Mojo Juju Pens Open Letter To Andrew Bolt Following Comments In Column

Melbourne artist Mojo Juju (real name Mojo Ruiz de Luzuriaga) has today responded to comments made by commentator Andrew Bolt in his column regarding her track Native Tongue. 

Dubbing it a “love letter”, Juju has said she’d like to “say a big thank you to Andrew Bolt for his recent shout out and also congratulate him on doing such an excellent job of demonstrating some of the reasons why writing a song and an album like Native Tongue was so important to me. (Whether he intended to or not).”

The comments were made in Bolt’s column with the Herald Sun which was written in response to RMIT University Lecturer Catherine Strong’s article on The Conversation called Why Scott Morrison’s White, Male Music Playlists Matter after Prime Minister Scott Morrison shared a playlist of his favourite songs at the start of November.

Bolt, in part, responded to Strong’s suggestions that acts like Mojo Juju, Camp Cope and Alice Ivy would have been fitting inclusions in the playlist, which featured acts like INXS, AC/DC, Midnight Oil, the Cruel Sea and You Am I, with only one female fronted act included (Canadian group Martha & The Muffins).

“Seriously? Morrison is meant to bop in his car to a song complaining about being an Aboriginal who ‘doesn’t speak my father’s tongue’?” said Bolt in the 8 November column.

“Is music listening a political activity or an aesthetic one? Should we listen out of pity or for our pleasure? Can Morrison please be allowed to listen to music to please himself, rather than to further some political agenda?”

Juju, who’s father is Filipino and mother is Wiradjuri, has today responded citing that, “Mr Bolt may have missed some of the nuances of my song.”

“The song Native Tongue is not a ‘complaint’ as he suggested, and I think to view it as complaining would be slightly reductive, but that’s just my opinion,” she continues. 

“I wrote this song as an expression of some complex emotions, such as grief for a loss of culture and Indigenous languages and other impacts of assimilation, colonisation and the white-washing of non-western cultures. This is not a song of self-pity, it is a song of self-empowerment.”

Read the full statement below. 

"Of all the amazing things that have been happening in my world of late, (from ARIA nominations, Dreamtime & J Awards to sold out shows and more…) I think one of my biggest highlights was seeing Native Tongue referenced in Andrew Bolt's column.

I’d like to say a big thank you to Andrew Bolt for his recent shout out and also congratulate him on doing such an excellent job of demonstrating some of the reasons why writing a song and an album like Native Tongue was so important to me. (Whether he intended to or not).

While defending Scott Morrison’s right to listen to whatever music he likes, Mr Bolt managed to highlight a huge failing in the approach to leadership and governance in this country… (one of many if we are being honest)… you can read the article here if you like: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/academic-complains-morrisons-music-is-too-white/news-story/ee33826c54898e3b701e3131fd01e138

Unfortunately, I think Mr Bolt may have missed some of the nuances of my song. 

The song Native Tongue is not a ‘complaint’ as he suggested, and I think to view it as complaining would be slightly reductive, but that’s just my opinion. I wrote this song as an expression of some complex emotions, such as grief for a loss of culture and Indigenous languages and other impacts of assimilation, colonisation and the white-washing of non-western cultures. This is not a song of self-pity, it is a song of self-empowerment. 

Due to the overwhelming response I have received to this song and the stories that people have since shared with me of their own experiences, I am inclined to think that this is a topic that resonates with a LOT more of Scott Morrison's constituents than either he or Mr. Bolt might like to recognise. And while my exact mixed heritage may not be the norm, the feelings I raise in the song are more common than he might realise. Regardless of whether ScoMo can personally relate to the lyrics or the experience, as a leader, he should be concerned with how his constituents relate to this song and what they experience. 

I believe that good leadership is about listening.

I also believe that music is a powerful communication tool, one that transgresses time, geography, age, gender and race. Music can unite, divide, and inspire revolutions, across generations.  

Mr Bolt is wrong to suggest that listening to music is PURELY an aesthetic pursuit. Sure, we all listen to music for pleasure, but music has always held a mirror to society. It has always been a snapshot of the issues that affect the people. 

Sure, ScoMO should listen to whatever music he likes when he is turning those snags on his BBQ or cruisin’ around in his luxury car, but if he cared about what is happening out in this Country that he is supposedly leading he would listen to more of our voices. 

So thank you Mr Bolt, for highlighting an important issue and including me in the conversation. 

Love Mojo xx"

Juju is nominated for three ARIA Awards at this year’s event, including Breakthrough Artist. Read the interview with Juju, along with fellow nominees Ruel and Odette here.