A number of First Nations artists are set to grace the City of Melbourne's Now or Never festival, taking place this August in a festival bringing together leading Australian and international creatives, musicians and thinkers in a city-wide display of art, ideas and technology.

For both Wiradjuri-Scottish artist April Phillips, and Mutti Mutti, Yorta Yorta and Nari Nari musician Kutcha Edwards, their individual presentations are a continuation of themes and skills that have seen them become renowned in their individual fields.

Ms Philipps' exhibition kajoo yannaga is a virtual experience of spending time and walking on Country with a computer-animated Sky Spirit.

A previous winner of the Women in Digital Rising Star of the Year Award in 2022, Ms Phillips is the First Nations Learning Designer at the Australian Children's Television Foundation.

Presented in partnership with ACMI and the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), kajoo yannaga, meaning "come on let's walk together" in the Yuin language, is a cinematic story, an immersive two-channel projection and a gamified journey guided by First Nations knowledges.

"In a story sense, it's an invitation into the spirit realm," Ms Phillips told National Indigenous Times.

"It's sort of like a parallel speculative now, and…on a 'nuts and bolts' level, it's a 10-minute immersive, sort of two channel video work, which has been built in a gaming engine."

Because it has been built in a gaming engine with body-tracking nodes, Ms Phillips said it "actually tracks bodies in the space", which is described as "a circular story cycle of intergenerational healing".

"That means there's representations of the audience, in the work - live - in real time," she said.

"What we're really kind of calling upon audiences to do is 'come on, let's walk together.' And it's about sort of walking through what intergenerational healing might look like and overcoming traumas."

For Mr Edwards, performing is a transcendental experience — bringing the listener into a world of emotion and beauty. A survivor of the Stolen Generations, his songs move audiences, joyfully and harrowingly in equal measure.

"For me, I think the more I figure out who I am, not only who I am, but what I am, the more I find that I can externalise what's going on internally, via the advent of song writing and poetry and music," Mr Edwards told National Indigenous Times.

"Every song is a poem; based against a melody," he said.

In the tradition of all great storytellers, he is constantly exploring and expanding, changing and adapting. In the medium of song, Mr Edwards shares some of the most important stories from this continent, inspired by one generation whilst inspiring many others in the future.

"So to understand what it is that I'm actually doing, not only as a singer songwriter, but as a person who's getting on in life…and understanding the protocols; the do's and don'ts as an Aboriginal person, the more I can understand me," he said.

The softly spoken singer, who often begins his concerts or performances by walking through the crowd, speaking in Mutti Mutti, has an aura about him, an unmistakable feeling of listening to someone with vastly important things to share.

Hearing him sing Mrs Edwards, a track on his 2021 album Circling Time, about seeing his mother for the first time alongside his siblings since being removed, is beyond moving.

Mr Edwards will perform the Victorian premiere of Wuigada – Gagada (To Sing - Loud), a new performance in collaboration with the Australian Art Orchestra on August 30.

Now or Never will take place from Thursday 22 to Sunday 31 August, with more than 100 free and ticketed events and sessions exploring art, ideas, sound, and technology.

This year's festival theme, 'Look through the image' invites audiences to interrogate what's in front of them to explore deeper meanings and contemplate the layers of symbolism and hidden messages within.

April Phillips' kajoo yannaga takes place from Thursday 22 August — Sunday 25 August 10am - 9pm, and from Monday 26 August — Saturday 31 August, 10am - 5pm, at ACMI - Swinburne Studio, Fed Square. Entry is free.

Kutcha Edwards' Wuigada – Gagada takes place on Friday August 30 from 7pm - 8pm at The Capitol, 113 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets can be purchased here (Mob discount).