orchestral sounds and field recordings, creating a strong fan base for neo-soul, hip-hop and R&B without a singular national blueprint.