“…this tribute is a tour-de-force, speaking to the power of people of colour, across many generations, the all-encompassing sound they invented and its continuing, essential legacy in the music of today.” – Chris Cobcroft, 4ZZZ

“…an exciting and important piece of work. It pays loving tribute to the legacy of Chess Records and reinterprets the music to make powerful statements about life for Australian black, Indigenous, and people of colour today.” – Sounds of Oz

Chester Records and Wise Music present Everybody Knows I’m Here, a 10 track compilation featuring reimagined covers of classic tracks from the iconic Chess Records catalogue.

The album celebrates the 70th anniversary of the game changing Chicago label, with every song on the release performed and/or produced by an Australian artist of colour.

Performers on the album include William Barton, imbi, Nasty Mars, Fatai, Caiti Baker, Downsyde, Harts, Flewnt, Tessa Thames, Yirrmal, The Magpie Swoop, DOBBY and Jackie Brown Jr. and producers include Citizen Kay, Jah Loon, Papertoy and James Mangohig. The record was mastered by Grammy nominated engineer Kim Rosen.

DOBBY, who reinterpreted the classic “Suzie Q” with his band Jackie Brown Jr., said of the artists assembled for the release,

“Every artist on this album brings a unique story that’s tied into POC, First Nations mob in Australia and Aotearoa. We are bringing something that isn’t new… this is a continuing link in the chain of our Black transnational connections and exchanges with Africa America, Native America, and First Nations communities around the world…With my perspective as a proud Murrawarri and Filipino musician, this is another link in that chain of how we connect and how we also express solidarity and show that we really, really feel this music on that level.”

Cover Art by Archibald Award Winner Blak Douglas