Mojo Juju On Why 'This Is Not A Unique Story, It's Way Too Common'

Mojo Juju is a force to be reckoned with. In her latest single Native Tongue she tells you straight out: "I will not apologise for taking up this space." And nor should she, a queer immigrant and Wiradjuri artist, she constantly fights for her space in this world through her work as a performer, cultural presence, and custodian of her family stories. We will have the privilege to hear these stories at her upcoming performances at the Sydney Opera House and the Arts Centre Melbourne.

The epic spaces which she will be performing in are an apt choice for the enormity of a voice and story bigger than all of us, as stories always are. Because her sound is raw, vulnerable, and of the utmost integrity to her and her diverse mobs, to consider her unique artistry as a 'mongrel' sound misunderstands what Mojo Juju represents, right now, in this country. As a lot of us blackfellas know, and I imagine some multicultural mob feel the same as well, it can be a tricky balance trying to find our place in a world where we have more than one culture that we identify with, or when we are displaced in a predominantly white culture.

Mojo articulates this in Native Tongue with honesty and vulnerability, while keeping a firm hold on the listener, to remind us that vulnerability is not weakness. "When I was writing it [Native Tongue], it's deeply personal. I was hoping it would resonate with other people who have a mixed-race background. Living in two worlds, not knowing where you fit. I never felt like I fit in the Australian identity, but going to the Philippines, I realised I had no idea what it was like growing up in a Third World country, either... There is so much I'm learning culturally about all of my heritage. There are similarities in terms of their respective histories of colonisation, and the resilience of both cultures out of adversity."

Shot in one long take, the music video for Native Tongue is swathed in powerful imagery, with Mojo striding towards the camera, and three First Nations men accompanying her in what looks like a prison march, but turns into a dance with little synchronicity, but all freedom. Mojo revealed that the video was shot at sunset by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore who Mojo had previously worked with on the documentary Her Sound, Her Story, a videography and photographic collection of interviews and portraits celebrating women musos in Australian.

With lines like "Every time you cut me down, I'm gonna come back fierce" and "I don't know where I belong", this single is painted with the light and shade that comes with being a diverse presence trying to make her way in the world. The audiences lucky enough to be attending Mojo's upcoming shows will be given a rich insight into this artist's personal journey, as well as being some of the first listeners to hear her new songs before the album's official launch. "These venues have allowed me to develop the work, to be intimate with [the] audience, telling the stories behind the songs. These shows will be giving context to the songs. Family history and personal anecdotes," she shares.

Although Mojo has an unapologetic strength about her, taking the time to ensure that the wider community has a chance to hear her story and take something from it; whether they are learning of a narrative previously unheard to them, or if they are a community member who can relate and feel less alone, is of great importance. "This album, I wanted to address a lot of conversation that's happening, about identity and culture, and I want to look at it from a really personal perspective. These stories are my family history. Experiences that I've had first-hand. Through telling those stories, there's a commonality of people of similar backgrounds, who can relate. More personal than didactic in a way that doesn't alienate people.

"I'm just telling my story, there're many stories like it. This story isn't more special than anyone else. It's a longing for connection to culture and parts of a family history that's missing. This is not a unique story, it's way too common, and that's the thing about it that's tragic."

With her family's unwavering support behind her, Mojo has curated a piece of her family's history interwoven with her own personal stories, through her medium of music, as our mob do for our old people and ourselves. "I wanted to write this while my grandparents are still alive, and I can talk to them about it. It's important to preserve that. It's part of who you are."