Budjerah certainly comes across as a Gentleman, which makes this album title apt.
We’ve hearted him since his so-humble, tearful ARIAs acceptance speech (for Breakthrough Artist back in 2021), during which Budjerah acknowledged, “Oh, I didn’t expect to cry, but I’m crying and I sound weird”.
For his polished debut record, Budjerah worked with heavyweight songwriters/producers who have previously worked with the likes of Kylie, Jon Baptiste, Ne-Yo and Bruno Mars, and it shows.
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“Tonight you’re in the hands of a gentleman…” – with its suave bass, cowbell accents and elastic vocal lines, the opening title track is funky like Prince. Budjerah brings the heat to a spoken-word segment; we didn’t think he had it in him – prepare to blush!
Budjerah looks like a matinee idol, has collabed with Ed Sheeran and opened for Kylie. Furthermore, his vocals are pristine and untouchable, with the correct vibrato ratio (think: Pharrell-level awesomeness).
The ’70s soul/R&B-inspired Could I Be, which captures the exact moment you realise you’ve fallen in love, shows off Budjerah’s super-smooth falsetto. Heavenly strings usher in the gospel-tinged Sinner, which is elevated by crisp fingersnaps and honeyed harmonies.
“Without you/ How am I supposed to make it through?/ ‘Cause living without you/ Feels like doin’ hard time” – Hard Time’s catchy chorus drips with heartsickness.
Elsewhere, “I don’t want to…” Want You Back captures that specific sense of longing, I Only Remember Your Name touches on reggae and the classy Lonely deserves top hat-and-cane routine.
We’re totally here for Budjerah’s respectful-yet-sexy Gentleman era.
Label: Warner · Release: 24 July
Dive into the full record at budjerah.com.
