Approach

A Tape of Mystery

To ensure I focused my attention on strong leads, I needed to consider the factual details presented in the documentary:

• The documentary focuses on the happenings of the Chatswood Youth Centre and youth attendees.

• Pop culture references and a timestamp featured in the video indicate that this was made sometime in August 1997.

• Title cards featured at the start and end of the video indicate that the documentary was part of a workshop.

Besides this information, very little insight could be obtained as the documentary lacks credits nor formal introductions to the people involved in making it. Nonetheless, a contextual base was able to be established in finding the likely source for the mystery song.

This began my initial awareness campaign for the investigation through lost media forums and social media platforms like Reddit. However, these posts of mine didn’t gain a lot of traction nor helpful suggestions.

The sluggish momentum for the search forced me to reconsider other areas of interest. Specifically, in finding the people in the documentary. Through the personal details disclosed by those in the video, I was able to locate an interviewer and interviewee. Both of whom provided additional insights about the documentary. Ranging from its purpose as an informal video workshop for the local youth and the prominent involvement in the Youth Centre organizing this activity. However, the identity of the featured song was also shrouded in mystery for these video participants.

From here, the search would take a back seat in my personal priorities and was on the verge of being forgotten about until I was informed that a lively community of sleuths known as Lostwave were taking great interest in the mystery and wanted me back on board.

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With an active online community to support me through this investigation, I took this as a great opportunity to manage and collaborate with this team to identify the song. Many members of this community volunteered in digging up leads and potential contacts. This prevalent activity would help locate additional video participants. Including one that was a Youth Worker who advised that the video may have been part of a state funded creative program known as ArtStart. This lead would allow me and a close collaborator to discover crucial information about the documentary through archived contemporary newspapers and web archives.

These historical sources not only were able to confirm a proven link between the video and ArtStart program, but they also stated the video’s filming date, official name and partial list of those involved with its production. This new wealth of information opened a shear array of possible avenues to find our answer.

Solution

Journey Through the Local Scenes

With numerous art programs being hosted by local youth centers in the late 90s, many suspects and leads were considered. To delve into this past efficiently, I managed a firm network of local music archivists that could locate obscure music released by bands that could be behind the mystery song.

To assure momentum in the search’s relevancy, I made sure to apply my creative thinking through visually grabbing campaigns. One of these strategies came in the form of a website dedicated to the search. The overall appeal of the website aimed to be accessible in its core subject by presenting the key details and latest progress. This is being achieved through visually consistent use of warm colors and grungy visuals. Incorporating these visual elements gives the search a distinct identity through 90s music nostalgia.

This visual identity would then be adapted to a series of posters. Publishing high resolutions files for these posters would encourage others to freely print and distribute it within their local area. Ultimately expanding the search’s presence to even more people.

For further coverage, I contacted dozens of Lost Media YouTube channels and local radio stations. This mass reach out would lead to further investigative findings being obtained as well as partnerships being made.

Outcome

Protecting the Past for the Future

Whilst the titular song remains unidentified, its legacy as a catalyst to a much bigger journey couldn’t be understated. Since the search’s commencement in 2019, major efforts have been accomplished in archiving dozens of formally lost albums from Sydney in addition to platforming the importance of searches like this through podcasts (Now Listening To: ???) and radio (FBi Radio and 2SER).

Reflection

When initially getting this VHS tape, I wouldn’t have even considered the opportunities that awaited me. Partaking in this investigative project has allowed me to collaborate with a variety of amazing producers in the industry of video content, podcasting, radio and music. All of whom have shown profound intrigue for this mystery’s collaborative vibe. Whether it’s the unique community of youths who made the documentary back in the 90s or archivists like me who collaborated to preserve obscure music.

Just as importantly, I came to discover my deep love for research through this project. Ranging from the days spent at the library reading 25-year-old music zines to combing through old blogs from the late 90s. These investigative activities opened an archeological experience with a creative flair.

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