Busby Marou
Busby Marou (pronounced buz-bee ma-roo) are an Australian musical duo consisting of Thomas Busby and Jeremy Marou, from Rockhampton, Queensland. At the APRA Music Awards of 2012, the duo won "Blues & Roots Work of the Year" category for their single "Biding My Time", and they have gone on to win several other awards.
Busby Marou | |
---|---|
Origin | Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia |
Genres | Blues, roots |
Years active | 2007–present |
Labels |
|
Members |
|
Website | www |
Background
In 2007, Thomas Busby and Jeremy Marou met in Rockhampton. Jeremy is of Torres Strait Islander heritage, and both performers come from musical families.[1] With similar musical interests, the two combined to perform and write music under the name Busby Marou.
Career
Busby Marou's debut EP, The Blue Road, was recorded at Pete Murray's personal studios in Byron Bay and produced by Anthony Lycenko who had worked with artists such as Murray, David Bowie and Shifter.[2][3] The EP had a limited release. Busby Marou supported Pete Murray during the Toowoomba leg of his 2008 Australian Tour.[4]
In 2009 saw the duo as one of five successful applicants for "Breakthrough" – A Federal Government initiative supporting emerging indigenous contemporary musicians. The award assisted in the production of the band's debut, self-titled album, which was released in August 2010.[5][6][7]
In September 2010 at the Deadly Awards 2010 Busby Marou won the award for "Most Promising New Talent".[8]
Late in 2010, Busby Marou featured on the He Will Have His Way – Finn Brothers Tribute Album.[9] The album went Gold within a month of release. Their contribution was a cover of "Better Be Home Soon".[10] On 12 February 2011, Busby Marou performed at the Rugby League All Stars match at the Gold Coast.
In 2011, Busby Marou were signed to Warner Music Australia's indie imprint, Footstomp Records, and in June 2011, re-released their debut, self-titled album.
In October 2013, Busby Marou released their second studio album, Farewell Fitzroy which debuted at number 5 on the ARIA charts. In May and June 2014, the duo supported James Blunt for the Australian leg of his Moon Landing World Tour. In October 2014, "Days of Gold" became their first charting single, debuting at 82.
In February 2017, Busby Marou released their third studio album, Postcards from the Shell House, which debuted at number 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
2019, saw Busby Marou release album The Great Divide. The album featured ambient sounds and traditional music recorded by the duo when they visited Mer Island in the Torres Strait Island region. While there they listed to stories from the community regarding the impacts of climate change on the area and how it's affecting Torres Strait Islanders.[11]
In October 2020, the band performed at the 2020 AFL Grand Final.[12]
In March 2023, Busby Marou announced the forthcoming release of Blood Red.[13] The album was their fifth studio album, and was released in July 2023.[14][15]
Influences and views
Their musical influences include elements of Crowded House, Elvis Presley, Pearl Jam and Willie Nelson.[2] Busby has said that Paul Kelly and John Farnham provided him with inspiration, while Marou says that his love for music stems from his Torres Strait Islander culture, in which "everyone's self-taught and there's three, four, five-piece harmonies everywhere you go". The music of the islands has also played a big part in the development of Busby Marou's style.[16]
The duo have never been overtly political, and do not talk about social issues in their concerts, but have spoken up in favour of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the run-up to the referendum on the Voice on 14 October 2023. They performed alongside Bernard Fanning at a Yes campaign rally in Brisbane.[16]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [17] | |||
Busby Marou |
|
24 | |
Farewell Fitzroy |
|
5 | |
Postcards from the Shell House |
|
1 | |
The Great Divide |
|
5 | |
Blood Red |
|
14 [20] |
Extended plays
Title | EP details |
---|---|
The Blue Road |
|
What's Yours in Mine |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
AUS | |||
"Underlying Message"[21] | 2009 | — | The Blue Road |
"Biding My Time"[22] | 2010 | — | Busby Marou |
"5 Rocks"[23] | 2011 | — | |
"Save Some for the Others"[24] | — | ||
"I Still Don't Believe"[25] | 2012 | — | |
"Get You Out of Here"[26] | 2013 | — | Farewell Fitzroy |
"Luck"[27] | 2014 | — | |
"My Second Mistake"[28] | — | ||
"Days of Gold"[29] | 82[30] | ||
"Getaway Car" | 2016 | — | Postcards from the Shell House |
"Best Part of Me"[31] | 2017 | — | |
"Paint This Land"[32] | — | ||
"Days of Gold" (Borobi Version)[33] |
— | Non-album single | |
"Got Your Back"[34] | 2018 | — | Postcards from the Shell House |
"Full Moon"[35] | — | ||
"Sound of Summer"[36] | — | Non-album single | |
"Over Drinking Over You"[37] | 2019 | — | The Great Divide |
"Naba Norem (The Reef Song)"[38] | — | ||
"Gone"[39] | 2020 | — | |
"Missing Person"[40] | — | True Colours, New Colours: The Songs of Split Enz | |
"Everything Is Beautiful"[41] | 2022 | — | Blood Red[13] |
"Where I Wanna Be"[42] | 2023 | — | |
"Crazy Like That"[13] | — | ||
"Conversations"[43] | — | ||
"Bloodstream"[44] | — | ||
"People Get Old" (with Brad Butcher)[45] |
— | East of Everything |
Awards and nominations
AIR Awards
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | themselves | Breakthrough Independent Artist | Nominated | [46][47] |
Busby Marou | Best Independent Blues and Roots Album | Nominated |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters".[48]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | "Biding My Time" (Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou) | Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Won | [49][50] |
2014 | "Get You out of Here" (Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou) | Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Nominated | [51] |
"Luck" (Thomas Busby, Don Walker) | Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Nominated | [51] | |
2018 | "Best Part of Me" (Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou, Jon Hume) | Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Won | [52][53] |
"Getaway Car" (Thomas Busby, Jeremy Marou, David Ryan Harris) | Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Nominated | ||
2020 | "Sound of Summer" | Most Performed Blues & Roots Work of the Year | Nominated | [54][55] |
2021 | "Over Drinking Over You" | Most Performed Blues & Roots Work | Won | [56] |
ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Busby Marou have been nominated for three awards.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | "My Second Mistake" (directed by Renny Wijeyamohan) | Best Video | Nominated | [57] |
2017 | Postcards from the Shell House | Best Blues and Roots Album | Nominated | |
2020 | The Great Divide | Best Blues and Roots Album | Nominated | [58][59] |
Country Music Awards of Australia
The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They commenced in 1973.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Great Divide | Contemporary Country Album of the Year | Nominated | [60] |
Busby Marou | Group or Duo of the Year | Nominated |
Gold Coast Music Awards
The Gold Coast Music Awards are an annual awards ceremony that recognises musicians from the Gold Coast area.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | "The Great Divide" | Release of the year | Won | [61] |
National Indigenous Music Awards
The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | themselves | Artist of the Year | Nominated | [62][63] |
Busby Marou | Album of the Year | Nominated | ||
Song of the Year | Nominated | |||
2014 | Farewell Fitzroy | Album of the Year | Nominated | [64] |
"My Second Mistake" | Song of the Year | Nominated | ||
"Get You Out of Here" | Nominated | |||
2017 | Postcards from the Shell House | Album of the Year | Nominated | [65] |
2018 | "Days of Gold" | Song of the Year | Nominated | [66] |
Q Song Awards
The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[67]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | "Paint My Cup" | Indigenous Song of the Year | Won | [68] |
2020 | "Naba Norem (The Reef Song)" | Blues and Roots Song of the Year | Won | [69][70] |
References
- Rockman, Lisa (18 November 2011). "Busby Marou are going with the flow". Newcastle Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- "BusbyMarou: biography". Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
- Elks, Sarah (5 October 2013). "Farewell Fitzroy (Busby Marou)". The Australian. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- "Christie Eliezer's Festival & Tour Guide". The Music. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- "Busby Marou Triple J". Triple J Unearthed. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
- Watts, Nikita (1 July 2009), "Doors open to Busby Marou", The Morning Bulletin
- Huynh, Josephine (25 October 2013). "Busby Marou's soulful journey". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- Watts, Nikita (12 August 2010), "Busby Marou's deadly future", The Morning Bulletin
- Palmer, Sean (14 June 2012). "The musician and the melodious hacker". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- Fry, Douglas (8 November 2012). "Busby Marou does it their way". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
- Smith, Aaron. "'Climate change is actually affecting Torres Strait Islanders right now': Marou". NITV. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- "All-Aussie music lineup announced for AFL's grand final at the Gabba". SMH. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- Whines, Emma (31 March 2023). "Busby Marou To Play Exclusive Preview Of New Album 'Blood Red'". The Music. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- Marou, Busby (21 July 2023). "Australian music news, gig guide, music reviews". The Music. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- Brandle, Lars (25 July 2023). "Busby Marou Returns With Classic New Album 'Blood Red'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
- Kleyn, Brittney (30 September 2023). "Busby Marou never talk about politics — but they're making an exception for the Voice to Parliament". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- "australian-charts.com – Discography Busby Marou". australian-charts.com. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2014 Albums". ARIA. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Blood Red". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- "Busby Marou - Underlying Message". AIRIT. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Biding My Time - Single by Busby Marou". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou: 5 Rocks". Beat. 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou - Save Some for the Others (Official Video)". YouTube. February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "The Great Divide (Deluxe)– CD". JB HiFi. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou announce new single 'Get You Out Of Here' (AUS)". Renowned for Sound. 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "PREMIERE: Busby Marou - Luck". The Music. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou - My Second Mistake (Official Video)". YouTube. May 2014. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Days of Gold - Single by Busby Marou". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "CHART WATCH #13". auspOp. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Australian duo Busby Marou hit No. 1 on ARIA charts". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou unveil a moving & poignant video For Paint This Land". Amnplify. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Days of Gold (Borobi Version)". iTunes Australia. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou Have Just Released Their EPIC New Music Video For 'Got Your Back'". Triple M. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou - Full Moon (Official Video)". YouTube. November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Sound of Summer - Single by Busby Marou". iTunes Australia. November 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Busby Marou Share new Single "Over Drinking Over You" and New album The Great Divide out this September". Amnplify. 6 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- "Singles to Radio 20 September 2019". The Music Network. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- "Gone - single". Apple Music. 1 May 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- "Our take on the Split Enz classic "Missing Person" is out tomorrow!". Facebook. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
- "New Aus Music Playlist ADDITIONS – 22/04/22". Music Feeds. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
- "Our new single Where I Wanna Be is out now and we're pumped to share this with you!". Facebook. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
- "Busby Marou's New Single 'CONVERSATION' out 19 May!". YouTube. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- "Bloodstream · Busby Marou Released on: 2023-07-07". YouTube. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- "Amber Rae Slade, Brad Butcher & More: The Highlights From This Week's 'Grass Roots'". Country Town. 23 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- "Independent Music Awards Nominees Announced". tonedeaf. 13 September 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "APRA Music Awards 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- "2012 Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- "Nominations - Blues & Roots Work of the Year – 2012". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2012. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
- "Blues & Roots Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
- "Full List of Winners". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "Blues & Roots Work of the Year". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
- "Tones and I Leads Nominations for 2020 Virtual APRA Awards". Noise11. 7 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- "2020 Awards". APRA. 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
- "Nominees announced for the 2021 APRA Music Awards". APRA AMCOS. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- "History Busby Marou". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- "And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To…". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
- "ARIA Awards 2020 Nominees". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- "And the 2020 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards Finalists Are..." TCMF. November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- "2020 Gold Coast Coast Music Awards Winners". scenestr. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
- "NIMA Recognition for Modern Indigenous Music". TheWire. July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- "National Indigenous Music Awards 2012". ABC. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- "National Indigenous Music Awards Announce 2014 Finalists". 24 July 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- "2017 National Indigenous Music Awards finalists". theindustryobserver. July 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- "The performers and finalists for the National Indigenous Music Awards have been announced". The Industry Observer. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
- "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
- "Past Winners 2009". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "Past Winners 2020". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- "2020 Queensland Music Awards Winners". Scenestr. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2021.