Track-By-Track: Homesick's Peter Jackson Walks Us Through 'Terra Nullius'

Australian hardcore has had and continues to produce some excellent talent: Outright, Free World, Surrender, Vices, Sierra, Rebirth, Iron Mind, Reactions, Relentless, and so many other groups throughout our nation's hardcore archives. Yet there's one other band that deserves such attention - Sydney's Homesick. 

The NSW hardcore act are a pretty goddamn outspoken band; never backing down from their convictions in their music and always sticking to their guns. This is clearly evident from their musically powerful and lyrically-charged new record, 'Terra Nullius', which drops later this week via local hardcore-homestead, Resist Records. The 11 tracks of 'Terra Nullius' cover an array of topics close to the five Homesick member's hearts, especially frontman Peter Jackson (no relation). This thematic coverage ranges from the lack of education in schools and society about Indigenous Australia, a white-washing of our nation's deep historical roots, calling out a government that rarely serves the people, domestic violence, fighting for better equality, seeking acknowledgement of past cultural traumas, and more. To say that the band has something vital to share with people here would be an absolute understatement! 

However, it's not just limited to history lessons and political discussions, but also many internal struggles as well for Peter and the band. As you'll read below, this new album allowed the Homesick vocalist the creative space to find clarity with his own mental demons regarding suicide; his battles with anxiety; as well as grieving the loss of close family members. This record really is an educational yet also a highly emotional rollercoaster front to back; melodic, thrashy, dynamic and gloomy hardcore music with a real message of hope and change. Come this Friday, September 14th, when 'Terra Nullius' finally touches down, use this here handy track-by-track guide to weave your way through one of the best hardcore releases of 2018. 

'Free':

"I wrote Free just to express my appreciation for music and what it allows me to do. I can be 100% honest and let myself go without censorship or concern for what anyone pre-conceived ideas about me are. It also allows me to un-jumble the puzzles in my head that not even I can figure out half the time"

'Manipulated':

"The compulsory education system started in the 1800s in what’s formally known as Prussia around the same time as the Industrial Revolution. It was set up to create mass obeisance and produce soldiers. Education has always been a means of control. Do as we tell you, what we tell you is the only truth and don’t ask questions. Not to mention the fact, growing up and going to school in the 90s and very early 2000s I found it had a mentality of "if you cannot keep up…. get out". While we are at it, let's add all the whitewashed bullshit we were actually being fed. Not once was I taught about the genocide that spread through this country to make it what it is today. We learnt about European explorer that “Discovered” Australia. Terra Nullius. No Mans Land. There was never mention of the revolutionaries who defended their families, communities and country from foreign invaders. Bussamarai, Pemulwuy, Calyute, Dhakiyarr, Wirrpanda, Dundalli, Jandamarra, Kickerterpoller, and Yagan. just to name a few."

'You Will Never Take Me':

"This song is not subjective to one particular situation or incident. This song touches on the control our government has on its people through many means, from law Enforcement, scare tactics such as the foreign invasion made by people seeking refuge from war-stricken countries and a big spiteful invisible man that sits in the sky and will punish anyone who does not devote their lives to him and his cause. The same government that will play our people like pawns in a game of chess to get whatever they need for financial gain. The government has become really efficient at making the ones who have nothing resent people who also have nothing. To explain what I mean by that statement: we have middle and lower class people pointing their fingers at refugees, blaming them for the lack of money we so desperately need to help our farmers going through droughts and our homeless population steadily increasing, that they never even stop to take a look at our politicians. Our Prime Minister makes over $500,000 a year - this is a fact! That’s almost $10,000 a week. WHAT THE FUCK! The lowest paid person in parliament makes $200,000 a year. Then claim a stupidly high pension once the leave, not to mention all the daily allowances and other allowances received by the MP and MLA, all of which as tax-free deductibles! All the while we have pensioners that have busted their asses labouring their entire lives to be granted $23,598 a year, while food, taxes, electricity, water and basic living necessities skyrocket. This government doesn’t work for us!

'Reality':

"This song is pretty much just my personal struggle with anxiety and it’s was the best way I could make any sense of it."

'Burdens':

"Burdens tell a familiar story for a lot of people about the subjection to domestic violence and the holes that can leave in a person; the feeling of worthlessness, distrust, anger and resentment among other things. It concludes with the message that there are people that are there for you both in with an open heart and in solidarity no matter how empty or lost you feel. Domestic violence is never your fault and everybody should have the right to feel safe!"

'Epitaph':

"As hard as this is to say, Epitaph started off as a suicide letter. But as I have found throughout my time writing music, I find a peace in writing down things that I choose not to talk about with people or things I can’t articulate in words. Usually, the jumble in my head is so confusing and loud I don’t know what to make of it and putting it on paper brings some clarity."

'Nura':

"Nura is about the spiritual connection and oneness indigenous people believe everyone has to the land and mother earth. This song was based around a great Indigenous resistance warrior and how he must have felt when he was taken away from something he loves so much and how determined he was to fight back and take what was rightfully his."

'Uninhabited'/'Edith':

"Edith is named after Joel’s Nan and Arthur (off 'Won’t Let Go')  was named after my pop. [Both] are songs made up of collaborated grief both felt from Joel and me after the passing of two very special people in our lives."

'Never Ceded':

"Never Ceded if a pretty self-explanatory song: it goes back pre-colonialism when our native indigenous people were free to live and roam as they had done for thousands of years. It also gives a little insight into the cultural song lines and how astrology was used to map out directions not to mention the co-existence and understanding of humans and mother earth. It then goes on to touch into the immediate halt that came to and the dark past that colonialism brought with it. Rape, deceit, lies and massacre."

'Terra Nullius' drops this Friday, September 14th via Resist Records. Watch this space for more from Homesick...

[caption id="attachment_1104067" align="aligncenter" width="760"] Homesick, 2018. [/caption]