One of the country’s most vibrant and captivating soul singers, award-winning composer, vocalist and Noongar woman Bumpy premieres her new work Tooni—a raw and deeply personal exploration of survival, revival, and the urgency of sharing knowledge—featuring members of the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO).

Commissioned by MIJF and the AAO as part of their First Nations Artist Residency program, Tooni comprises a series of new compositions by Bumpy—incorporating her learnings of language and reflecting on her travels on Noongar Boodja, tracing the footsteps of her family and Elders.

Bumpy’s deeply affecting music pulls from the strength found in tenderness, scars and all. Her captivating live performances have enthralled audiences nationwide, performing at renowned festivals, venues and events such as the Sydney Opera House, Meredith Music Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Strawberry Fields, NGV, Sidney Myer Music Bowl and more. Bumpy’s star continues to rise, with several awards to her name including New Talent of the Year at the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) and Best Soul/R’n’B/Funk and Gospel work at the Music Victoria Awards.

Her brand-new work Tooni is a reflection on her homecoming, a deepening of knowledge and a profound celebration of the power that runs through Bumpy’s family and community.