Lakshmi Kanchi is an emerging, prize-winning Indian Australian poet and storyteller on a mission—to make poetry accessible. She is the author of “Lakesong”, her debut poetry collection, published by Centre for Stories, and has been published in several journals and anthologies.

Lakshmi shares how her life began again while sitting and writing by the stained glass windows of the beloved Heritage House in Swanbourne.

ABOUT THE COLLECTION:
Swanbourne Story Tracks is a collection sharing community stories of personal connections to the areas between Freshwater Bay, Lake Claremont, and the Indian Ocean. These stories were produced in partnership and made possible by generous funding from Town Team Movement and Project Mooro. Storytellers participated in a series of workshops where they worked with our specialist story trainer, Colin Archibald, to craft first-person narratives about their memorable experiences living in this neighbourhood or moments collected while passing through these streets in their lives.

In this collection, you will hear live recordings from five unique voices sharing personal stories of connection to place and community.

This story and corresponding images are owned by the storyteller and have been licensed to the Centre for Stories. For reproduction and distribution of this story/image please contact the Centre for Stories.

To support Centre for Stories in helping more important truths to be told and share, please consider donating or partnering with us. You can find out more about Centre for Stories at www.centreforstories.com.

This episode was narrated and produced by Vuma Phiri from Centre for Stories. Original music and sound engineering by Mason Vellios. Live recording by Mason Vellios

Swanbourne Story Tracks: Lakshmi Kanchi

A Bold Anthem for the Ones Who Carry Real Power.

I Got Something isn’t just a chant—it’s a declaration. Over a gritty, head-nodding beat laced by Marv4beats, PID steps up with an undeniable energy: what we carry can’t be bought, can’t be blocked, and can’t be stopped.

This is that real—the kind of something the world didn’t give and the world can’t take away. From street corners to sanctuaries, each verse brings a different fire: inner strength that flips weakness into victory, peace that stands firm in the middle of the beef, power that shows up when the pressure is on.

The hook hits like a call-out, like a street vendor on the block: I got something—you want it, come get it. It’s more than hype—it’s an invitation to tap into what’s real, what’s deep, what’s life-changing.

With raw bars, infectious energy, and a soul-thumping groove, I Got Something is here to move crowds and spark hearts. This ain’t just another track—this is a flex for the faithful.


P.I.D. - I Got Something

Hai! My name is Autumn Grace, and this is my debut album Glass Heart! 💔

Every song on this record is based on a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder—something I live with every day. From the fear of abandonment to reckless behavior, shifting identity, dissociation, and more, this album is my way of turning all that chaos and pain into something honest, loud, and maybe even healing.

Glass Heart is messy. It's emotional. It's me. I wrote it for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re too much, or not enough, or both at the same time. If you’ve ever been cracked but still shining through somehow—this is for you.

Thanks for listening, and I hope you feel seen. ♡

Love,
Autumn Grace

Stitched Together

Kept in My head

Pedal down

Bruised But Loud

Dear Future Love

My Monster And Me

Switchblade smile

Gas on My Hands

31-10-2024 (live session)

Shiva teaches English at a language institute in Mashhad, Iran. In this short audio story, she reflects on how language shapes what we say and what we don’t. As she and her students navigate between Farsi and English, subtle shifts in voice, identity, and expression emerge.

Found in Translation? A Language Teacher’s Quiet Resistance

🔻 SONG INSIGHT
“This Is Me” is a thunderclap of unapologetic self-love and stage-commanding energy. It’s not just a performance — it’s a coronation. This track doesn’t beg for your approval; it struts past your doubt in heels made of stardust and sweat. Every lyric is a spotlight confession, every beat a pulse of truth. It captures what it feels like to own your power after someone tried to shrink you, twist you, or make you question your shine.

From cosmic flexes to poetic burns, the track walks the line between humor and raw defiance — a celebration of survival, reinvention, and queer brilliance. It’s for anyone who’s ever been underestimated… and came back with a mic drop.

🔻 LYRICS
[Verse 1]
You said you needed time
I was waiting around for hours
You said you had to find yourself
I didn’t even know you were missing

[Pre-Chorus]
You lost your way — and that’s okay
Somehow...
You still found...
Me

[Chorus]
This is who I am, and that’s the best
A flawless man... some cosmic shit
While you're stuck in second place
I’m moonwalking through outer space
So don’t you cry when you miss me
Even my flaws
Look good on this

[Verse 2]
You tried to dim what’s inside
Baby, I’m the northern lights
I gave you time, I gave you grace
And still I won the human race

[Pre-Chorus 2]
You keep slipping, I just glide
Every mirror’s on my side

[Chorus]
This is who I am, and that’s a gift
A perfect storm that always lifts
You play the game, I changed the rules
I broke the mold and made it cool
So go ahead, embrace your myth
Even my flaws
Look good on this

[Bridge]
I’m not just a man
I’m a message
If loving myself is wrong
Then I’ll write a song
About how right I am

[Final Chorus – Modulated]
This is who I am, and that’s a gift
Ego-sculpted, heaven-kissed
You chase the dream, I am the dream
Your greatest thought, your silent scream
So write it down, tattoo your wrist
Even my flaws
Look good on this

[Outro]
You’re welcome

🔻 PERSONAL REFLECTION
I didn’t always believe I could say things like this — out loud. For years, I gave my light away in tiny pieces, hoping someone else would tell me I was enough. But no one can crown you if you don’t show up like royalty first.

"This Is Me" came from the rubble of that realization. It’s camp, it’s glitter, it’s truth with fangs. It’s the voice I wish I had when I was younger — the one that didn’t apologize for being too much. This song is a mirror I built for myself. And when I looked into it, I finally saw someone worth fighting for.

So yeah — this is me. And that’s the gift.

🔻 4ME2BEFREE
At 4Me2BeFree, every song is a cinematic confession. We don’t write to entertain — we write to transform. Whether it’s heartbreak or power, loss or glittering defiance, we chase the truth until it sings.

"This Is Me" isn’t just a track. It’s a stage. A pulse. A reclamation. And most importantly, it’s yours too — if you’ve ever had to fight to be seen.

🔻 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All lyrics and content featured in this post are protected under copyright (© 2025) and have been securely time-locked and validated through a crypto-based verification system to ensure originality and ownership. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of any part of these works without explicit consent is strictly prohibited.

This is Me

horizon

“She Was Me” is a powerful, soul-revealing anthem about reclaiming identity and stepping into wholeness. Through introspective verses and a soaring chorus, the song tells the story of a person who once distanced themselves from their strength—until they realized that the brave, bold version they admired was never separate. It’s a tribute to self-discovery, shedding shame, and embracing the truth: she was never someone else. She was me.

She Was Me

The song beautifully highlights the journey of self-discovery and the courage it takes to be true to oneself. Leah explores her powerful emotions, questioning the validity of her thoughts and feelings while empowering herself to see their worth. 
The lyrics convey a meaningful purpose behind her desire to inspire and connect with others, challenging the idea of hiding her identity. 
The repeated phrase "crazy cockamamie lady" playfully embraces the importance of individuality and uniqueness. 
With lively music complementing profound lyrics, the video offers an uplifting experience that encourages everyone to celebrate their true selves.

Crazy Cockamamie Lady

Holy Culture is a home to Christian Hip-Hop Artists, where we encourage people to connect, collaborate and inspire.

"If it didn’t matter, it wouldn’t hurt. Pain is the gift of knowing you’re alive."

4Me2BeFree is more than music—it’s my story, my scars, and my survival. Every song is a piece of me, a raw melody of love, heartbreak, and resilience. I blend AI-generated vocals and instruments with real emotions, turning my experiences—especially from an LGBTQ+ perspective—into something that speaks to anyone who's ever felt lost, broken, or just searching for something real.

Breakup songs? Yeah, they hit different. Music carries us through the worst of it, and every generation finds their own anthems of love, loss, and getting back up. Heartache doesn’t care about age, gender, or where you come from—music connects us all.

I make music because I’ve been there. The pain, the anger, the hope—it's all in these songs. If something here hits home for you, let it. If you feel something, let me know. That’s the connection that keeps this alive.

This is music born from the fusion of soul and signal. The lyrics are mine—written from real emotions, real events, and the truths that don’t always get spoken aloud. The music, crafted with AI, becomes a vessel for those words: dark, immersive, and emotionally raw.

Each track is a reflection of something lived—grief, love, longing, rage, hope. AI handles the sonic architecture, but the heart of every song is human. My words are the pulse beneath the synths, the whisper behind the beat.

The result is a soundscape that feels intimate and otherworldly at once—dark techno, ambient goth, cyberpunk noir. It’s not about perfection. It’s about resonance. If you’ve ever felt too much, or not enough—this is for you.

Centre for Stories is a vibrant, inclusive literary arts and cultural organisation based in Perth, Western Australia. We use storytelling to inspire social cohesion and improve understanding of diverse communities. We cultivate stories that inspire thought, spark empathy and challenge intolerance, with a focus on empowering people whose experiences and perspectives are often marginalised.

Hai! I’m Autumn Grace — thank you for being here.
If you’ve found my music, whether by accident or on purpose, I’m truly grateful. I don’t want your money—I just want to share my feelings, and maybe you’ll hear something that feels like you. If you’d like to support me, you can check out my shop: autumngracemusic.myshopify.com.

I make music for the ones who feel too much, for the ones searching for something that understands. If that’s you… I hear you. Can you hear me too?

Hi, I'm Leah Kirrane,
I love to ponder, observe, read, write, learn, teach (I homeschool my kids), make music, sew, grow, create, be, and love. So that is what I do.  ​I simply share my thoughts, voice, music, books, poetry and actions to help open someone’s eyes, broaden a perspective, lighten a path, or soothe a soul.

New tracks tagged #Identity