Luke Currie-Richardson
Interview by Madeleine Dore
In Luke Currie-Richardson's own words, he may not know what he does for a living, but he knows why he wake up in the morning.
Luke is a descendant of the Kuku Yalanji and Djabugay peoples, the Munaldjali Clan of South East QLD and the Meriam people of the Eastern Torres Strait Islands. His younger years were spent as a basketball player, and from 2012 to 2018, he was a company dancer in Bangarra Dance Theatre.
Recently, Luke has hosted a short Buzzfeed documentary Pay the Rent. He has also worked as a model, sessional teacher, poet, photographer and mentor. But all of this falls under the umbrella of a storyteller. For Luke, irrespective of the medium, the why remains the same: to be the best ancestor he can be for all generations.
This approach proves that 'being the best' is a term of your own making, your own measure.
In this conversation, Luke delves further into this idea of it’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it, navigating the loss of work during this time, his thoughts on routine being more about priority than rigid structures, the toxicity of sayings like “the show must go on” and “fake it till you make it,” the power of asking for help and taking care of your mental health, and knowing when to walk away from something.
Luke Currie-Richardson: Storyteller
““I don’t need to be the best against anybody else. I don’t need to be the best for anybody else but myself and if I get a role or if I get anything, it’s because I’ve given my all. I’m not doing what I do to compete with people.” ”
Shownotes
1:06
Focus on yourself – As tempting as it is, don’t compare yourself to other people. It’s easy to get caught up in what they’re doing, but you’ll constantly feel like you’re running behind, and you’ll never be happy with where you are in your life or in your own work. Focus on you, be proud of what you’re doing, and celebrate your successes.
2:48
This week’s guest – Luke Currie is a dancer, a host on a documentary, a model, a teacher, a poet, a photographer, and a role model. It might seem like a lot, but he sums it up nicely by calling himself a storyteller. But even then, he admits that he’s not too sure what he does for a living. He does, however, know why he does it and why he gets out of bed every morning.
6:22
Motivation – During this difficult time, Luke reminds himself that everyone else is in the same situation as him, and thinking about his ‘why’ keeps him driven and keeps him creating. As long as he strives to be the best indigenous man that he can be, he’s happy.
8:20
Listen to your energy – Being an artist isn’t a 9 to 5 job. Inspiration, creativity, and energy may spring into action at any time, and Luke accepts this and goes with it. This means that sometimes he might sleep until 2pm, but then he’ll then wake up buzzing with ideas. If you listen to your body’s natural rhythm, you’ll be more productive in the long run.
14:12
Stand out from the crowd – Many people are turning to creative ventures during this lockdown, meaning that there’s a lot more creative content out there. Luke is trying to focus on what he can do differently in order to stand out and make a difference.
16:08
Compete against yourself, not others – While most people compare themselves to others in a negative light, Luke flips this and inspires himself through the successes and achievements of those around him. He’s not trying to beat them at what he does, he’s trying to be the best that he can be.
18:50
Follow your dreams – But remember that dreams evolve. Luke’s dream was to dance with the Bangarra Dance Theatre, but after a few years he realised that it wasn’t what he wanted anymore. There was a lot of pressure and expectations involved, and he lost his passion. Once he realised his dream had changed, he left.
21:29
Put things into perspective – Luke turns to his ancestors to help keep himself grounded. If he’s struggling or if he has a bad day at work, he thinks about what his ancestors experienced. This allows him to think more objectively about his situation, and it gives him the opportunity to try and improve it.
22:55
Ask for help – Although things are improving, mental health is still sometimes looked over, especially in men. It took Luke time to realise that it was okay to ask for help and to go and talk to someone, and it felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders as soon as he did it. It’s okay to not be happy all the time, it’s okay to not be okay, and it’s okay to ask for help.
25:02
Do your best, and no more – It’s easy to get caught up in a situation where you constantly want to be better and you’re constantly expected to do more. Luke manages to push these feelings aside and focuses on doing the best that he can do, and realises that he physically cannot do any more than that.
29:24
Get out of your comfort zone – People tend to pick one profession, or one field, and stick with it because it’s what they know. Luke is the opposite, and he’s always looking at what he can do next, what else is out there for him, and what else he can experience. This attitude has opened many doors for him, and he’s been able to try so many things that he never thought he would get the chance to.
33:33
Be realistic – Know what you can do and do the best that you can. Find your passion, accept your skill level, and keep learning, but be realistic with your goals. Focus on being your best, not the best overall.
35:34
Know your priorities – Especially during a global pandemic, it’s important to think about the aspects of life that are most significant to you, so you can focus your attention towards them. Luke is spending this time trying to reconnect with his family by coming up with new traditions and is trying to adapt his gym routine to keep fit.
39:45
Know your weakness – Luke discusses his weakness of being set in his ways. He knows what he likes and will refuse anything that he doesn’t. Even though this does have its benefits, he’s realising that it may be creating missed opportunities that he might actually be enjoying. Be open to the world to see what opportunities might come your way.
42:04
Enjoy the small things – It’s easy to become overwhelmed with work, with trying to better yourself, or with the situation that the world is in right now. Don’t forget to take a step back and notice the little things in life. Find joy where you can and, whatever the situation is, it will pass.
Findings
Pay the Rent documentary
Barbara McGrady photographer
Joseph Mayers photographer
““As long as I wake up every morning knowing I’ve given my all, whatever that is, any given day, I can go to sleep happy and content.””