Budjerah

Budjerah Julum Slabb ( ; born 17 March 2002), known mononymously as Budjerah, is an Australian singer from Fingal Head, New South Wales. He is an Indigenous Australian Coodjinburra man from the Bundjalung nation.

His debut single "Missing You" was released in October 2020. Budjerah performed the track live for Australian live music program The Sound on 6 December 2020. After winning the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist award at the 2021 ARIA Awards, Budjerah went on to release his debut EP Conversations in April 2022 and launched his first-ever global tour.

In 2023, Budjerah, won the Artist of the Year award at the National Indigenous Music Awards.

Budjerah's debut studio album Gentleman was released on 24 July 2026.

Early life Budjerah Julum Slabb was born on 17 March 2002 in Fingal Head, located 5 kilometres south of the Queensland–New South Wales border in the Gold Coast–Tweed region. His parents are licensed pastors and he subsequently grew up singing gospel music in churches throughout his upbringing. Budjerah said "I grew up singing Sam Cooke and listening to gospel singers like The Clark Sisters. That's the kind of music that has been around since I was little." Along with performing in churches, Budjerah would regularly perform in venues on the Gold Coast such as Carrara Stadium in front of more than 18,000 people during a Gold Coast Suns' home game.

Career 2019–2021: Debut EP

In 2019, Budjerah auditioned for The Voice (Australian season 8), singing "Climb Every Mountain" but did not progress past the blind auditions. In September 2019, he uploaded the song "River Dry" onto Triple J Unearthed.

In March 2021, Apple Music announced Budjerah as its latest local Up Next artist, an initiative to identify and showcase rising talent from across Australia and New Zealand. Budjerah said "I'm really excited to be included in Up Next Local on Apple Music for my brand new EP which I wrote with Matt Corby at his studio just down the road from my house. The songs are about different times in my life and all the different emotions that I feel."

His self-titled debut EP was released on 26 March 2021. In May 2021, Budjerah released Budjerah (Live At Rainbow Valley) which was recorded at Matt Corby's titular studio and features a live rendition of each of the four tracks on Budjerah's self-titled debut EP. In addition to Corby, fellow artists Ngaiire, Ainslie Wills, JK-47 and Stevan feature on the new EP. In August 2021, a limited edition CD of the self-titled EP was released. At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, Budjerah won the ARIA Award for Breakthrough Artist – Release.

On 26 November 2021, Budjerah released "Wash My Sorrows Away". His single "Ready for the Sky" was released in July 2022 has been dubbed "irresistibly smooth" and "a warm slice of soul" He was invited to perform at the AFL Grand Final in September 2022.

Budjerah supported Ed Sheeran on his 2023 Australian tour. In February 2023, Budjerah released "Therapy". About the track, Budjerah said "Therapy can come in many forms, but taking a step back and getting an outside perspective is something that has helped me." Budjerah also released single "Video Game" with the lyrics co-written by Meg Mac, Matt Corby, and Chris Collins. Many songs were written with Corby, that would have made up Budjerah's debut studio album, before being scrapped. In 2026 Budjerah explained, "It never came out because we just didn't get the time to develop it or grow because I was doing two, three shows a week.I was in the studio and was showing up late or popping out because I had to do interviews. It felt like we were making the album here and there. I didn't really get to sit in one place and develop it."

In June 2023, Budjerah released a cover of Crowded House's "Better Be Home Soon" with WILSN, as part of Mushroom Records' 50th anniversary celebration.

On 9 January 2025, Budjerah played his first show for the year at AJ2025 (Australian Scout Jamborees) which he played many songs like "Stranger Love" and "2 Step" as well as some covers such as "Valarie" and "Proud Mary". The performance ended with Budjerah's original song, "Therapy".

2026: Gentleman In March 2026, Budjerah announced his debut studio album, Gentleman, which was released on 24 July 2026. The pair married on 4 June at Pioneer Country, Tweed Heads South.

Released: 24 July 2026 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 14

Extended plays +List of EPs, with release date and label shown Title EP details Peak chart positions AUS Budjerah Released: 26 March 2021 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 72 Budjerah (Live at Rainbow Valley) Released: 14 May 2021 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: Digital download, streaming Conversations Released: 8 April 2022 "Missing You" 2020 — Budjerah "Higher" 2021 — "Stranger Love" 34 "Talk" — Conversations "Wash My Sorrows Away" — "What Should I Do?" — "Ready for the Sky" — "Sweet Disposition" — "Who Would Imagine a King" — "Therapy" "Video Game" — "Is It Ever Gonna Make Sense" 2024 — "Want You Back" 2025 — Gentleman "Gentleman" — "Even At My Worst" — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

As featured artist +List of singles, with year released and album name shown Year Title Album 2023 "Heavy Love" Ribena

Other appearances + List of other non-single song appearances Title Year Album "The Way" 2023 Faraway Downs (Soundtrack) "Better Be Home Soon" 2021 "Higher" Mick Soiza "Stranger Love" (with PNAU) Tyler Hinde "Talk" (with May-a) Bourtney Crookes "Get Down" Tatjana Hamilton "Ready for the Sky" (Live at Bakehouse Studios) Michael Ridley 2023 "Therapy" Murli Dhir "Video Game" "Heavy Love" (KYE featuring Budjerah) "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"(featuring Amazon Playmakers) 2024 "Is It Ever Gonna Make Sense" 2025 "Want You Back" 2026 "Gentleman"

Awards and nominations AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. 2022 "Stranger Love" (with PNAU) Best Independent Dance, Electronica or Club Single APRA Awards The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually.

Budjerah Slabb Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Most Performed R&B/Soul Work of the Year Song of the Year

"Ready for the Sky" (Budjerah, Ainslie Wills) Song of the Year Budjerah Slabb Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

Song of the Year

"Therapy" (Sarah Aarons, Ajay Bhattacharyya)

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual ceremony presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

Best Solo Artist

Best Soul/R&B Release The Conversations Australian Tour Best Australian Live Act Dann Hume & Eric J Dubowsky for Budjerah – Conversations Mix Engineer – Best Mixed Album

"2step" by Ed Sheeran (featuring Budjerah) Best Solo Artist

Best Pop Release Song of the Year Murli Dhir and Made In Katana Studios for Budjerah – "Therapy" Best Video Budjerah Australian Tour Best Australian Live Act 2024 "Is It Ever Gonna Make Sense" Best Video

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

Himself New Artist of the Year

Himself Artist of the Year

"Therapy" Song of the Year "Therapy" Film Clip of the Year

Himself Artist of the Year

"Video Game" Song of the Year

National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

Budjerah Best R&B or Soul Act

Budjerah Best Live Voice in NSW Rolling Stone Australia Awards The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.

"Ready for the Sky" Best Single

Budjerah Best New Artist 2024 "Therapy" Best Single Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009. 2022 "Ready for the Sky" Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition