“It’s important that we remember the stories and values that have been handed down to us by our grandparents and Elders, and continue embracing them in our everyday life,” Tia Gostelow tells Apple Music. The proud Luma Luma woman honors those ties in her own life, having split her childhood between Mackay, Queensland, and amongst the strong Indigenous community on the island of Groote Eylandt. Meanwhile, her grandfather is a Luma Luma Elder in Cape York. While making a playlist to celebrate NAIDOC Week’s 2023 theme, “For Our Elders,” Gostelow decided to choose songs about connecting with country, community, and language. “There’s a lot of beautiful melodies that can be sung along to,” she says, “and I love that a lot of these songs have family members singing on them or are being sung in language.” Choosing songs from Troy Cassar-Daley, as well as his daughter Jem, alongside rock- and folk-leaning songs by Mo’Ju, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, and King Stingray, she presents a stirring cross-section of First Nations music. Read on for her thoughts on three powerful songs in particular. Emily Wurramara, “Carry Me Home” “Emily grew up in Milyakburra and Groote Eylandt (Anindilyakwa) and I lived there until I was 10 years old, so when I listen to her music I feel like I’m taken back to my childhood. ‘Carry Me Home’ is about Groote Eylandt (Anindilyakwa) and the lady speaking in it is Emily’s great-grandmother. I think it’s really special.” Busby Marou, “Naba Norem (The Reef Song)” “‘Naba norem’ means ‘Let’s go to the reef’ in the Torres Strait Meriam Mir language: [Torres Strait is] where Jeremy [Marou] is from and where the song was recorded. I think what makes this song so beautiful is that elements of the island were captured, including natural sounds [and] traditional instruments. My favorite part is the primary school kids singing.” Alice Skye, “Wurega Djalin” “I love Alice’s voice so much and it’s so beautiful hearing her sing in her people’s language of Wergaia. This song really shows me how important it is to protect our languages. Because if we don’t, we lose them, and that’s so heartbreaking to me.” The artwork on this playlist was created in collaboration with Gunu Baakandji artist Maddison Gibbs. Apple acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.