INTERVIEW: Sachém
Joining us today is a rising force in the music scene – the multi-talented artist known as Sachem. With a sound that blends raw emotion, rhythmic precision, and deep cultural roots, Sachem is more than just a musician, he’s a storyteller. Drawing inspiration from both personal experience and the world around him, his music resonates with authenticity and meaning. Whether he's delivering powerful lyrics or experimenting with genre and style, Sachem continues to captivate listeners and carve out a distinct identity in the industry.
TODAY MARKS THE RELEASE OF HIS NEWEST SINGLE BREATHE FT. KOBIE DEE
Interview BY KOFI OWUSU
Let’s start with "breathe" What was going through your mind during the writing of this track, and how did Kobie Dee’s verse elevate that vision?
A lot’s always running through my mind, but while writing Breathe, I felt a strong need to speak on things that weigh heavy. I was on the boat back to Minjerribah when the idea came and I genuinely felt something in the air. That moment sparked the line, “This ocean breeze carries stories of the broken dreams.”
I was mourning for wrongly incarcerated mob, for kids forced to grow up too fast, for the genocides happening around the world, and for men, especially Black and First Nations men, who are rarely given space to grieve. It was about all the people whose dreams were stolen or silenced.
Kobie added to that feeling, but he also brought light. He speaks to his daughter about giving her examples of a strong man, shows his son it’s okay to show emotion, and reminds kids to love who they see in the mirror. I couldn’t have asked more from him. His verse gave the track the balance it needed pain and healing in one breath.
Your upcoming album easier said than done explores generational trauma, legacy, and healing. What do you think music offers that other forms of expression can’t when dealing with such heavy themes?
You can’t replicate how music feels or how it heals. Sure, there are technical restrictions like rhyme, bars, and time limits, but that’s the beauty of it. Music forces you to be intentional to map your way through your story. Between the rhythm and the lyrics, you’re able to dive deep into emotion and memory, and in doing that, invite the listener to step into the world you’re portraying.
When I think about therapy, you're often asked to emotionally and visually revisit places where experiences happened. Writing music does that same thing it pulls those memories up, gives them shape, and allows you to process them. And if that’s what it does for the writer, imagine what it can do for the listener.
Music is also a vessel for education not in a preachy way, but in a way that connects truth to feeling.
You draw from spoken word, hip-hop, and gospel. Who were the artists or influences early on that shaped your sound and how has your taste evolved since?
There are so many artists who’ve shaped me, from Bob Marley and J. Cole to Shock G, Dire Straits, and Chap One. Early on, I drew heavily from them, whether it was the lyricism, storytelling, or just the energy they brought to their music.
These days, I still take influence here and there, but it’s more from a place of admiration than imitation. I think every artist reaches a point where they begin to truly find their own style and process that’s where I’m at now. I’m focused on refining my craft, while still appreciating the brilliance in others.
You’ve worked with a diverse lineup of collaborators from LaRussell to Lachlan Caskey. How do you decide who to work with, and what do you look for in a creative partner?
There are a few things I look for, but one of the main ones is summed up in that saying: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” At this point in my career, I meet a lot of incredibly talented people but unless they’re also hard-working and intentional, I won’t collaborate. I prefer to be in rooms where I can bounce off other creatives’ work ethic and enthusiasm. That energy is infectious it keeps the process sharp and focused.
The other side of it is having a clear vision. I’ve always had a strong sense of what I want creatively. That’s why I chose this team for the project the same way I chose Nerve and Matt Hsu’s Obscure Orchestra forThe Bigger Picture. I know what I’m building, and I know who I need around me to bring it to life.
From Minjerribah to Adelaide, your roots span deep cultural ground. How do your Noonuccal and Black American heritages come through in your music consciously or subconsciously?
For this album, it was very intentional but not in the way I’ve approached it in the past. I made half of the project here in Australia and the other half in LA, and I think that helped me stay grounded in each of my experiences, rather than being purely reflective.
This feels like the first project where I’m speaking from my current state of being, rather than unpacking past events that shaped me. Because of that, the cultural influence doesn’t feel forced or symbolic, it’s just present. The result isn’t so much about “being a Black man” as it is about speaking to experiences that naturally align with the Black experience both Noonuccal and Black American without needing to over-explain it.
As someone who moves between storytelling and rhythm, how do you know when a lyric should be rapped, spoken, or sung? Do you follow instinct or structure?
My mum always told me to follow my gut and I carry that into every part of my life, including my writing. I trust instinct more than structure. I’ve developed a natural feel for what a song needs, whether something should be rapped, spoken, or sung — and I just follow that. Sometimes the words dictate the delivery, and my job is to listen and respond accordingly.
What’s your studio process like? Are you the type to build a track around a lyric, a beat, or a feeling first? Or does it change every time?
This entire album was made from scratch every session started with me in the studio with either WYES, Lachlan, or GENE, just throwing ideas and sounds at the wall until something stuck. Nothing was pre-written or pre-prepared. It was a completely organic process where the sound influenced the lyrics, and the lyrics influenced the sound. It was about being present in the room, trusting the moment, and letting the music lead.
You’ve performed at BIGSOUND, QPAC, and Jungle Love Festival. How does performing live influence the way you create music in the studio?
To be honest, I let the studio experience live its own life. I don’t go into sessions thinking about how something will play out live. I just create what I feel in the moment.
I’m a natural performer, and I back myself to build a powerful live show no matter what. When it’s time to bring the music to the stage, I put that hat on and work with what I’ve created to craft something special. The studio and the stage are two different worlds, I respect both and let them serve their own purpose.
I hope my music stands as a body of work I can look back on with pride. I want it to reflect a life lived with intention, storytelling that’s honest and grounded in real experience. In the long run, I hope people can revisit it like a thesis of lived truths,something that resonates, something they're glad they came across.
If it helps even one person feel seen or understood, then I’ve done what I set out to do.
— When you think about legacy, both the one you’ve inherited and the one you’re building, what do you hope your music stands for in the long run?
Quick Fire Round
First album you ever bought
On vinyl, Brother in Arms by Dire Straits
Dream venue to perform at
Headline show at Riverstage
One song you wish you wrote
Someday by Elmiene
Most-played track in your playlist right now
Let it go by Erik The Architect & Loyle Carner
Bars or beats first
BARRZZZ
Outside of your own work, what’s exciting you in music right now? Any artists, sounds, or movements that you’re inspired by or keeping an eye on?
Super excited about a few people including brother boy Kayps and Kaye. Amazing artists in their own right and fully backing everything they’re doing. Also been spending a lot of time with Tasman Keith, who’s just living and breathing this life. I think what we’ve seen from him is honestly just the surface. Brother is channeling some serious energy and creativity.
