NITV has partnered with TikTok to bring the deadliest concert of the year to Australian screens.
First Sounds is a celebration of Blak talent, taking place on January 26 across NITV, SBS Viceland and NITV’s TikTok @NITV.
Hosted by Tyrone Pynor, Bianca Hunt and Grayson McCarthy-Grogan, First Sounds welcomes esteemed and emerging performers including Barkaa, JK-47, Becca Hatch, Kobie Dee, Dallas Woods, Kaiit, Nooky, A.Girl and more.
Sitting down with NITV, a few of the performers spoke about their inspirations, hopes for this year and big things come and gone.
Dropping her debut album Blak Matriarchy in early December, Barkaa is making moves in the industry.
Barkaa performs during Barrabuwari at Sydney Opera House on April 10, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Source: Sean Foster/Getty Images
Her influences for the album were “being a Blak woman in this country, all my beautiful sisters, being raised by a beautiful Blak woman, giving birth to a beautiful Blak woman”.
“I think it’s a long time coming in the hip hop industry, that Blak women are paid homage to and are honoured. I’m honoured and proud to be the one to do it, to represent my sisters - because our women are beautiful, Blak and strong. They carry community on their back.”
Acknowledging all the mob that inspire her, Barkaa named Uncle Archie Roach as one who showed her something different.
“I just got to give props to Uncle Archie Roach, seeing him speak his truth, being a truth-teller and speaking about the pain in First Nations People – and being one of the first to do it,” she said.
Barkaa is influencing those around her, including rapper Dallas Woods.
Dallas Woods Source: Supplied
“My favourite [artists] at the moment is sis Barkaa, because we need that beautiful strong queen energy. My little sister has someone to look up to now because of her,” he said.
Woods has a huge year lined up himself, dropping an album on March 11.
For some, First Sounds will kick off performances for the year. With COVID-19 impacting gigs across the country, artists Kobie Dee and JK-47 are keen to get back to doing what they love.
“I’m looking forward to more shows, do some festivals – I never really did any before,” said Kobie Dee.
“I had some lined up but COVID got in the way, so excited to do festivals this year.”
“[I’m keen for] shows, and dropping a new album,” JK-47 said.
“And everyone just reuniting and being together. I’m looking forward to that.”
Taking the stage on January 26, the artists acknowledge the weight of the day and hope that sharing their stories and their art is a way for mob to feel connected.
“We’re here, we survived, we’re still living,” said JK-47.
“I hope that me and artist like this have comforted [them] in some sort of way in the music we make. We do it to relate and to let everyone know we understand . . . we’ve all been there in that place and we can help each other out of it.”
“I know it’s a really hard day for a lot of us, so remember to take care of yourself. Take care of your mental, your physical [health]," added Becca Hatch.
"Just keep doing you, keep thriving."
To celebrate First Sounds, NITV has also launched a TikTok challenge that sees users transition into Blak threads to Nooky’s track Always Was, Always Will Be.
Becca Hatch Source: Supplied
Completing the challenge gives people the chance to feature on the First Sounds live-stream.
The challenge already has traction with creators such as Meissa Mason, Wollie Gela, Isaac Compton, Katerina Roe, Sari Thaiday, Brooke Blurton, Kiya Watt and Nooky himself taking part and repping Blak brands proudly.
First Sounds will be broadcast across NITV’s TikTok @NITV, SBS Viceland and NITV at 7:30pm AEST January 26.
