Jen Cloher Announces Podcast That Platforms First Nations & Māori Artists

Jen Cloher has launched the new podcast, Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home, to platform First Nations and Māori songwriters and artists who perform in their tribal languages.

The Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home podcast is available to listen to on Spotify, Apple Music and other podcast platforms. You can listen to all six episodes here.

In the podcast’s six episodes, Cloher treks through Australia and New Zealand and discusses reawakening tribal languages alongside passionate artists.

“Finding the confidence to write and perform in my matrilineal language Te reo Māori wasn’t easy. Many of my Mother’s generation never learned due to laws passed by the New Zealand government discouraging the practice of Te reo Māori in native schools,” Cloher said in a press release.

They added, “Consequently, they were made to feel shame about their language, culture and Māori identity, and didn't want their children to experience the same feeling. Bringing my language back into my body and weaving it through my songwriting has been an enormously healing process.

“I have come home to parts of myself that were longing to be known. The experience made me want to hear from other songwriters, both Māori and First Nations, about their experiences of writing and performing in their language.”

Everybody's Trying To Find Their Way Home arrives alongside Cloher’s fifth album, I Am The River, The River Is Me, released in March this year. 

The podcast series features special guests Dr Lou Bennett (Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung), Theia (Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Tīpa), Emma Donovan (Gumbaynggirr, Yamatji) and finds Cloher attending the NZ APRA Te reo Māori Songhubs curated by Bic Runga with Anna Coddington.

Jen Cloher will embark on their Australian tour this Saturday, kicking things off in Brisbane before hitting Anglesea, Melbourne, and the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid LIVE. You can find more details below.

Jen Cloher Australian Tour

Saturday, 20 May - Princess, Brisbane

Friday, 26 May - Sound Doctor, Anglesea

Saturday, 27 May - Northcote Theatre, Melbourne

Thursday, 1st June - Vivid LIVE, Sydney Opera House

Tickets here.