Spotlight on Our Friends: Jungaji

A conversation with Troy Brady (JUNGAJI)

Introduce yourself!

My name is Jungaji. I’m a GuGu Yalanji & Birrigubba man from the regions of Far North Queensland and I currently live here in Magandjin, Brisbane. I’m a creative, multidisciplinary artist within many creative landscapes. I talk to the mental health and social justice space.

I’m very passionate about the advancement of the First Nations people, but also the advancement of us as a nation. Using music and many different creative fields as tools to further enhance that dialogue and those conversations is of most importance to me, in terms of what legacy we leave for the future generations.

You’re in the studio currently recording your new album. What can you tell us about this highly anticipated release?

This debut album is incredibly dear and precious to me. The songs in my album are all elements and fragments of my life that I’ve been carrying along and wanting to share. Some of those songs were written seven, eight years ago, and the fact that we’ve now brought them alive is incredible. I think all of the songs, in their own way, shapes and forms are very special—they’re very meaningful.

‘Kalkuur,’ in particular, is a song that I’m extremely excited about. What Christa and John (TOPOLOGY) did with that song is very ethereal and takes you into the heavens! To have Christa come in and lay all of those beautiful strings was just what the doctor had ordered in terms of me properly dreaming up how I thought that song would sound in the studio. It was beautiful, and it’s an indication of good things to come.

In addition to being a fabulous singer/songwriter, you’re also a talented playwright! Can you tell us about your new work in development, ‘Betting On Blak’?

Betting on Blak is art imitating life, life imitating art. It’s a polarising landscape of my story and the different routes of life you take. It’s about taking self-responsibility, self-reliance and actually believing in your potential as a Black man.

Every morning, you wake up and see the scars. It’s a reminder: ‘Yes, I have these scars, but I’m okay with that. I know where I’ve been, but I know where I want to go.’ That’s what Betting on Blak represents and celebrates.

I unpack it to a certain degree up on stage, and to see it manifest and unfold during the first reading at QPAC was quite surreal. There were many ‘pinch myself’ moments when the performers were acting out all of this stuff that was within me. To have the opportunity to speak to those somewhat sensitive spaces in terms of mental health and identity, as a modern Aboriginal person within the matrix of this society? Yeah, I think that’s what that is about.

As I said at the end of the reading though, this is not just my story; it’s OUR story. The story of how we respond when things are tough, when we’re confronted with our vices or things that we know are going to bring out the weakness within us. Once we work through those challenges though, there is strength and standing in that power. You’ve just gotta work for it.

You were involved in the cross-cultural ‘Looking Forward, Looking Back’ project earlier this year. Do you have a standout moment from the event?

Singing with artists like the Black Image Band, the Briscoe Sisters, Emma Donovan, and others was a definite highlight. But in particular, singing ‘Shadows On The Hill’ with Jem Cassar-Daley. It is her father’s song and I was nervous because that’s such a moving piece. And I wanted to perform it not only for my brother Troy, but for the family and for the Ancestors. It felt deadly. I look forward to working in that space many more times.

What’s in store for you next year?

Along with the release of my debut album ‘Betting on Blak’ next year, I will be back in the studio to record another album, which Topology will be heavily featured on. There have been a lot of exciting conversations about joining forces with Topology in the future. What I can share with you is that we’ve been finessing and fine tuning a performance for 2025, tailored toward Topology’s audience and my community—putting together a show that tells a beautiful story.

There’s many different creative spaces and landscapes that I’m looking forward to investing more oxygen and energy into next year. I can’t wait to share those songs and ceremonies with you.

And finally, what would you say to someone considering a career in music?

Be truthful within oneself; don’t be anyone but yourself. When you project from your heart and remain truly authentic, you can’t go wrong. And remember to always surround yourself with good, honest people.