Urban artist have to face the stigma not only from white Australia but black Australia too; that's horrific when people say that their art isn't "Aboriginal" if it doesn't have dots or lines or moieties in it.
I was looking for an opportunity to make my first feature, so I asked myself: "What do you want to do? Is there something you can give to the world?"
In most of my films I write the music into the script. I'm listening to songs and lyrics that empower the themes of the film. There's a lot of Indigenous music that has not been heard widely and I love the idea of giving that music to the rest of the world.
The most dangerous thing is a bored teenager. They have the stigma of being Indigenous, Aboriginal, and all the trappings that come with it. The connection does come a lot more from those kids, desert or not. They're stepping out into the world.
When you're in other people's country you don't speak your own language out of respect. You don't need to speak.
I love music more than language: it's the best, it's universal.
You don't actually have to understand the song to be emotionally moved and uplifted, whereas with language it becomes quirky and analytical.
You live with someone until they accept that you are what you are, that you're not going to change and they love that about you - and then they decide to marry you, I guess.
I come from a place where you don't need to talk all the time. There are sign languages you learn.
