The breakout pop star has played with Ed Sheeran, racked up millions of streams and performed around the world. But he’s happiest with his family
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A small-town street party on a Saturday night. On a stage outside the Tweed Regional Museum in Murwillumbah, a band is playing. They all seem to be related, as one cousin after another steps up to the mic.
Suddenly a voice of extraordinary beauty rings out into the spring night. People stop and turn. Skin tingles. It’s Budjerah, the Aria award-winning pop R&B singer whom the prime minister confidently predicted “will be a superstar” after he sang at the Australian of the Year ceremony last year. The Coodjinburra artist has toured with Ed Sheeran and Vance Joy, and amassed more than 15m streams on Spotify for his 2023 single Therapy.