Archie Roach invited Northern Territory musician and proud Mak Mak Marranungu man, J-MILLA, to be his guest for episode six of the webseries, Kitchen Table Yarns. The Survival Day episode will go live at 5PM AEDT today on Roach’s YouTube channel.
Roach launched Kitchen Table Yarns in August 2021. The series includes a total of 12 episodes, each spotlighting emerging First Nations songwriters and musicians. So far, Roach has spoken to Allara, Marlon X Rulla, Lydia Fairhall, Kee-ahn and Black Rock Band.
J-MILLA is the project of Jacob Nichaloff, a proud Mak Mak Marranungu man born in Darwin. Nichaloff started writing rhymes at the age of 11 and released his first J-MILLA single, ‘My People’, in 2018. His work focuses on issues such as racial discrimination, Indigenous detention and his experiences growing up with ADHD and the stigma it attracts.
J-MILLA wrote his 2020 single, ‘Unlock the System’, in response to the Yuendumu police shooting, which involved the shooting and killing of 19 year old, Kumanjayi Walker, at the hands of an NT police officer. J-MILLA said of the Yuendumu indicident, “The whole thing makes my gut wrench.”
J-MILLA recently appeared on the Xavier Rudd single ‘Ball and Chain’. His latest solo single, ‘thang4me’, came out in March 2021.
Roach had this to say on the significance of Survival Day (26th January): “To me Survival Day recognises the struggles that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have endured since colonisation. It’s also a day where we celebrate our culture and our resilience.”
Roach will co-headline the Treaty Day Out festival in Shepparton, Victoria on Saturday, 26th February. More info here.
