Zipporah’s journey towards music is one that has been pre-ordained. Born into the entertainment industry to beloved performers, Zipporah’s earliest core memories have been formed in rehearsal rooms, venues and on stages around the country. 

 

Yet, while her upbringing was one that normalised creative freedom and performance, finding her own identity within it all, has been something Zipporah has navigated with boldness and unique perspective. Finding her footing as a songwriter and performer in her own right, Zipporah makes an impactful arrival with her debut mixtape - NAUNGU URUI.

 

A masterful blend of R&B, soul and jazz-inflected music here positions Zipporah as one of Australia’s exciting new voices, debuting at a time where Australian R&B has never felt richer. Zipporah’s debut project beautifully adds to this tapestry of sounds, developed by empowered female voices; guided by versatility and honed emotional intelligence, and delivered with self-aware confidence and charisma.

 

Working with ARIA winning Sydney-based producer Finbar Stuart (BOY SODA, Yawdoesitall) and ARIA winning Melbourne producer and composer Nikodimos (BOY SODA, Hiatus Kaiyote, Genesis Owusu), Zipporah felt encouraged to follow and grow the voice that was once one she felt like she couldn’t confidently express.

 

Feeling encouraged and inspired by the thriving community of artists she became introduced to, Zipporah herself began to flourish across studio sessions in Sydney and Melbourne, ultimately creating a dynamic collection of music she is proud to stand beside. 

 

“When you grow up in Australia, not necessarily surrounded by figures you can look up to or relate to, sometimes the influences you are presented, are people who are undeniably talented, but don’t speak to your spirit in your soul,” Zipporah says.

 

“This was about creating the space for me to feel comfortable to express myself in the ways I had been wanting to. I’ve come across a group of people who absolutely adore the music that I adore, but also make it as well.”

 

‘Consequences’ - the first release from NAUNGU URUI - is the first track the Zipporah wrote with Finbar, and stands as a touchstone moment from the mixtape. Intimate and raw, Zipporah’s velvet vocals wrap around a blend of beats, keys and horns with ease as lyrics detail the messiness of choices made in a relationship that ultimately didn’t serve Zipporah. 

 

Beneath the seductive notes of the instrumentation, there is a strength that Zipporah brings to her lyrics - as the central line goes, “Don’t try me with that shit,” Put simply, every action has a reaction; Zipporah is not one to stand for anything less than she deserves.

 

“This was the song that clearly defined my direction and me as an artist.  When I wrote it with Finbar, it was effortless and it felt me through and through,”  Zipporah explains.

 

“I just wanted to capture my personality and my attitude, it’s just fun! I went from being really shy and reserved in the session [with Finbar], to hovering over him and being a driving force. It came together so quickly, and then we gave it to Niko - that’s when the sax and flute came in over it.”

 

The creation of ‘Consequences’ set Zipporah on a formative path in terms of becoming the artist she has always wanted to be. Where previously, she has felt the weight of expectation from others regarding her sound and her career, with NAUNGU URUI, Zipporah has never felt more comfortable embracing her womanhood, her culture and her own personal style through her art.

 

A proud Samu and Suy woman from Saibai Island in the Torres Strait, Zipporah has walked between two worlds – embracing both sides of her Torres Strait / Australian heritage, Zipporah has been able to build a career that has always kept her culture front of mind. 

 

Songs like ‘Crying On My Shoulder’ and ‘Cycles’ reveal personal moments of revelation; unpacking themes of intergenerational trauma, rebuilding and looking ahead to new horizons Zipporah hopes to approach with continued pride and love for her people at its core. 

 

And then with ‘Say It Again’ and ‘Some Typa Way’, Zipporah’s fiery personality is given new chances to shine as she takes different looks inward at herself, as much as she holds a mirror up for listeners to do the same in finding moments of relatability through the music.

 

With the long-awaited release of NAUNGU URUI, Zipporah continues to establish herself as one of Australia’s most compelling emerging artists. Her instinctive musicality and fearless storytelling has the ability to leave audiences captivated and with this project, Zipporah masterfully carves her own path forward in defining her place within a generation of artists creating cultural movements with their music.