Apple Music picks Budjerah as its latest local Up Next artist

Apple Music has announced Budjerah as its latest local Up Next artist, an initiative to identify and showcase rising talent from across Australia and New Zealand.

The 18-year-old artist Budjerah Slabb has been creating a scene for himself taking the soul, gospel and R&B of his heroes and giving it a modern twist.

His career has moved forward since he was mentored by singer-songwriter Matt Corby.

Corby, he says, pushed him to extend himself into finding a fresh sound, and used his classical training to bring new shades to Budjerah’s singing.

Hailing from the surfing town of Fingal Head in NSW (population: 592), being drawn to music and to that style of music was inevitable for the Coodjinburra boy from the Budjalung nation.

His parents are pastors, so band practice and leading worship services were routine growing up, as were singing, guitar and piano lessons.

There was always a wide assortment of instruments to pick up and play.

“I find gospel so uplifting for me because it’s about hope, strength and overcoming difficulties.”

He’s just dropped an EP through Warner Music Australia, and is set to go on a national tour doing seven shows in May and June.

“I’m really excited to be included in Up Next Local on Apple Music for my brand new EP which I wrote with Matt Corby at his studio just down the road from my house,” he said.

“The songs are about different times in my life and all the different emotions that I feel.”

His debut single ‘Missing You’, about being lost without his friends to hang out with once they left school, playlisted on Apple Music’s NMD, Mellow Days, Heaps Indie and Alt Pop.

Second single ‘Higher’, capturing the joy of going through a week of feeling good, landed him the cover of the new Apple Music FIRST playlist, featuring across NMD, Future Hits, Alt Pop, Heaps Indie (global) as well as Best New Songs slider on the main page.

As the newest Up Next artist to be spotlighted in Australia, Budgerah will be featured across Apple Music’s Australian Up Next playlist.

The curated playlist features new and emerging artists, hand-picked by Apple Music editors from around the world eager to expose to a larger audience.

Those previously on the global Up Next roster include 6lack, Daniel Caesar, H.E.R., Greta Van Fleet, Khalid, Amy Shark, Billie Eilish, Bad Bunny, Juice WLRD, Dean Lewis, Pink Sweat$, Koffee, Megan Thee Stallion, Burna Boy, Ingrid Andress, BENEE, Arlo Parks and Peach PRC.