Busby Marou
OriginRockhampton, Queensland, Australia
GenresBlues, roots
Years active2007–present
Labels
Members
  • Thomas Busby
  • Jeremy Marou
Websitewww.busbymarou.com

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.


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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
AUS
[17]
Busby Marou
  • Released: August 2010
  • Label: Busby Marou / Footstomp Music (STOMPER001)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 24
Farewell Fitzroy
  • Released: 4 October 2013
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (5310595582)
  • Format: CD, digital download
 5
Postcards from the Shell House
  • Released: 17 February 2017
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (9760100786)
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP
 1
The Great Divide
  • Released: 27 September 2019
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (5419705318)
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
 5
Blood Red
  • Released: 21 July 2023[19]
  • Label: Sony Music Australia (19658803852)
  • Format: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
 14
[20]

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with selected details
Title EP details
The Blue Road
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Busby Marou
  • Format: CD, digital download
What's Yours in Mine
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Footstomp Music (STOMPER002)
  • Format: CD, digital download

Singles

List of 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
2024 Blood Red Alt. Country Album of the Year Pending [61][62]

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 [63]

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 [64][65]
Busby Marou Album of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
2014 Farewell Fitzroy Album of the Year Nominated [66]
"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 [67]
2018 "Days of Gold" Song of the Year Nominated [68]

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.[69]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only) Ref.
2010 "Paint My Cup" Indigenous Song of the Year Won [70]
2020 "Naba Norem (The Reef Song)" Blues and Roots Song of the Year Won [71][72]

References

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