Jessica Mauboy has become the first Indigenous artist to debut at the Number 1 spot on the ARIA albums chart. Mauboy earned the distinction with her latest album, the soundtrack to the Secret Daughter TV series.
The album is a departure from Mauboy’s usual pop fare and features the singer covering classics by the likes of Cold Chisel and Crowded House. Mauboy also plays the central character on the Seven Network series.
As News Corp notes, Mauboy previously hit the top spot on the albums chart with the soundtrack to the 2012 film The Sapphires. However, that album did not debut at Number 1.
Speaking to News Corp, the singer was surprised that none of her Indigenous musical idols like Yothu Yindi, Christine Anu, Gurrumul Yunupingu, or Dan Sultan had attained the distinction before her.
“I’m such a huge fan of Gurrumul and in my mind, I thought somewhere down the line there would have been a No. 1 for him,” she said, whilst admitting that chart positions can often be a lottery that depends on other releases coming out that week.
“I remember watching Yothu Yindi in Darwin on my Dad’s shoulders as a four year old and fist-pumping to their songs … why don’t they have a No. 1? That’s crazy.”
“And Christine Anu, when I think about her and some of the defining moments for our mob that she has sung, you think why hasn’t she got a No. 1? And Dan Sultan, he came so close.”
“We are all so different but I think we are a bit behind with that kind of recognition and I hope there is more diversity of music given broader acknowledgment. But No. 1, it’s a gamble.”
