February 13th is National Apology Day. It is the anniversary on which Prime Minister Kevin Rudd first apologised to The Stolen Generation for the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families.
Songwriter, legend and Proud Mutti Mutti man Kutcha Edwards knows this day well. As a child taken from his family, this day holds memories and weight. It is a day of gathering and a day of remembering. It was on this day, 2023 that Kutcha agreed to meet with me and speak about songwriting, creativity and healing at the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury. It had been a big day. The hall was empty and Uncle Kutcha’s voice filled the space as he spoke of memory, of reclaiming language, and of ancestors.
It was an incredible privilege to sit and listen to someone who not only has one of the finest voices of our generation, but who has been working to create spaces to support others with song and creativity. Kutcha uses music to create connections across cultures, generations, and spaces. With an innate ability to communicate, he uses his unique, diverse talents to nurture understanding and self-knowledge amongst all those with whom he has contact. Kutcha is a Songman, not simply a songwriter. He draws on a profound sense of all those who have gone before him on this land, along with his own life experiences, to help his audiences understand themselves, reconnect with their culture and promote cultural understanding.
This conversation took me to a place outside of time. Uncle Kutcha’s deep wisdom that is present in his songwriting and performances permeates his storytelling and circles through time and space.
The songs you can hear in this podcast are “Singing up Country” and “Mrs. Edwards” from Kutcha’s most recent album “Circling Time”.
