“I wanted it to be part of my legacy of work” – Mo’Ju discusses live album release ahead of Castlemaine show

Mo'Ju's live and important concert with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra has been immortalised.

Back in 2018, Mo’Ju was on the cusp of releasing their landmark album Native Tongue. Speaking with Forte Magazine, the now award-winning artist dissected identity, the importance of connection to ancestry, the multi-generational play in understanding self, and the place of language in that narrative.

Fast forward to today, integration of those cultural aspects has been integral in their homelife to ensure their son recognises and has access to those pieces of his identity. But in the broader sense, the identity conversation is still just as complicated, perhaps even more so, than it was before.

Mo’Ju

WHEN: FRI 24 OCT

WHERE: THEATRE ROYAL CASTLEMAINE

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“It’s been such a long time since that record came out and all of the things I was speaking about at the time – that was a really difficult thing to do and to talk about a lot of those things very publicly…I think multiple things are true at the same time – I always knew who I was, I just felt like I wasn’t allowed to take up space. I feel much more confident in myself to exist in all sorts of spaces now and that’s not about anything that anyone else has given me or given me permission to do – it’s an internal thing not an external thing,” they explain.

“At the same time, we are living in a world right now where daily it seems there are conversations about people like me and the world hasn’t gotten any easier to live in by any means. I’m constantly seeing other people debating my own humanity. Whether that’s things like the referendum and the Voice, all of the anti-immigration rallies happening around the country right now, or whether that’s trans rights – there are so many things happening in the world right now that are really hard for me not to take personally. My liberation is tied up in other people’s liberation and some of the things are directly related to me and my family, so that is very complicated.”

As they go out with their newest album, Mo’Ju with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Double J Live at the Wireless), there is a shred of sadness that is clouding the celebration. The current state of the world has directly impacted the accompanying tour, leaving Mo’Ju uncertain about their movements in music long term.

 

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“This album was recorded a few years ago and at that time the world was very different to what it is now. I feel like from the start of 2023 to the end of 2023 it was almost like two different realities which is part of the reason it’s taken so long for this record to come out. I’m not going on tour now, I’m not going out in the world to tour. In all reality, I don’t know if I’ll do another commercial release after this,” they explain.

“I love music, that’s my passion and it’s been my life for so long so I have no doubt that I will still be making music but whether or not I’ll be engaging in the same industry end of that, the commercial industry end of that. It doesn’t feel like something I want to participate in.”

Returning to the scene of the recording, however, there is a comforting layer of hope. As the Hamer Hall shows showcased the shining light of ORO, PLATA MATA, the experience of working with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in such a special capacity is a place of pride of Mo’Ju.

 

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“There was something hopeful about that album. Bringing contemporary music into a classical space and being on the stage with classical musicians and hearing the songs like that lends this gravitas to the music. It bridges this gap between the old world and the new world, and the traditionally and historically really white spaces all of a sudden having First Nations voices. My band in front of an orchestra and most of us are people of colour, we all come from different backgrounds but most of us are first or second generation, there’s trans people in the band, there’s lots of queer people in the band – it felt really awesome and like it was progress or change. I’m glad I got to do that – I’m proud of the work.”

As an added bonus, the live show is now immortalised in album form. It’s both a gift to fans and a reminder of the power of Mo’Ju’s art and dedication to their craft. 

“I really fought for this album to see the light of day. It’s felt like there have been a lot of roadblocks to getting this album out for people to hear. I wanted this to be part of the catalogue of music I put out into the world and I wanted it to be part of my legacy of work. I am proud of it and how it came together. It is special.”

Whilst the tour is cancelled, the Theatre Royal Castlemaine show is still going ahead on Friday 24 October. The intimate show will showcase Mo’Ju accompanied by Lewis Coleman in a stripped back piano performance.

Give Mo’Ju with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Double J Live at the Wireless) a listen now and be sure to head to the Castlemaine celebration.