Jett Bieundurry 2023
Songwriter, Musician, Producer | Awarded $10,000
In a strong field of extraordinary creative talent, the Robert Juniper Award for the Arts is delighted to announce Jett Bieundurry as the 2023 scholarship award recipient. Jett’s musical versatility, steadfast commitment to artistic expression, and the thorough and thoughtful approach outlined in his project proposal impressed all the adjudicators. While not mandatory according to the award criteria, the judges believed that Bieundurry’s project had the potential to not only improve his personal skills but also create a ripple effect by enriching his community. They unanimously selected him after an intense evaluation of an exceptional lineup of finalists.
Growing up in the Perth Hills, the former Helena College student’s journey into he world of music commenced in his early years, nurtured by his mother Donna and father Clifton, a seasoned performer on international stages. Bieundurry’s passion for music ignited during his primary school years, with him much preferring to create music rather than doing his homework! A testament to his dedication to creating music is in his strict daily regime, which started around the age of 12 - rising early each morning to lay down beats and pen some lyrics before heading to school, returning to his creative pursuits after school was finished. Bieundurry’s early dedication has seemingly set the stage for a lifelong journey in music, one that he is keen to embrace.
Despite being only 18 years old, Bieundurry has a discography that spans multiple bodies of work, including a featured EP on prominent Spotify playlists in 2023. His 2021 album “Beauty Among the Chaos” not only resonated with audiences but also earned the prestigious honour of gracing the cover of Apple Music HipHop.
The accolades continued as Jett/Kayps secured the Indigenous Initiative Award from the Triple J Unearthed competition in 2021. A finalist in the same competition that year, he maintained momentum by securing a spot in the national competition in 2022. In 2022 Kayps took to the stage at the Nannup Music Festival, enthralling his audience.
In 2023 Bieundurry embarked on the Mushroom Records First Nations Pathway writers programme in Melbourne, showcasing not only his musical capabilities but also his commitment to nurturing emerging talent. During his school holidays, Bieundurry volunteered to lead a songwriting and music production workshop for Indigenous young men at the Koya Foundation.
Beyond his musical achievements, Jett Bieundurry envisions inspiring First Nations youth nationwide and he is dedicated to being an active participant in making this happen. Bieundurry says “My purpose for creating music stems from my passion in wanting to inspire First Nations youth around our country in expressing themselves via the creative arts. In addition to extending my skillset and knowledge in both the creation and the production aspects of music, I also aim to be able to perform my music at festivals and venues across Australia which will help me to create connections in communities and with young people.”
Jett’s multifaceted approach extends beyond music, with a commitment to developing skills in video production to complement his music. He knows that dynamic multimedia presentations will enhance his storytelling and help him to reach a wider audience. His award application project centres around collaborating with videographer Joel Baker to create 4 videos of four songs that he aims to release during the summer of 2023-2024.
Jett’s unwavering dedication to his skill development, and his ongoing social commitment to his community positions him as a rising force in the Australian music scene, ready to make a lasting impact with his upcoming release and into the future.
VIEW & LISTEN to ‘Rear View Mirror’ below.