Decorated Naarm/Melbourne-based soul artist and proud Noongar woman Bumpy (she/her) is the very definition of a musical force to be reckoned with.
Taking her stage moniker from a childhood nickname – earned for a habit of bumping into all kinds of obstacles – Bumpy made her debut in 2020 with the majestic ‘Falling,’ with this auspicious beginning soon being followed by a handful of singles and her warmly-received Morning Sun EP.
Since then, she has guided listeners through a world in which vulnerability is strength and power self-assured. Her voice, buttery and soulful, commanded with a natural confidence, and her impactful storytelling, layered atop songwriting that traversed genre with precision and bold curiosity, have long positioned her as an exciting new addition to a flourishing wave of young soul and R&B voices.
This musical journey – itself varied, diverse, and acclaimed – has been leading towards the latest chapter in a story that only continues to amaze, with her debut album, Kanana.
Translating to “land where the sun sets” in Noongar, Kanana is testament to an important chapter in Bumpy’s personal life, one which saw the artist return home to connect with family and Country, tracing her history and all the while furthering her journey of language revitalisation. There, she was able to reflect more on how best to preserve and carry on the important language work of her late Nan (and namesake) Rose Whitehurst, questions to which Bumpy and her family have increasingly turned towards in recent years.
“Bumpy could move mountains… [her] voice is just divine to listen to, carrying so much soul and depth” – Claire Mooney (triple j)
Bumpy – ‘Kanana’
Tying together multiple strands of her history, the early musical DNA of Kanana formed as a result of Bumpy’s Melbourne International Jazz Festival commission with the Australian Art Orchestra in 2024. Bumpy’s travels back to Country were a key element of this commission, ultimately leading to the creation of her acclaimed show, Tooni.
A raw and deeply personal exploration of her connection to land, her people and importantly, her language, Tooni captivated as part of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival – a profound celebration of the power found in family and community.
Working with an eclectic and powerful musical community, including her long-standing band and the expansive (and affectionately titled) 14-piece ‘Bumpy Choir,’ and the Grammy-nominated engineer and producer Nick Herrera (Hiatus Kaiyote, Emma Donovan & The Putbacks), the result was an album which expands on Bumpy’s captivating use of music and traditional sounds, and across its 10 tracks walks to a number of different emotional beats and steering into different shades of tone and texture.
Press Highlights
A selection of press coverage from our most recent publicity campaigns.
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