A Quick Chat with Mitch Tambo

Congrats on your new single Blackfellas. Can you tell us a bit about it?
Thanks! So Blackfellas was originally released 20 years ago by the legendary hip hop group Local Knowledge headed up by Abie and Wok Wright and Joel Wenitong. It was huge, it played all over Triple J, featured on Live at the Wireless, and even had an SBS doco made about it. It’s one of the most iconic First Nations hip-hop tracks in Australia.

What’s your personal connection to the song?
I grew up on it. It was the first time I heard our stories told like that, with pride and truth and power. Now, 20 years on, I wanted to pay tribute to that legacy and bring the next generation into it. This new version features me, Abie, and up-and-coming rapper Jamahl Yami.

How was it working with Abie and Jamahl?
Jamahl brings such fresh energy. It was awesome to vibe off that. And working with Uncle Abie was a real honour. He’s one of the pioneers of Blak hip-hop, so to collaborate with him felt really special.

You’re playing at NAIDOC 2025 at UNSW in Sydney on Monday July 7, alongside a big line-up including Kobie Dee, Riah Alone, Zipper Corser Anu and more kicking off at 4.45pm. But there’s also other activities on from 1pm – what can people expect?
It’s going to be a beautiful day full of joy, connection and culture. It’s about coming together and celebrating everything that makes us proud. There’ll be music, food, workshops, stalls, yarns with legends like Adam Goodes and Marlee Silva. It’s a full community vibe and everyone’s welcome.

You’re up on stage at 7pm – what will you be performing in your set?
There’ll be You’re The Voice, Great Southern Land, Heal, Yugal Yulu-gi and a few surprises from a new project I’ve been working on. Expect a bit of disco, some hip-hop, some pop – it’s a real mix of styles.

What’s a recent show that really stood out for you?
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival was incredible. Amazing crowd, glowing reviews, and such a great energy. I had my whole crew with me, my wife – singer Voice of Lele, the dancers, everyone. It was a full experience.

You’ve also been touring schools around the country with your I AM ME tour – how’s that been?
It’s honestly been amazing. Since last year I’ve visited around 150 schools, youth centres and learning hubs across five states. The program’s all about inspiring and empowering young people through music and storytelling. It’s energetic, fun and meaningful – I love doing it.

What kind of response are you getting?
It’s been incredible. The kids are so into it and the schools are super supportive. It just shows how important it is to start those conversations early about culture, identity and respect. That’s where real change begins.

And your next project is a children’s book?
It’s called I AM ME, the same name as the tour and it’s out in September. You can pre-order it now on Booktopia. It’s all about celebrating identity, belonging and being proud of who you are. I’m really excited to share it with kids and families.

For more information about NAIDOC 2025 log onto: https://events.humanitix.com/unsw-naidoc-25