Jungaji continues to shine with new music, theatre project and industry recognition

Joseph Guenzler Published October 12, 2024 at 8.00am (AWST)

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Jungaji has earned recognition with new music, theatre projects, and major industry accolades. (Image: Supplied)

Kuku Yalanji and Birri Gubba man Jungaji, formerly known as Troy Brady, continues to make waves with his blend of music, storytelling, and community-driven projects.

Following the success of his recent single "Gummy Bamarra," which has attracted more than 250,000 streams and 75,000 video views, Jungaji continues to build on a career spanning decades in the music industry.

His work, combining both cultural and personal narratives, has earned him widespread recognition, including industry accolades such as QPAC's Ignition Playwright program, the Queensland Arts Showcase Program, the APRA AMCOS Natismo Lifecycle Recording Grant, and a Creative Australia Fellowship (Arts & Disability).

Jungaji will join the 2024 Ignition Playwright program at QPAC's PlayLab Theatre, where he will develop "Betting On Blak," a theatre production about his life.

The production revisits his teenage years in the 90s as a member of the R&B group Aim 4 More from Inala, Meeanjin, and his 30-year music career.

"It honestly feels like a 30-year apprenticeship," Jungaji said.

"It's a rebirth, I really feel like a musical chameleon within the many creative changes and more lows than highs but the ancient fires within were always burning strong and to be still standing is nothing short of a miracle.

"I'm grateful and humbled and to empower others within the musical and broader communities is truly a blessing."

Over the past year Jungaji has been releasing singles from his debut solo album, "Betting On Blak," set for release in early 2025, with singles and videos supported by the Queensland Arts Support Program.

His next project, "Fatherhood," backed by the APRA AMCOS Natismo Lifecycle Recording Grant, will feature collaborations with First Nations and non-Indigenous songwriters, his band, and the Topology collective.

In recognition of his contributions to music and community workshops, Jungaji was recently named one of ten recipients of Creative Australia's Creative Fellowship (Arts & Disability).

Jungaji's next single, "Adore," will be released on 18 October.