J-MILLA arrives in Wadeye for TikTok concert
Territory rap star J-MILLA has opened up about how fatherhood has changed his music and why performing in remote NT communities is so important. See pictures from the historic concert.
Northern Territory
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It might not be the fashionable viewpoint these days but rising rap superstar J-MILLA is one musician who still believes his craft can change the world.
It’s what brought the Darwin-born Mak Mak Marranunggu man back to the Territory for a special performance last November in the troubled outback community of Wadeye.
“It was a chance to do a gig in a community but this is not just a community, this is a community where there was a lot of issues happening between local tribes,” he says after again touching down in town to a hero’s welcome on Thursday.
“And they’re all family here so they’re limited in resources and I think it’s important for mob like me as artists and the sports industry to come out and just show these mob that there’s more to life.”
And it’s also what keeps bringing him back, including for Thursday night’s historic gig, watched live by scores of Wadeye locals while hundreds of thousands more fans tuned in online.
“Last time I did do a show (here) it brought peace and harmony for the community and the locals, so one of the traditional Elders invited me back to maintain the peace,” he said.
“Music is a great way to actually bring everybody together, it creates events like this where I can come out to a community and do a show and people that have been fighting are all going to come to the same joint and love one another and enjoy the night, so it does change the world I guess.”
J-MILLA’s own world has also changed since his last visit, this time bringing baby daughter Blossom Bilawuk along for the ride with fiancee Poppy Nichaloff, who is a rising social media star in her own right.
He says while becoming a father has “changed a lot”, at the same time “not much has changed”.
“I’m still the same person but it’s just kind of given me more of a purpose in why I’m doing what I do,” he says.
“It’s been an amazing journey, I think the way it’s changed me is it’s made me more of a family orientated person for one, and it’s just made me realise that it’s not about me anymore.”
And as the number of eyeballs glued to his social media accounts continues to soar, the 24-year-old says Blossom has helped keep his feet planted firmly on the ground.
“It’s given me more of a purpose in life and I’m doing it for her, so I’m doing all this for my daughter,” he says.
“But in terms of actually writing music, it’s kind of made me step back and think more into my writing process, because now there’s a lot more meaning to it and when she gets older she’s going to eventually start listening to my music, so I want to be the best in her eyes as well.”
Rap superstar J-MILLA touches down for historic concert
Superstar Territory rapper J-MILLA has touched down to a rockstar’s welcome in Wadeye ahead of a historic second concert after his previous performance was credited with quelling unrest in the troubled outback town.
The Mak Mak Marranunggu performer is set to go live to his hundreds of thousands of viewers online in the first such performance ever to be livestreamed from a remote community.
Awe-struck teenagers and traditional dancers greeted J-MILLA and his entourage with a Welcome to Country as they touched down at the local airstrip on Thursday morning.
Bridget Perdjert, 23, was among the throng of adoring fans, saying everyone was “happy and we’re glad that he came”, with some recent trouble having “settled down a bit now” ahead of the visit.
“Today it’s stopped for a while because the concert came here,” she said.
“I think it feels comfortable right now, I can feel it inside in my heart and I can see people are being friendly now because they see J-MILLA is here now in community.
“It’s very important and very exciting and for all of us here in Wadeye.”
Wadeye district officer in charge Erica Gibson said while there had been “a really positive vibe” in town lately, having a musical megastar on hand also helped keep unrest under control.
“We’re working really hard with community to develop that mutual respect and understanding of how to better do policing in community,” Sergeant Gibson said.
“Everyone’s excited, it’s just a really good thing for everyone to be involved in positive prosocial community activities.
“Obviously more would be better and anything to create that ongoing positive vibe.”
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