Photo credit: Elliott Lauren Ryan |
Set to commence his world tour in Australia this weekend, today Budjerah releases his highly anticipated second EP, Conversations via Warner Music Australia. The 20-year-old marks the release with his futuristic and resplendent new single Get Down. On Get Down, producer Matt Corby’s sparkling, glitched-out synths give way to one of Conversations’ most affecting songs, a sleek jam whose ebb-and-flow melody underscores lyrics about anxiously forging forward through one’s youth. “Get Down is about the idea that I’ve come so far now, I have to keep going, it’s too late to stop what I’m doing now,” Budjerah says. “If there’s a way, please show me how,” he sings on the track, a spiritual plea amidst a song suffused with an ultramodern atmosphere. “That song took a while to figure out, just because it was so different compared to what we’ve done before – but then, like one day, I think it just clicked.” On Conversations, Budjerah reunites with longtime producers Matt Corby and Chris Collins, as well as new collaborators MAY-A and Konstantin Kersting. The EP – which features previously released singles Talk with MAY-A, Wash My Sorrows Away and What Should I Do? – reveals a darker, sleeker sound for Budjerah, reflective of the changes that have occurred in his life. “These songs speak about the last year – about me figuring out what’s important.” Budjerah says. “This EP is about realising that this stuff that’s happening is good for me — I’ve learned and I actually have grown up a little bit since the first EP. It’s a lot of feeling — so much has happened and it’s been a lot to process at the same time, good stuff and bad stuff. Conversations is a way to understand those feelings,” he adds. In 2020, Australia was introduced to the spectacular voice of Budjerah: a new, homegrown R&B star. Possessing songwriting ingenuity and old-soul wisdom, it quickly became abundantly clear that, for a lot of us, Budjerah was the kind of figure we’d been missing. His acclaimed debut self-titled EP followed in 2021, he took home the Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist ARIA award from five nominations; performed coveted support slots with Thelma Plum, The Avalanches and Lime Cordiale, collaborated with dance music superstars PNAU and completed his first headline tour. Most recently, Budjerah was nominated for Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year and Most Performed R&B / Soul Work for Higher at the forthcoming 2022 APRA Music Awards. Starting his world tour in Australia this April, Budjerah will take the stage in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. He will then travel to the northern hemisphere for performances in Ireland, England, Germany, The Netherlands and France, before he switches continents to North America for shows in San Diego, Los Angeles and New York in May and June. He will also embark on a global run as special guest for Vance Joy, alongside performances at The Great Escape, Splendour in the Grass and A More Perfect Union. Budjerah is ready to charge forward, armed with a new set of songs that show off his range, his fire, and, of course, his gossamer, heart-wrenching voice. For full list of tour dates please visit https://www.budjerah.com/#tour UK TOUR DATES Presented by Lemon Tree Music Tickets on sale now via www.budjerah.com MAY 10th – London, Jazz Café (headline show) 13th – Brighton, The Great Escape 22nd – London, Koko (with Vance Joy) |