BEHIND THE SONG JESSICA MAUBOY'S 'WHILE I GOT TIME'

Watch our interview with Jessica Mauboy below!

Filming: Katerina Papathanasopoulos

Jessica Mauboy is ushering in a new era. The beloved Australian artist is back, not just with a new single, but with a whole new outlook. Her latest track, While I Got Time, isn’t just a return to music, it’s a reset. We caught up Jessica Mauboy to chat about her new single, While I Got Time, launching her own label, Jamally, the local artists on her radar and so much more!

Raw and reflective, the song peels back the layers to reveal Mauboy at her most grounded and pivots away from the pop and R&B sonics that have made her a juggernaut in the industry.

Co-written with longtime collaborator PJ Harding, the track leans into delicate acoustic textures that weave in subtle Country influences, fuelled by open-hearted lyricism. It’s a slow burn built on emotion rather than production, with Mauboy trading pop polish for something more inward. The songwriting feels lived-in, drawing from her experiences stepping into motherhood and recalibrating her priorities. It’s less about the spotlight and more about legacy, memory, and moving forward with intention. That same emotional gravity made it a perfect fit for Home and Away, where it recently featured during the farewell of Irene Roberts (played by Lynne McGranger), adding an extra layer of poignancy to one of Australian TV’s most enduring storylines.

Images: Louis Wyeth.

But perhaps the most significant shift for Mauboy isn’t the sound, it’s the business behind it. While I Got Time marks the first release under Mauboy’s own label, Jamally, launched in partnership with DistroDirect. After years within the major label system, this move feels like a statement: Mauboy is taking full creative control, not just of her music, but of how and where it lives.

Fresh off the launch of her beauty brand Desert Rose, Jamally is another strategic step forward and serves a platform for Mauboy to shape her career on her own terms. When speaking with MILKY, she shared her hopes on being able to champion and highlight local talent. It’s the kind of play we’re seeing more artists make as the industry continues to shift, and Mauboy’s timing feels right on cue.

While I Got Time is out now.