Kabi Kabi, Gooreng Gooreng and South Sea Islander artist Keely has released her second album, 'SCORPIO SZN', exploring love, survival and personal transformation through eight powerful tracks.
Released on Friday, November 6, her birthday, the album brings together R&B, neo-soul and contemporary jazz influences following three years of development.
Keely described the experiences that shaped the album in her artist statement.
"SCORPIO SZN was born in that awkward but beautiful space between survival and becoming," she said.
"Drawing on ancestral strength and wisdom, this record honours the love that helped shape me, the experiences that continue to refine me, and the freedom to keep becoming long into the future."
In an interview with National Indigenous Times, Keely discussed her upbringing, connection to Country and the changing role music has played throughout her life.
Following her debut, increased industry attention opened opportunities to collaborate with established producers through songwriting camps and development programs.
These experiences helped her progress from home recordings and YouTube beats towards a more developed production style.
Her personal life also underwent significant changes, including therapy and a greater understanding of herself following autism and ADHD diagnoses.
Keely reflected on how these experiences changed her relationship with music.
"Music moved from being a way to process and express my emotions," she told this publication.
"While it's still that a little bit, it's now becoming something that I can just do for joy, which I think is a much more freeing process."
The album features contributions from Vetta Borne, James Angus, M-Phazes, Hauskey, Alice Ivy, Brooke Toia, Logan Priest and Mo'Ju.
Its opening track, 'Ancient Blood', was released ahead of the album and received airplay on Sydney's FBi Radio.
Another track, 'SOULINLOVE', emerged from an APRA AMCOS SongHubs residency, drawing on an emotional reunion with a former partner.
The album closes with 'Light Shine Bright', featuring a sample from the 1955 recording 'Rhythm of Corroboree', performed by pioneering Aboriginal duo Olive McGuiness and Eva Bell.
An ode to Palestine, the song explores intergenerational trauma, resistance and connections between First Nations peoples experiencing colonial oppression.
Keely discovered the recording while researching music before bringing the sample to producer James Angus.
She recalled how the lyrics developed during the creative process.
"I listened to it once and then all these words just started pouring out of me," she said.
"I was just writing pretty much freestyle top to bottom on the whole track."
Despite the album's polished production, Keely hopes audiences take time to understand the stories behind the music.
She reflected on the expectations placed on First Nations musicians.
"As a Black artist in this country, there's a lot of pressure to produce music that sounds a certain way," she said.
"I really do hope people spend a bit more time with the lyrics and see that there is a bit of a storyline that travels through from start to finish."
In an Instagram post, she created a series of affirmations associated with each track on the project, offering listeners a chance to connect on a deeper level.
View this post on Instagram
An extended digital deluxe edition featuring a lyric booklet and bonus interludes is available through Bandcamp.
Keely will celebrate the release at Outer Space in Fortitude Valley (Magandjin / Brisbane) on November 21, performing alongside guitarist Sarah Koppen beneath her 'Murin-Murin' constellation installation.
Doors open at 6pm, with the performance beginning at 6.55pm.
Tickets are $30, with Indigenous attendees invited to pay what they can through Humanitix.
'SCORPIO SZN' is available now on all major streaming platforms and Bandcamp.
