Lost In Space: Young Mid West voices rise in powerful hip-hop track and music video

A group of young people from Geraldton and Mullewa have turned their stories, pride and resilience into rhythm and rhyme with Lost In Space — an uplifting new hip-hop track that celebrates Yamatji culture and teenage strength.

The song was co-written and recorded by students from Champion Bay Senior High School and Mullewa District High School during the third residency for Now Sounds Midwest — a series of creative workshops led by acclaimed West Australian hip-hop artists Josh “Flewnt” Eggington and Scott “Optamus” Griffiths.

Participants learnt beat-making, rap, lyric-writing, visual art and video production as part of the intercultural arts project delivered by Community Arts Network.

Described as “more than just a song”, Lost In Space stands as a powerful expression of cultural pride and artistic empowerment, showcasing the creative voices of young people from across the region.

For both artists, that’s what the project was all about.

“Music gives you the ability to take control over your own thoughts and your own mind,” Eggington said.

“You can work through what is in your subconscious, what is in your conscious — you draw from really deep places.”

Having worked with young people in schools and the justice system, Eggington said music could give teenagers a sense of autonomy.

“Through all the difficulties of my life growing up, I could always go back and find warmth in music,” he said.

For Griffiths, the creative process also helps young people see their lives from a new perspective.

“A big part of the broader work we do within community settings, in juvenile prison but also in a program like Now Sounds, is about being able to take yourself out of the goldfish bowl,” he said.

“The power is in the lyricism and being able to provide a space for young people to say exactly what they want to say, not diluted, not spoken for.”

That transformation was clear for students like Madi, a budding rapper from Champion Bay Senior High School who had already begun writing her own lyrics when the Now Sounds team arrived.

“Having this opportunity has really opened a new door for me … learning new skills that can take me places that I never thought I would have gone,” she said.

To celebrate the release, the Mid West community is invited to attend a free concert in Geraldton on Thursday, October 16 at which Lost In Space and its accompanying music video will be officially launched.

The event will be held at Blue Heelers Square from 5.30pm-7.30pm.

The evening will feature live performances by Flewnt, Optamus and the Now Sounds Midwest artists, along with the premiere screening of the Lost In Space music video, food trucks and other entertainment.