Responding to life’s profound moments through song
‘Music, storytelling, creativity; they’re what bring us together, what make life richer. Go see a live gig, lose yourself in the moment, let it move you. It’ll make you feel alive’
For Rita Satch, music is the most natural way she has ever known to express herself, especially when words fail her. “Music has always been a part of me,” she told The AJN ahead of her debut album, Meet Me in the Garden, being released. “Some of my earliest memories are of singing in harmony with my two older sisters around the Shabbat table.”
Meet Me in the Garden is a richly textured exploration of love, death and renewal, blending soul, jazz and contemporary R&B with the sounds of a 13-piece orchestra, which was something very special for Satch to experience.
“I love all music, but jazz and soul have always pulled me in — the spirit, the freedom, the way every note carries so much truth. It’s more than a genre; it’s a feeling, a conversation, a way of telling stories. I’ve always been drawn to the classics — the Great American Songbook, those timeless melodies that hold so much history and nostalgia, like a song you’ve known forever,” she said. “Violin was my first instrument, so I’ve always felt a deep connection to strings — the tenderness, the romance!”
It was particularly meaningful for Satch given her husband Daniel Mougerman composed and arranged the strings score, which the musician said brings “a whole new depth and richness to the music, elevating it in a way that feels deeply personal.”
Satch recalled falling in love with music the first time she heard Ella Fitzgerald’s voice. And ever since, it has been central to her very being.
“There was something effortless yet deeply felt in the way she sang – like she was speaking straight to my soul. Music has always been something I feel with my whole body. It moves you, shifts something inside, takes you somewhere else. For me, it’s always been more than sound; it’s a kind of spiritual practice,” she said.
This concept is reflected in Meet Me in the Garden. Satch lost both of her grandmothers while creating the album which she said was devastating. A couple of specific songs on the album helped her process.
“Writing Warrior Princess helped me process my grief, and Meet Me in the Garden was inspired by my Kabbalah studies, which brought me peace knowing we’ll one day reunite in the Garden of Eden,” she said. “The garden represents change, resilience, and the cycles we all go through — reminding us that even after the coldest winter, spring always comes. It’s about love, loss, and growth — how nothing stays the same, but something beautiful always finds a way through.”
Satch hopes that her music moves people, whether that means lifting them up, stirring something deep inside or bringing a moment of clarity.
“More than anything, I want to create connection,” she explained. “Music is energy, it carries something beyond words. Now more than ever, we need community, we need each other. If my song can hold space for someone, make them feel seen, or awaken something within them, that’s everything to me. As Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” That’s the magic of music.”
As part of the album’s launch, Satch will be playing a special acoustic performance, set amidst the lush beauty of Rippon Lea Estate. According to Satch, the music will be stripped back to its essence, revealing the deeply personal stories that inspired the album.
The event is family-friendly and will be held on the lawn by the lake, and attendees are invited to bring a picnic to share in an afternoon of music, connection and sunshine.
As final words to The AJN, Satch encouraged readers to support the arts, because at the end of the day, that’s what connects us to each other.
“Music, storytelling, creativity; they’re what bring us together, what make life richer. Go see a live gig, lose yourself in the moment, let it move you. It’ll make you feel alive.”
Rita Satch – An Intimate Acoustic Preview of Meet Me in The Garden is on February 16 from 12-1pm at Rippon Lea Gardens (by the lake). Free Garden Entry for Glen Eira & Port Philip Council Residents when your garden entry card is shown to staff at the main entrance
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