Budjerah's Debut Album 'Gentleman' Arrives After a Four Year Creative Journey
Coodjinburra singer songwriter Budjerah has released his debut album Gentleman, a project four years in the making that reflects his evolution as an artist and performer. The two time ARIA Award winner, now 24, described the extended timeline as unusual even by music industry standards.
“I think even by music industry norms, four years is a long time to get that many songs together,” Budjerah told the ABC from his family home in Fingal Head, New South Wales. “I think I’ve written maybe three albums in the meantime separate from just these 11 tracks, and it started in 2022; I’d won two ARIAs and I really wanted to make an album. I didn’t feel creatively satisfied, just having these little short bursts of creativity with the EPs.”
A Deliberate Path to the Debut
Budjerah spent a month writing extensively with Australian singer songwriter Matt Corby for what was intended to be his debut album. Only one track from those sessions, Video Game, was released in July 2023. The same year, Budjerah toured as the support act for Ed Sheeran’s Australian leg of the Mathematics tour, coinciding with the release of his hit single Therapy in February 2023.
“So, I was on tour, and I was doing two to three shows a week for a year, and then more after that, and I didn’t get the time to actually finish the songs, or work on any more songs, because it was all go, go, go, go, go, we need to boost this one song,” he said.
The Sound and Story of 'Gentleman'
Produced by Grammy Award winner Om’Mas Keith, known for work with Frank Ocean and Jay Z, Gentleman draws on the R&B and pop influences Budjerah grew up with. The first single, Want You Back, caught the attention of Elton John, who played it on his Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music. Budjerah stayed up late to hear it, a full circle moment given The Lion King is his favourite film.
The title track channels the energy of James Brown, a favourite of Budjerah’s uncles and grandfather. “I felt like it was a fun way to play up the performance aspect of what I do, because everything I do is about the performance,” he said. “When I’m in the studio, I think about how the song is going to be interpreted live.”
Budjerah collaborated with legendary songwriter Diane Warren on Even at My Worst. “She’s one of my songwriting heroes,” he said. “And so, getting to meet her, and then getting to sing one of her songs was just a once in a lifetime experience for me.”
Two tracks, Hard Time and Sinner, felt counterintuitive to Budjerah, who was raised in church by parents who were both musicians and pastors. “I thought it was funny, being a little gospel singer from Fingal Head given the song called Sinner,” he said. “And then a song called Hard Time, a lot of Aboriginal people do a bit of a hard time. So, I thought it was a bit of an odd topic, but my dad said, ‘do both if you have enough time’. My dad just said, ‘those two songs are perfect’. They weren’t the obvious picks for me, but we just had fun with them, and I really enjoyed singing both of them. They fit really well for my voice.”
Faith and Family as Foundations
Speaking from the house he grew up in, Budjerah held up his Bible when asked if he still carried one. “I always keep it with me,” he said. “Usually, some hotels and motels have a Bible in the drawer, but not all the time, and sometimes it’s just something that I need. So, I carry it with me, and I read it, and my faith has been something that’s been really helpful and important to me, especially when I’m on the road and travelling so much, it keeps me together.”
Born Budjerah Julum Slabb, he is from the small coastal village of Fingal Head in far north eastern NSW. “I had a very fun childhood,” he said. “I enjoyed the music, a very loving family, and some people have a hard time, like, other pastor’s kids that I know, but I’ve been very blessed that I’ve had super supportive parents and family. I got to be a kid, I got to listen to good music, I got to go surfing.”
Budjerah, the eldest of four, still attends church on Sundays. “My grandfather, he goes to a church across the river that I go to, and I try to sneak in, but … I end up singing a song almost every time.”
From 'The Voice' Rejection to ARIA Success
Budjerah first appeared on The Voice as a 16 year old. Despite a standing ovation from the audience, no judge turned their chair. “It was a pretty wild experience, especially for a 16 year old,” he said. “I felt like my whole dream was just crushed. But [I] always remember Kelly Rowland just telling me, just keep singing, just keep singing. And it’ll work out. When it’s meant to happen, it’ll happen.”
He also auditioned unsuccessfully for the role of Malakai in the Netflix series Heartbreak High. “Thomas Weatherall got the role. I didn’t get the role,” Budjerah said. “So, I think it’s really cool that I still get to be in the show somehow, with my music in there [on the soundtrack].” He still has ambitions to act. “I write songs as well, so, I guess my personal dream is to be the ultimate entertainer, so I spend a lot of time practising my dances and singing every day, and dancing every day, and acting. What got me into performing was doing the school musicals and school plays. So, I always thought maybe one day I’d come back to acting.”
Tour Dates and Album Release
Budjerah is embarking on a tour to support Gentleman. The official tour kicks off in Melbourne on October 31, then moves to Anglesea in Victoria, Sydney, and the Gold Coast, before wrapping up in Brisbane on Saturday, November 21.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Budjerah release his debut album?
Budjerah released his debut album Gentleman in July 2026, four years after winning his first ARIA Awards.
Who produced Budjerah's album 'Gentleman'?
The album was produced by Grammy Award winner Om’Mas Keith, known for his work with Frank Ocean and Jay Z.
What is Budjerah's background?
Budjerah, born Budjerah Julum Slabb, is a Coodjinburra singer songwriter from Fingal Head, NSW. He was raised in church by parents who were both musicians and pastors.
Did Budjerah get rejected on 'The Voice'?
Yes, at age 16, Budjerah auditioned for The Voice and received a standing ovation from the audience, but no judge turned their chair. He later won two ARIA Awards.
Featured image: Budjerah performing. Photo: Australian Broadcasting Corporation