Reflecting On Music & History: Bumpy & Flewnt Share Sneak Peeks Into Their Vivid LIVE Sets

Two impressive Australian artists, Bumpy and Flewnt, are preparing for epic sets at Sydney’s Vivid LIVE. To commemorate the occasion, the pair have interviewed each other for Purple Sneakers.

Bumpy performed at last year’s Vivid as part of Astral People’s anniversary celebrations, but this time, she’s making her headline solo debut at the Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Room. Last year, she dropped her EP Morning Sun, which saw her win the New Talent of the Year award at the NIMAs and Best Soul, Funk, R&B & Gospel work at the Music Victoria Awards. 

Meanwhile, Flewnt will make his Vivid LIVE debut in a set developed to highlight the country’s incredible hip-hop community. Flewnt, one of the West Coast’s freshest MCs, will accompany his son, young musician INKABEE, and Tasman Keith.

Ahead of their performances at Sydney Opera House’s Utzon Room on 31 May (Bumpy) and 1 June (Flewnt, Inkabee and Tasman Keith), Bumpy and Flewnt discuss their journeys in music, what performing in the Sydney Opera House means to them, and what comes next for Purple Sneakers.

BUMPY INTERVIEWS FLEWNT

BUMPY: OPERA HOUSE MY BROTHER!? Very proud to see so many mob filling out those walls with our stories. Can you give us a little hint into what kind of show you'll be presenting for VIVID LIVE?

FLEWNT: Yes, Opera House, crazy! Such an iconic spot to be performing, and I guess what we’re going to play is rooted in family, legacy and culture – like most hip-hop – and obviously bringing all that energy to kill it on stage.

BUMPY: You've been travelling around and playing some big venues. Do you have any practices or rituals you use to stay grounded on tour and pre-show?

FLEWNT: Before shows, our practice and rituals are mostly just chilling and zoning out—kind of keeping it quiet and focussing on what needs to be done on stage.

BUMPY: Any dream collaborations? 

FLEWNT: I guess I’ve been pretty lucky to collaborate with a lot of my heroes already, including my family, and to me, they are all the greatest collaborations. But I mean, I would love to do something with J Cole one day – that would be incredible.

BUMPY: You and Inkabee are taking the industry by storm. It is incredibly inspiring for us all. I can't even imagine how proud you feel to travel and perform together. Can you share one of your favourite moments or memories on stage together?

FLEWNT: The greatest memory of performing with INKABEE would have to be at our Boorloo Block Party event when he debuted and walked out on stage for the first time. The crowd wasn’t sure if he’d come out. I remember when he walked out on stage, everyone went crazy, and we did a back-and-forth. It was such a special moment.

BUMPY: What advice do you have for emerging MCs and our young artists who want to fill the stages and use their voices for change?

FLEWNT: I guess for young artists, just keep working on your craft and learn to perform live. It’s really important because the industry is changing so much and a good live performer can really stand out amongst everybody. Know that there‘s a journey and it takes a long time, and don’t expect to blow up just off the spot. Work on your craft and make your music really good.

FLEWNT INTERVIEWS BUMPY

FLEWNT: You have amazing storytelling in your music, sis. How do you approach crafting narratives into your songs? What themes are you most drawn to?

BUMPY: Thank you, brother. I love to use writing as a tool to help me navigate, understand and heal. It feels like one of the safest places to explore myself while empowering me to do so. So I guess my song writing often acts as time stamps and tells stories of my personal experiences.

FLEWNT: Technology is constantly changing the music industry with the rise of AI and such. What are your thoughts on this, and do you incorporate new tech when making music?

BUMPY: Honestly, and for me personally, I still prefer the acoustic route. I love to collaborate, write on instruments, yarn to my band and family and create from a point of stillness. Nothing feels better than belting out a big old ballad while playing the piano. I love to collaborate with people who explore those worlds as it feels quite far from my wheelhouse. But I think nothing beats a room full of mates jamming, and that’s always my preference when writing and producing music. I struggle with tech enough as it is, haha.

FLEWNT: What role does music play in social change? Especially for First Nations people?

BUMPY: I think art never shies from reflecting and sharing the truth of the times we are living in. It’s one of the most accessible ways we can share a message and push for change. I think for mob in the industry, we are always viewed as political because our mere existence is made to be, which is often tricky to navigate because, for us, it’s never as simple as releasing a bop. 

Our identity and values are always questioned regardless of the content we release. This is a powerful platform for open discussion, but it can also be harmful, as these conversations aren’t always held in the safest places. I could honestly reflect on this question for ages, but I believe art is always at the forefront of social change.

FLEWNT: On this crazy journey of being an artist, what achievement are you most proud of?

BUMPY: Playing at Meredith Music Festival was my dream come true. That was the gig I used to joke about while attending that I’d probably quit music after playing it. I never thought this lil Noongar girl would be performing up on that stage. 10 years of dreaming and it happened! Dream band, dream collaboration with Remuse Designs X Ikuntji Artists for our fits, and dream time slot performing after our dear friend Watty Thompson. After that show, I had a full-on crisis, thinking, wow, I need to make new dreams.. and now I’m back (promise I’m not quitting) with new goals on the horizon! 

FLEWNT: What's next for you – music, shows, or other forms of art?

BUMPY: Over the past ten months, I’ve been the First Nations Artist in Residence at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival (MIJF) and the Australian Art Orchestra. I’m currently developing a work based on a recent trip back home to country with my mum and sister whilst going on my language journey. We visited places where my mum grew up, yarned with Elders about cultural preservation and mission days and visited language centres. We chatted with people who worked with my nan, Rose Whitehurst, who published the first Noongar dictionary, and we followed the links back to our apical ancestors. 

It was so magical to be back on country, especially to go with my mum and hear stories of old days. So, although it’s busy as ever, and there are multiple projects running at once, this one holds a big space for me as I reflect on music, language, and history and somehow wrap it all up and present it at the MIJF this year!

You can buy tickets to see Bumpy and Flewnt with Inkabee and Tasman Keith at Vivid LIVE here.