Budjerah: ‘Ed Sheeran told me you have to write 10,000 songs before you get a good one’
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22.01.2025

Budjerah: ‘Ed Sheeran told me you have to write 10,000 songs before you get a good one’

moonee valley festival
Words by Jake Fitzpatrick

The ARIA-award-winning musician is set to headline the 2025 Moonee Valley Festival on February 22.

Talking with Budjerah, the conversation flows like a natural back-and-forth, a friendly volley. For every question I ask, he fires one right back. On my Zoom screen, his face is instantly warm and approachable – one of the most polite, charming interviews I’ve had in a while.

“I’ve had a very good morning,” he tells me from his home in the Tweed Shire. “Made myself eggs on toast and the eggs didn’t stick to the pan.” Behind him, a shelf lined with an ARIA and a GQ Award adds a subtle touch of achievement to the otherwise relaxed scene.

Moonee Valley Festival

  • February 22
  • Queens Park
  • Lineup features Budjerah, Brian Nankervis, IVANA, Sugar Fed Leopards and more
  • Entry is free

Keep up with the latest music news, features, festivals, interviews and reviews here.

Naturally, I ask about them. “We moved in here and my Nan put up all my awards and pictures. I walked in one day and there were four pictures of me. I didn’t like them everywhere, so now she’s trying to balance it out with pictures of me and my cousins.”

True to his humble nature, Budjerah barely acknowledges the weight of the honours, though his family certainly has plenty of reason to be proud. From winning ARIA Awards to touring with Ed Sheeran, his trajectory has been anything but typical for a young artist.

It all started in the small town of Fingal Head, in the far northeast of New South Wales. “My dad was the assistant pastor,” he recalls. “My family were the band that did worship and praise every Sunday.” Music surrounded him from an early age: the sounds of Whitney Houston, Sam Cooke and the Clark Sisters. These artists, he says, still centre him today.

In his household, great singers were the norm. “My mum and aunties are amazing singers, like the Clark Sisters. There was a strong focus on soul and technical ability.” It was from imitating these influences that Budjerah’s passion for singing first took root. “I’d hear little bits, then try to replicate it myself. With Sam Cooke, I’d try to hit his high notes.”

When Budjerah turned 14, his dad began training him technically. Soon, he was singing outside the family, performing at local restaurants. “If you went to a restaurant in Fingal Head around 2017/18, you might’ve seen a little boy in the corner. That was me.”

Despite his undeniable talent, a career in music didn’t seem like a realistic option. His family didn’t have connections in the industry. But in 2018, a Warner Music Australia A&R scout discovered Budjerah on social media, leading to a record deal and a career that would soon begin to flourish.

Industry mentors quickly rallied around him, including Matt Corby, who became a key figure in Budjerah’s development. When I ask about their first meeting, Budjerah’s eyes light up. “I opened for him when I was 15. I remember sitting in the corner during soundcheck. When it was my turn, Matt came and watched from the side of the stage with his band. After that, we started writing and recording together.”

Despite his rising star power, Budjerah admits he doesn’t have a set songwriting process. “I’ve never written two songs the same. Each time is unique.” What he does commit to, though, is writing “a page a day of anything”.

He explains, “It’s just to keep my brain moving and stay in the habit of writing. Anything goes – usually a recap of the day. I imagine I’m writing a love letter sometimes, or once, I pretended I was Shakespeare. A lot of it’s trash, but Ed Sheeran told me, ‘You have to write 10,000 songs before you get a good one.’”

After a year spent recording new material, Budjerah is eager to hit the road again. His team has planned a series of festivals and one-off shows, including his headline performance at the free Moonee Valley Festival. “Everyone’s so excited to get there,” he says with palpable enthusiasm.

This year also marks the start of a new era for Budjerah. While he’s keeping details of his upcoming release close to his chest, he shares that his latest influences include Destiny’s Child, Steve Lacy, Rosalía and even ballet. 

For more information on the Moonee Valley Festival happening on February 22, head here.

This article was made in partnership with the City of Moonee Valley.