Singer/songwriter Seaman Dan has been awarded with a 2006 ARIA nomination for his compilation of Oceania-focused tracks produced with CQU academic Dr Karl Neuenfeldt.

The album titled 'Island Way' was announced yesterday as being nominated in the Best World Music Album category.

Also in the running for the award are: Joseph and James Tawadros, Mara, Pigram Brothers and The Cat Empire. The winner will be announced at the ARIA Fine Arts Awards on October 11.

'Island Way', a follow-up to Seaman’s ARIA Award-winning 2004 album, 'Perfect Pearl', features Hawaiian hulas, a Fijian chant and a song written by a descendant of Bounty mutineer Fletcher Christian sung in Norfolk Island dialect.

Taking the 76-year-old out of his ‘crooner’ style, the album also features a reggae and rap combo titled 'Ailan Man' in which the rap component is courtesy of Seaman’s 24-year-old grandson.

Seaman is Australia’s oldest ARIA winner and last year also won the Red Ochre Award, recognising Seaman’s great contribution to Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, both nationally and internationally.

Although Seaman had been steeped in the music and culture of the Torres Strait and tropical Australia thanks to long stints as a pearl shell diver and boat skipper in the Coral, Arafura and Timor Seas, he had never been recorded professionally until he met up with CQU researcher and music producer Dr Karl Neuenfeldt 7 years ago.

The pair started working together on his first CD, 'Follow the Sun', and eventually had enough success to record 'Steady, Steady' and then 'Perfect Pearl'.

“CQU has always been supportive of Dr Karl's music research in the Torres Strait and the communities are very proud to have their music professionally recorded and produced. It is music for all generations - from hip-hop to hula!” Seaman said.