Sycco – aka Sasha McLeod – is one of the youngest First Nations artists to feature on the bill for First & Forever, the new day-long music festival to be staged at Hanging Rock (in Victoria) next month celebrating the richness and aptitude of Indigenous culture and music.
It will be the first of its kind staged locally, and a pivotal occasion in our modern world. With her career also in its relative infancy, the opportunity to participate in such a historic event is not one Sasha takes for granted."It's wild," she says, "it's so important, and validating, and reassuring, and just makes me feel so proud of me and my lineage. It's going to be such a beautiful day."
The First & Forever line-up is primed with national talent (Baker Boy, Christine Anu, Dan Sultan, Thelma Plum, Jessica Mauboy, Busby Marou) as well as plenty of emerging names (Budjerah, King Stingray, Tasman Keith, Alice Skye and others).
As Sasha blurts out, it goes without saying this bill is the best representation of First Nations artists that punters could ask for. "When I first saw the line-up, I was like, 'Holy sh.t, that is crazy'. They got everyone together for this one event; it's going to be absolutely wild."
Sasha first entered the music scene in 2018 when she released her debut single 'Starboard Square', before she was nominated for triple j Unearthed Artist Of The Year in 2020 (the winner was JK-47, who will also appear at First & Forever) when she was just 18 years old.
Through her rousing brand of indie pop, Sasha's music speaks to a maturity far beyond her years. However, that doesn't stop her from feeling pressure to be a beacon for young First Nations people.
"I've heard stories of people saying that mob are proud of me," she says. "I would love to be a role model, but I don't think I could be a role model. It's imposter syndrome, and tall poppy syndrome in Australia is just hectic."
Yet Sasha's traction over a short period of time speaks for itself. At the 2021 National Indigenous Music Awards Sycco was nominated in three categories. She won both Song Of The Year and Pop Song categories at the Queensland Music Awards in 2021 and 2022 – for her singles 'Dribble' and 'My Ways' respectively.
Accolades may not mean much to some creatives, but for Sasha they provide a message of what's possible.
Giggling and a little bashful, Sasha is coy to receive a compliment about her success so far. "Considering the ageism in this country, a lot of people are starting out younger because they're worried about when you can have your career – that's kind of scary.
"I think the world will change, hopefully, and that will change. But it's sick [winning the awards]! This is everything I've ever dreamt of.
"I feel like I've not really appreciated the wins as much as I should because I just keep going, going, going. It's only now that it's settling in."
Change to the social landscape is of course a massive focal point behind the launch of First & Forever. A celebration of the diversity of music First Nations artists are cultivating, First & Forever honours 'Blak excellence and the irrepressible force that is contemporary First Nations culture and music'.
Staging an event like First & Forever is part of paving the way for better recognition by the mainstream of the stellar efforts and talents of Australia's First Nations artists. "I reckon it should be like this always," Sasha says.
"First Nations voices on festival line-ups should be the majority. It's what was here first.
"I think it's ridiculous that festival line-ups aren't showing and representing First Nations artists as much as they should. Platforms like First & Forever will be amazing – it should be more mainstream, I don't get why it's not, it's ridiculous."
Ridiculous indeed, especially when you consider the innovative minds behind First & Forever.
Curated by Briggs, a Yorta Yorta man, rapper, defender and advocate for First Nations artists, following a conversation and mutual inspiration from the late Michael Gudinski, Briggs was then offered support from Paul Kelly, a household name in Australian music and proponent of First Nations artistic endeavours.
"For years I'd had an idea for a First Nations-led contemporary music festival, something cool and boutique that was really about the music and culture," Briggs says.
"When [the late Michael] Gudinski called me about a similar idea he'd had, we found this really collaborative working relationship. We both had a passionate approach to Melbourne, Victorian music, and amplifying Blakfellas' stories. MG got the ball rolling. After he passed, the ball was in my court. I had to take it home."
It's marriages of common opinion such as theirs that, with copious amount of effort and resolute support, provide a turning point in the socio-political landscape of the music scene.
"My last conversation with Michael just over a week before he died was backstage at Archie [Roach's] concert," remembers Paul Kelly.
"[MG] was bubbling with ideas for a new project, a big concert with headlining First Nations artists. . . he urged me to get involved. I said no to Michael many times over the years and I said yes lots. I'm glad I said yes this last time."
Indigenous and non-Indigenous people united under the umbrella of music, it's a collaboration that, in Sasha's opinion, heralds a change for the future of First Nations artists in the mainstream.
"There are so many amazing allies out there," she says. "So Paul Kelly and Briggs doing this is so special. Paul Kelly is incredible and has been such an ally for so long, and it's really beautiful they can do this together."
First & Forever takes place at The Gathering Place (Hanging Rock, VIC) 27 November.
First & Forever 2022 Line-up
Baker BoyBudjerah
Jessica Mauboy
King Stingray
Sycco
Thelma Plum
Alice Skye
Busby Marou
Christine Anu
Dan Sultan
Electric Fields
Emma Donovan
Tasman Keith
Ziggy Ramo
Barkaa
Birdz
Dameeeela
Jess Hitchcock
JK-47
Kardajala Kirridarra
Kobie Dee
