Astra Music presents an Australian premiere of works by queer African-American composer Julius Eastman for four pianos and voice. Julius Eastman (1940-90) is increasingly recognised as one of the visionary composers of 20th-century music. As a gay Black man, Eastman faced exclusion and even hostility from multiple sides in the US musical community. However, he channelled that adversity into a music language of searing intensity. Eastman's music is a bold fusion of the avant-garde and political activism. His works are a direct challenge to the status quo. Yet it is Eastman's gripping, propulsive musical language that commands attention. In recent years, interest in Eastman's work has surged after a period of obscurity following his untimely death. This concert marks the Australian premiere of several of his significant compositions, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the raw power and emotional depth of Eastman's music.