Prolific Brisbane-based performer Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers has passed away after a battle with triple negative breast cancer.
The ‘Hot Brown Honey’ Co-Founder, Musical Director, Composer and Sound Artist was diagnosed in late 2022.
Kim spent more than 25 years in the entertainment industry, spreading messages of truth, courage, resistance, and love through her art.
In 2019, Kim was a panelist at the Australian Women In Music Awards ‘IMAGE MAKING – The Changing Face Of Music’ panel, where she joined others in a discussion about promoting a positive image of women in the music industry.
In August 2023, Polytoxic and Hot Brown Honey held ‘A Night For The Queen’ in Brisbane, to celebrate the talented performer, who was at the forefront of an arts movement which celebrated those who came before us and exploded stereotypes through acts of radical, fierce love.
In late March, a living wake was held for Kim – an opportunity for those closest to her to celebrate her life and share memories, appreciation, and farewells, with Kim in attendance.
Songwriter Deb Suckling, who worked alongside Kim in songwriting workshops with at-risk young people, reflects: “Kim and I met in 2015, when we were kind of put together for a project called ‘The Hope CD’, and her and I worked together with a bunch of kids, and young women whose parents were incarcerated,” Deb says. “We did a tonne of workshops together with young people whose parents were incarcerated, and that was with [multidisciplinary artist] Hope One.”
“For me personally, it was just mind-blowing in terms of Busty’s energy, and her ability to just make people feel safe. She taught me how to acknowledge so many different people’s circumstances. She taught me to sit in the grit. And to not be scared about listening to trauma.”
Beyond being a strong presence in many people’s lives, it seems Kim was also, perhaps inadvertently, a wonderful teacher.
Kim’s personal friend Denise Foley adds, “Busty Beatz is a friend of mine, whom I greatly admire and respect. . . For the living example that she has given us, about how to be in community. The love, and the obligation that it takes to care for each other. That’s what she taught me.”
MY COMMUNITY - by Kim ‘Busty Beatz’ Bowers
We should all have death parties like the ancient ones did. Dance and scream and feel ourselves. Cry and howl and rage. Remember who we are. None of this going quietly, quickly gone. Hidden in pretended stuffiness - No way! We move through our beauty, celebrate the imperfection of this humanity. Live in our silliness and our sacredness in what is known as the artistry. Breathe in our continuity. We go with ritual and power and sadness and joy and laughter and palava like the cream whipped to crown the pavlova
It was Tupac who said “I’m a reflection of my community”
So here I am. Filled with Agency and self determination. My story is our story. Complete proclamation! The Belonging from which the heartbeat arises. Our Voices, our lived experience and the contexts in all shape and sizes
So I get to say with artistic recognition, rightful attribution - To all who hold, display, present, publish or otherwise make use of this creative work ensure appropriate credit be taken by My community. This is not optional. It is an act of respect, cultural integrity and stewardship. We are the legacy. I stand before you to honour the labour, lineage and creative contribution ensuring we are recognised and protected. We are legendary!
Not to say we are not without our conflict. We don’t have to pretend we like each other on the daily. Sparks do fly. We annoy each other. Speaking Tranformativily. But as we know, conflict is the work. And it’s hard work. To work through the hurt. Where healing is outcome
We here to sing our song and how we go with the ebbs and flows, committed to grow expediently in love, care, healing, trust and safety
My Community - here to honour the stories, the histories and identities of those who have been silenced and erased or misrepresented
Created to challenge invisibility
My Community - where Joy is resistance, Radical Fierce Love is the persistence, not decorative, it is a methodology - an ethos that insists on humour, spectacle, music, quiet moments and intensity
My Community - Not as entertainment alone but as reclamation and liberation, freedom calls for longevity - we are the latest models of our ancestry. Gifted to remember accessibility, visibility and useful for future generations because my community will never be sold or used to exploit. We are amplified. We are our own check point. We carry the Herstory of our resistance and our responsibility we hold with care, context and respect. We are every possibility!
In the words of Audre Lorde -
“I want to live the rest of my life, however long or short, with as much sweetness as I can decently manage, loving all the people I love, and doing as much as I can of the work I still have to do. I am going to write fire until it comes out of my ears, my eyes, my noseholes - everywhere. Until it's every breath I breathe. I'm going to go out like a fucking meteor!”
Grounded Here
Surrounded by grief, peace, music, humour, love and joy in a space that feels safe, true and familiar
We make mother loving noise!
Feeling earth and memories to hold space in our alliance
Let there be gentle conversation, laughter or silence
Whatever the moment calls for
alive with kindness
care that feels human
Symbols of creativity that remind us
of a life lived and the people who love to praise all parts
Body mind and spirit treated with dignity
Physically touched and heart felt heart
These final moments of live led carry the same rhythm as this eulogy
love truth joy creativity and connection
the art of life to honour
My Community
