Jarred Wall is keeping a secret, and he plans on holding it until the curtain rises at Albany Entertainment Centre in October.
The Noongar singer-songwriter, who performs as Boox Kid and whose family ties run to Wadarndi Bibbulmun Country in Western Australia's south west, has composed his first score.
The Song Catchers, a new work from West Australian Opera and Breaksea, premieres on Friday 23 October as part of Albany 2026 marking the bicentenary of the British colonisation of Western Australia.
It is a whole new work, a story shaped through consultations with Menang Noongar Elders Aunty Eliza Woods, Aunty Glenda Williams and Uncle Larry Blight. Mr Wall participated in those conversations before he wrote a note.
"I was involved in the community consultations, discussions with Elders, to understand what was important for Mob," Mr Wall said.
"It's about caring for Country, recognition for the wrongs in the past and how colonisation has impacted the community and there's some references to the Stolen Generations. There are concepts in the story referencing those points in history.
"It's a work that really talks to reconciliation and how important Country is, and the damage and harm caused when you don't look after it."
Mr Wall said he is likely to be on stage.
"I'm singing a lot of songs that I wrote, singing off stage, and playing a character myself, but that's all I'll say, it's a surprise," Mr Wall said.
The Song Catchers follows Tipu, a young fox trained to capture the living songs of animals to power the city of Hillside, and his friend Marri, an echidna whose secret song Tipu betrays. Forced to flee, the pair journey through the Albany bush to the mythical Listening Tree, a place where lost voices can grow again.
The songs came together around a script and direction from Breaksea Artistic Director Matt Reuben James Ward, who grew up in Albany and wrote the libretto.
"The concept of the story is told through animals. I'm hoping we've captured the essence of what the Elders and young people have told us," said the 41-year-old.
"I'm proud to bring it together and finish a body of work, my first score. I worked with Matt around some of the dialogue and lyrics to ensure we told the stories correctly.
"I'm proud to create really cool melodies, there's the influence of my Boox Kid genre, you'll hear elements of my style."
Named WA Vocalist of the Year at the 2025 WA Music Awards, Mr Wall sang lead roles in West Australian Opera's first Noongar language operas, Koolbardi Wer Wardong and Wundig Wer Wilura. As Boox Kid, he has passed 300,000 Spotify streams and supported Electric Fields at Perth Festival in 2025.
A week after The Song Catchers, Boox Kid opens for G Flip at 3 Oceans Winery in Margaret River on 31 October, part of the Here Comes The Sun festival.
In Albany, he shares the stage with Jarrad Inman as Marri, Gina Williams-Ghouse and Rachelle Durkin, with animation by Sohan Ariel Hayes projected around the live performers.
"Think of The Song Catchers like a film with live singing and characters on stage," Mr Wall said.
"It's moving and touching, sad in parts, some comedic relief, a bit of everything for everyone. It's really accessible, something the whole family can enjoy together."
West Australian Opera and Breaksea, he said, try to have as much Mob within the program as possible.
"There's been a lot of diligence on their part to recognise culture and intellectual property. It's nice to work with organisations that value those things," he said.
The Song Catchers plays Albany Entertainment Centre on 23 and 24 October, with 11am and 6pm performances each day. For more information and tickets, visit waopera.asn.au.
