MOJO Juju has always been an honest artist, but on her third album, Native Tongue, all her pain, anger and anxieties boil to the surface.
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It fundamentally asks the question of, “who am I” and “where is my place” as an Indigenous woman with Filipino ancestry in modern Australia. But instead of merely posing the question, Juju demands an answer.
The former Newcastle artist cut her teeth with the gypsy-blues focused Snake Oil Merchants, but Native Tongue combines a vast array of influences. The title track broods with gospel and R’n’B, Shut Your Mouth chugs along with Black Keys-styled soul-rock, and History is a sweet pop ballad.
Yet, it’s in the lyrics where Native Tongue bites the hardest. “I want to know my father’s name/Please don’t deprive me of my roots,” (I Just Wanna Know) and Shut Your Mouth roars against prejudice.
Mojo Juju is demanding your attention.
Josh Leeson
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
Josh Leeson is an entertainment and features journalist, specialising in music, at the Newcastle Herald. He first joined the masthead in 2008 after stints at the Namoi Valley Independent and Port Stephens Examiner and has previously covered sport including the Asian Cup, A-League, Surfest, cricket and rugby league.
