Jungaji Drops New Single 'Pilbara Man' Ahead Of NSW & Queensland Tour Dates

First Nations Gu Gu Yalanji songman, visual artist, playwright, and activist Jungaji – previously known as Troy Brady – has released his new single, Pilbara Man, ahead of New South Wales and Queensland tour dates this month and in September.

A member of the Australian version of Boyz II Men and representing Motown, Aim 4 More, and the Banawurun (Running Water) Band, Brady struck out on his own for a run of performances in 2016 before appearing as Jungaji in February 2022.

On Wednesday, 9 August, Jungaji will host a Single Launch show for Pilbara Man at The Triffid’s Beer Garden before performing in Adelaide (with No Fixed Address), Sydney (with Ursula Yovich & Midnight Oil’s Adam Ventoura), Wollongong, the Sunshine Sounds Festival, and a special showcase at this year’s BIGSOUND at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

Fusing R&B and soul music with modern production flourishes, Jungaji’s silky-smooth vocal finds him amidst a profound cultural re-evaluation.

Jungaji explained in a press release, “This song is an ode, a salute to a deadly man whom I've been associated with for over 20 years. His story is one of loss of love, sadness, and dislocation, but moreover of survival and celebration.”

He continued, “The Pilbara Man's story is our story. His ability in the 90s to live a life of sobriety spoke volumes to my struggles, and I felt a responsibility to not only him but all brothers to speak out and share our ceremonies of struggle.

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“We strive to be upstanding men within our households and communities. Lastly, we aim to reflect and understand that without the pain, we wouldn't have been able to fulfil our true existence.” You can listen to Pilbara Man below.

As well as his music, which earned him the Best Music Performance Award at the Adelaide Fringe Festival earlier this year, Jungaji has found inspiration in his son and fellow musician, Dean Brady, to continue following his traditional teachings.

Jungaji is also a passionate advocate for lupus survivors, writing on his website, “Living with LUPUS is like going 10 rounds with Mike Tyson”. Jungaji has survived two heart attacks, two strokes, and multiple open-heart surgeries.

In his free time, Jungaji is the Chair of the Dhadjowa Foundation. This national grassroots organisation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families after losing a loved one in custody.