New Music

Chasing Ghosts Drop Hard-Hitting Indigenous Ballad 'Dig'

Jun 1, 2021

7 min read

As we head towards the release of Chasing Ghosts new EP Homelands, the band have debuted the third single from it titled 'Dig', which once again gives listeners a history lesson on the treatment of Aboriginal people throughout Australia's history - from the English invasion through to the modern period.

This chronological order recount encourages us to truly listen to what's being spoken/sung about by frontman Jimmy Kyle - including the frontier wars, Aboriginal resistance, the mission area of assimilation, the stolen generations and indentured servitude, the mining industry and native title and finally deaths in custody. All hard hitting subjects for Indigenous people - which have been discussed non-stop throughout the years they've been happening. Only now will you be listening intentively?

Jimmy, a proud Goori man, of the Thungutti mob from the mid-north coast of NSW spoke about the struggles with writing a song like 'Dig', revealing:

“I was scared to write these songs, because a lot of the topics are challenging... But that’s how I knew I was onto something. It made me feel nervous.”

He's well aware that this anthem isn't going to sit well with everyone, but he feels an importance to speak about these stories and have them heard by his following and others who may come across the song in their travels:

“I know people are going to come after me with some of these songs... But I know in my heart that telling these stories is right and telling them in the way I do is the right thing to do. I know my audience is predominantly non-Indigenous, so I have to engage them in a way that engages their heart. Because that way they’re not going to be judged, but they can put themselves in an empathetic position to go on the journey."

Stream 'Dig' here