As he nears the release of his debut album, 'Betting On Blak', Jungaji shares another taste from the record, the highly emotive and beautiful 'Kalkurr' that features his youngest son, Dean Brady.
Sung in Gugu Yalanji language, which originates from southern Cape York, 'Kalkurr' means 'the road' and finds Jungaji – a Western Gugu Yalanji and Birrigubba songman – navigating deeply personal heartache and tragedy to question the meaning of life.With 'Betting On Blak' to be released next month (13 June), 'Kalkurr' follows previous album singles 'River Girl', 'Wakka Wakka Woman', the title track and 'Gummy Bamarra' – the latter winning Jungaji a 2025 Queensland Music Award (World Award).
The song's empowering lyrics are enriched by a stirring piano line that introduces 'Kalkurr' with Topology's Christa Powell adding elegant strings, the emotion already overflowing as Dean's mesmerising vocals hypnotise, Jungaji harmonising beautifully with his son, their Gugu Yalanji language deepening the song's soaring mood, proving again music is the universal language.
When the rhythm section and guitar kick in, the hairs will be standing erect on the back of your neck/ arms, a wave of heartfelt gospel breaking over your senses, the passion seeping into a well of gorgeous R&B-soul, those goosebumps remaining staunch as your heart connects to the stirring message Jungaji and Dean present.
"Singing in the old language transcends space and time whilst coexisting within the matrix of these modern times," offers Jungaji.
Ahead of the song's release tomorrow (9 May), today scenestr is thrilled to premiere the 'Kalkurr' music video. Enjoy.
"The song was born from a place of hardship that defined my true character and identity, and a new appreciation of life albeit the good and bad of life's challenges," adds Jungaji.
"It exemplifies the struggles through a musical landscape of colours that celebrate my love of harmonies and melodies, interwoven with the old Gugu Yalanji language makes for an appetising taste on the musical palate."
Jungaji's music journey spans more than 30 years, from the '90s R&B of his Inala vocal group Aim 4 More, to a profound cultural rebirth inspiring his solo career.
"To share this beautiful ceremony with my son," he says, "truly nourishes my heart in that despite the harrowing roads travelled, we are still able to remain aligned within our cultural truths and responsibilities no matter the many destinations we arrive at."
With national tour dates to be announced, next month Jungaji will perform a trio of SE Queensland shows in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast as well as appearing at Savannah In The Round in FNQ joining the likes of Zac Brown Band, Jackson Dean and Kasey Chambers.
"I have written this song ['Kalkurr'] from a place of being lost within the road of life and trying to find my way. I'm speaking to God, I am speaking to nganjan (heavenly father), and speaking to those we have lost who are wawunyor (high spirits), trying to make sense of life when it gets hard and to ensure that I make the right decisions.
"Interweave that within a landscape of music and melody, it's a beautiful gift that comes from a dark place but to find the light throughout that process is what this song means to me. I had to live hard, really, really hard to find the essence of what and who Jungaji is. It's a beautiful number to sing and to gift the world."
Jungaji 2025 Tour Dates
Fri 13 Jun - Brisbane PowerhouseSat 14 Jun - The Presynct (Sunshine Coast)
Sun 15 Jun - Mo's Desert Clubhouse (Gold Coast)
9-12 Oct - Savannah In The Round (Cairns Hinterland)
