Album, memoir, exhibition about singer-songwriter Gunditjmara man Archie Roach

Tell Me Why is the highly anticipated album and memoir capturing the 2020 Victorian Australian of the Year's extraordinary life as a stolen generation child through to finding his voice and words as a singer-songwriter.

Through his music, Roach has told the struggles of finding his identity as a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung man and his road to acceptance.

These creative releases are intimate, emotional and often confronting accounts of his resilience and intertwined throughout is his great love story with his late-partner and muse Ruby Hunter.

"Writing my life story has been somewhat of a surreal and strange experience," Roach said.

"It surprised me to realise just how far I have come from that dark place of being disconnected from my family, country and identity to where I am now.

"I have seen and heard stories about people who have overcome adversity to do deadly things; I just never thought that I could be one of those people.

"Writing my story and recording this companion album has made me a stronger person and further empowered me."

The double album re-imagines 11 songs which have defined Roach's extraordinary three-decade musical career and brings together an additional two songs previously written but never recorded, two songs of early-influence and three brand new recordings including Rally Round The Drum featuring Paul Kelly.

The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia's (NFSA) online exhibition features never-before-seen home movies, behind-the-scenes commentary about his work and gives an intimate insight into his personal life.

"The NFSA Exhibition is a great presentation," Roach said.

"Looking back at some of the old clips through the years takes you back and reminds you what you were doing at the time.

"I was really surprised by some of the material. It dug deep, revealing gems - an overall picture of what I was doing over the years.

"I'm looking forward to sharing it with everyone."

Archie Roach: His Story in Song can be viewed through nfsa.gov.au/

Archie Roach: Tell Me Why in Conversation with Shane Howard will be at St Brigid's Hall, Crossley on November 23 and he will perform at the Port Fairy Music Festival in March 2020.

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