FIRST SOUNDS VOL.8 PRE-RELEASE
"..we have come a long way, but there is a long way to go."
Listen to Reconciliationby Garry Kafoa
To highlight Reconciliation Week 2022, indigiTUBE andAmrapare pre-releasing one of the tracks from First Sounds Vol.8, Reconciliation, an upbeat reggae track from Minjungbal (Bundjalung) man Garry Kafoa.
Donna Woods from First Nations Media Australia's indigiTUBE project said, “Garry's track Reconciliation, first written and released for Reconciliation Week 2021, was entered and selected by First Sounds’ panel of First Nations judges for Vol.8 and speaks to the hope of one day soon having reconciliation. Its strong message, positive energy and the way it highlights the value of intergenerational conversations on this country's long and continuing journey toward reconciliation make it a wonderful way for First Sounds partners indigiTUBE and Amrap to acknowledge Reconciliation Week 2022.”
When asked about his song Reconciliation, songwriter and recording artist Garry Kafoa said, “This is a song about an Elder who speaks with some younger people about his life and the hope of one day soon having reconciliation. He speaks of how he has seen bad days and how he has seen the good days and how he has seen changes for the better. The Elder tells of how he sees Reconciliation working, he tells them you need a little bit of hope and a little bit of love and most importantly forgiveness and kindness from the sky above. He speaks of how we have come a long way, but there is a long way to go.”
Reflecting on Reconciliation Week 2022’s theme ‘Be brave. Make a change.’, Mr Kafoa said, “Reconciliation is forgiveness and kindness. We need this to move forward as one mob. My vision is we walk together as a proud solid mob for the future of all children. To be brave. Make a Change. To be Brave and break the cycle of the past discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
indigiTUBE invited the other First Nations artists who will feature on the upcoming First Sounds Vol.8 release to share their thoughts on Reconciliation Week and the 2022 theme. Three of the other Vol.8 artists provided the below comments:
John Grant pka Blanche said, “The theme “Be Brave. Make Change” really resonates with me and my musical journey. A few years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life as I had a job in hospitality, earning good money and having a very comfortable life but I felt as if I wasn’t being true to what I really wanted to do with my life and that was pursue music, so I left my job and decided that I would give 100% of my focus on music, that meant putting in countless hours of learning production, experimenting with genres and analysing many artists that I admire.
“It has been by far the biggest decision and change I’ve made in my life, many times I’ve questioned myself and whether or not I had the ability to achieve my dream but as loud as these doubts can be, I know that my dream of being that musician and love for music is too strong to be silenced.”
Image credit: Jesse Grant
Zack Mcleod said, “As a songwriter and performer, I trust that it's important to believe in yourself and make a positive change. By looking after yourself will impact everyone else exponentially. Reconciliation with your body mind and soul is the way I see on how to be brave and make change. As it starts from your inner essence."
Andrew Gurruwiwi from Andrew Guruwiwi Band, said, “Be brave, make change. I've been making music my whole life, and now as an old man things are starting to happen for me. Make your own style, be your own self, sing your own song.”
First Sounds is a series of music releases which promote emerging independent First Nations talent, curated by a panel of established First Nations musicians and industry. Developed in partnership in 2020 between the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) and First Nations Media Australia (FNMA), specifically their respective projects the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) and indigiTUBE, First Sounds aims to increase the volume of First Nations music played on community radio across Australia. In total over 70 independent First Nations recording musicians have been featured on releases through the First Sounds partnership. FNMA is the national peak body for the First Nations media and communications industry. FNMA manage the indigiTUBE platform which showcases content produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including music content. indigiTUBE promotes black excellence, raising the volume of the voices, perspectives and creativity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and provides curated and technologically appropriate access to First Nations content for audiences all over Australia, including in remote communities.
CBAA is the national peak body for community radio. It runs the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) which services community radio stations with independent music.
With funding support from the Australia Council, four (4) First Sounds compilations were distributed in the partnership’s first year (2020) drawing an increasing number of music submissions each round. All eligible submissions were featured on indigiTUBE for public and First Nations broadcaster use and on the Amrap website for broader community radio use. In 2021 a further three (3) Volumes of First Sounds were released with another three (3) planned for 2022.
