Working towards reconciliation isn't a spectator sport, it requires a team effort. - Sascha
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for every Australian to show up for reconciliation, not just once a year, but every single day. Here at Collarts, that means us too.
As a community, we're committed to doing the ongoing work of learning, listening, and deepening our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.
Reconciliation isn't something we can leave to First Nations people to carry alone. It takes all of us, consistently showing up and taking action.
We chatted with Yawuru artist and Music Production student Sascha Gillam to talk about her creative journey, what it means to be All In, and why reconciliation is everybody's responsibility.
To start, what inspired you to study music production, and what was your journey leading up to Collarts?
I've always loved songwriting and performing, so music production seemed like a natural next step. I craved the ability to realise my own ideas and be fully in control of the creative process. Before coming to Collarts I was making songs on GarageBand, and I wanted to take my music to the next level but I felt like I could only teach myself so much. My friends convinced me to give Collarts a go and it was the best choice I've made so far in my career.
How would you describe your sound or creative style?
I'm influenced by a range of different artists and I've woven pieces of each of them into my own music. My sound sits in the realm of ambient, alternative trip-hop and I'm often referencing artists like Air, Portishead, Sade and Mazzy Star.
Can you walk us through what your typical creative process looks like when you're producing music?
The actual process changes all the time. Sometimes I start out with vocal melodies or lyric ideas, sometimes I hear a synth patch I love and create a track around that, and sometimes I find a sweet chord progression on guitar and go from there. I also like trying to 'copy' artists that I love.
I might take an idea from a song I'm listening to and try to recreate it in my own style, then build it out into my own idea.
I make a lot of my music in my bedroom and head to the studio later on in the process to record and mix, once a concept is solidified. Getting feedback from other people has also become a super important part of my process. I always send tracks to my friends and fellow students, Raph and Dakota, to get their thoughts and ideas.
With Reconciliation Week in mind, what does this week mean to you personally, if you'd like to share?
Reconciliation week for me, is an important time to reflect on all of the work that our old people have put in and the progress they've made for us. It's important to be able to share our culture and history on a national scale, especially from the lens of reconciliation. We get to celebrate our achievements while also looking to the future with hope.
I especially love the theme this year, All In, because it's crucial to spread the weight of activism across everyone's shoulders, instead of having it all sit on First Nations people. Working towards reconciliation isn't a spectator sport, it requires a team effort.
What are your goals after graduating, and what do you hope to be working on next?
My current focus is to release some more music before the end of the year. I've got plans to write more songs about Yawuru culture and history, at the request of my Jalbi (Yawuru word for great grandmother), and I hope to spend more time on Yawuru country while I do that.
More and more performing is another goal of mine because I love to be on stage and I think it's a great way to connect with people, and to have people connect with my music. Keeping music fun is important to me too, so I want to collaborate more with my friends and start creating music together. I've got lots of goals and lots of ideas, but the main plan is just to make more and more music.
If you want to hear Sascha, check out her linktree. Sascha is also performing The Long Walk, the annual event inspired by AFL legend Michael Long’s historic 650-kilometre walk to Canberra, before Dreamtime at the G at the MCG.
National Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June. This is just one conversation, but we hope it's one of many.
