Freedom Rides is an example of fusion between Australian Aboriginal and Western instrumentation and musical styles. Throughout the piece, the digeridoo is used both traditionally, to create droning sounds and a sense of rhythm, as well as untraditionally, as a microphone and techno bass/synth sound. It is difficult to place the song’s genre, but its fast four-on-the-floor beat, its use of the acoustic guitar, and the unorthodox use of the digeridoo give it an interesting techno-meets-folk feel. Mitchell Cullin, the song’s writer, says that he learned how to play the digeridoo (among other things) when he was “spiritually adopted” by Minang Elder Carol Petterson. I chose this song because it fully displays the musical versatility of an instrument like the digeridoo. Moreover, I think this is an especially meaningful use of the digeridoo because it is played by someone who understands its cultural significance to the Minang people and therefore, can mesh traditional digeridoo playing with less traditional methods in a way that honors rather than appropriates the instrument.