This Land

Charlie Needs Braces

Inspired by the deep meaning and stories embedded in the Aboriginal names of places

Why we wrote this song

As a proud GuriNgai woman of the Garigal Clan, I wrote this song to honour the Traditional names of places, which hold the knowledge, resources, and stories of our ancestors.

I wanted to highlight climate change and the issues that continue to rise from our lack of care for our waterways, wildlife, and Country.

I hope to inspire people to learn whose Country they live on, understand its history, and, by listening to Country, help care for and protect it.

About us as artists

GuriNgai sisters Charlie and Miri from live looping act Charlie Needs Braces have drawn in audiences across Australia, their energetic musical landscapes weaving together stories and language. In 2022 they came first place in the Upstart Awards, and won the Archie Roach Award for Emerging Talent in 2023 through Music Victoria Awards.

Charlie Woods, one half of the sister duo, is known for their work with Casey Donovan, The Teskey Brothers, The Seven Ups, and Tek Tek Ensemble. The duo’s debut album, Saltwater People, featured the single and video “Daryung”, which was showcased on RAGE, earned them triple j Unearthed Artists of the Week, and was featured in the ABC documentary Changing Tides as part of a NAIDOC Week special.

Their latest album, NYAA WA, has further expanded their reach, with music videos landing in the top 50 for 2024 on Rage and receiving editorial praise across platforms like ABC News, Women In Pop, Spotify’s Big Ancestor Energy, and Apple’s FIRST.

The two piece have performed across Australia at several festivals including the Share the Spirit Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Burramatta Festival, St Kilda Festival, Queenscliffe Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, the National Folk Festival, Planting Festival, Wandiligong Nut Festival, The Town Folk Festival, Clarence Jazz Festival and supported The Teskey Brothers on their national tour with A Day on the Green January 2025.

About the music video

‘This Land’ is inspired by the deep meaning and stories embedded in the Aboriginal names of places. Each name carries a history, a connection to the land, and valuable information about the area. Through this song, I wanted to highlight the importance of these Indigenous names and the stories they tell, encouraging all of us to reconnect with and respect the true heritage of the places we live in. When I go to a new place in Australia I like to find out who the mob and traditional owners are, you can learn so much about a place through the people and the history of the land.

“As the director and videographer, creating the film clip for ‘This Land’ was an exciting and fun process. We used a green screen to blend the shots of Miri and Charlie and then added the collage elements, layering images of animals and plants as well as an Aboriginal map highlighting the traditional names of places in Australia. The goal was to create a visual experience that mirrors the song’s message—celebrating the deep, interconnected stories of the land. It was a challenging and slow process but so rewarding after seeing the final product, and I’m proud of how it all came together by the end.” – Master Kapow