Jamaica Moana – BUD & DENI
Sydney-based queer rap sensation Jamaica Moana today releases her long-awaited debut EP, BUD & DENI, alongside the explosive new single ‘FINALE (feat. Kevin Jz Prodigy)’, out now via Pointer Recordings. A bold voice in music and fashion, Jamaica Moana fuses her vibrant Māori and Samoan heritage with an unapologetic queer identity, creating a sound and presence that defy convention. With this debut project, she marks a transformative new chapter, BUD & DENI is not only a sonic rebirth but a declaration of creative power. Jamaica’s EP launch will take place at The Red Rattler Theatre in Marrickville, Sydney, fittingly, the very venue where parts of the EP were born during a 2023 writing residency.
Jamaica Moana’s new single ‘FINALE’ features Kevin Jz Prodigy, a celebrated ballroom commentator, music producer, and singer from Philadelphia. Kevin’s iconic voice was sampled on Madonna’s Celebration Tour during her performance of ‘Vogue’ in 2023. He gained widespread recognition through Beyoncé’s Renaissance album and world tour, where Beyoncé herself called him the “heartbeat of the Renaissance Tour,” with his voice featured prominently throughout the show and the concert film Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.
Named after her parents, BUD & DENI is a deeply personal journey through ancestry, identity, and transformation. Each track is inspired by Māori deities (ĀTUA)—from earth and wind to ocean, sky, dance, and fire—tracing a powerful arc of self-discovery and creative awakening. The project boasts a stellar lineup of collaborators, including acclaimed producers and artists Milan Ring, Pookie, Jannah Beth, Maribelle (Vetta Bourne), and June Jones, with a show stopping feature from Philadelphia ballroom legend Kevin Jz Prodigy. Together, they help cement Jamaica Moana’s place as one of the most exciting and boundary-pushing voices in contemporary music.
BUD & DENI features previous singles, ‘GIVE INTO MY FEARS’, LIVIN’ OUT WEST’, ‘KEEP IT REAL’, and ‘TUGGAWAR’. Speaking on the creation of EP, Jamaica shares;
“I knew this EP had to begin with loss and go from there. Bud & Deni are my parents. I grew up calling my father Bud (rhymes with good, short for buddha) and my mother Deni (short for Denise). They are the reason I was born, so my first-born EP is named after them.
This EP feels like the collection of my vast intersection of life through one formed story. I have many pieces of my life that individually are challenged by societal norms, but collectively accepted in the form of Jamaica Moana. For example, people still think living out west is a disadvantage but when it’s a part of my story, they like it. With this template, I’ve seen people who don’t understand QPOC, yet through my music – they somehow can understand me beyond our differences.
The EP tracks 6 different genres, but is a linear storyline, like 6 unique siblings that share the same blood.”
Fresh off a blistering triple j BARS appearance, standout headline sets at Sydney’s Phoenix Central Park and Sissy Ball, and a special guest spot at DEVAURA’s April launch show, Jamaica Moana has had a powerful start to the year. Add to that a recent appearance at Dark Mofo and upcoming performances at SXSW Sydney, a panel discussion at BIGSOUND and The Others Way Festival in Aotearoa / New Zealand, and it’s clear she’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Beyond her music, Jamaica Moana stands as a pivotal figure in Australia’s ballroom community. As the Co-founder and resident commentator of The West Ball, she has created vital spaces like upcoming West Ball 6 to champion and celebrate young queer talent. Her influence extends into fashion, where she’s modelled for visionary designers including Nicol & Ford, Jordan Gogos, and Erik Yvon, appearing in Australian Fashion Week and captivating audiences with her bold presence. A multidisciplinary artist living and working across Dharawal and Gadigal Country of the Eora Nation, Jamaica remains spiritually connected to her ancestral lands of Hokianga and Waikato in Aotearoa. She has lit up stages at FBi Radio SMAC Fest, Kooky, Kira Puru’s Club Crush, and shared lineups with artists such as Cakes Da Killa, Junglepussy, and Ngaiire. Whether through her commanding live performances, innovative artistic vision, or role as a muse, model, and cultural leader, Jamaica Moana continues to redefine creative expression and inspire a generation.
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