Emily Wurramara

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Emily Wurramara
BornDarwin, Northern Territory, Australia
OriginAustralia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • Director
  • activist
Websitewww.emilywurramara.com.au

Emily Wurramara is an Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter.

In 2018, Wurramara was nominated for Best Blues and Roots Album at the ARIA Awards.

Early life[edit]

Wurramara is a Warnindhilyagwa woman from Groote Eylandt, 50 kilometres (31 mi) off the Northern Territory of Australia. She grew up in Brisbane.[1][2] Her father is of Filipino and Chinese heritage.

Career[edit]

Wurramara writes and sings in both English and Anindilyakwa.[1][2]

In 2016, she released her debut EP, Black Smoke, which earned her a Queensland Music Award. She followed it up with an album named Milyakburra in 2018 and toured nationally with Alice Skye.[3] Milyakburra is named after the island of Milyakburra, sacred to Wurramara and her people. Family members feature on the album, including Wurramara’s Uncle Enoch singing on track ‘TITLE’ and her great-grandmother features on song ‘Carry Me Home’. The album art is by her grandmother.[4]

In November 2022, she collaborated with other First Nations artists Emma Donovan, DOBBY, Drmngnow, and Optamus to create a song in memory of Cassius Turvey, a Noongar-Yamatji boy who had died at the age of 15 the result of an assault by a random attacker when walking home from school in Perth, Western Australia. The song, titled "Forever 15",[5] was played at Turvey's funeral on 18 November 2022 funeral[6] and released three days later on 21 November 2022.[5][7]

Wurramurra appeared on the cover of Coles supermarket chain's Health and Beauty magazine for Winter 2023, alongside Noongar singer Bumpy.[8]

Personal life[edit]

On 2 May 2019, a fire at her home in Brisbane destroyed most of her belongings.[9]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Title Details
Milyakburra

Extended plays[edit]

Title Details
Black Smoke
Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs)

Singles[edit]

Year Title Album
2016 "Ngerraberrakernama (Wake Up)"[14] Black Smoke
"Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)"[15]
"Black Smoke"[16]
"Ementha-Papaguneray (Turtle Song)"[17] Milyakburra
2017 "Hey Love"[18]
2019 "Yuwani"[19] (with Mambali) non album singles
"Laughing Buddha"[20] (with Chong Ali)
"Black Boy"[21] (with Flewnt)
2020 "Trust"[22] (with Kuya James)
"Cruisin'"[23]
2024 "Magic Woman Dancing"[24]
"Midnight Blues"[25]

Non-single album appearances[edit]

Year Title Album
2017 "Black Boy"[26] Deadly Hearts
2020 "Get Back to the Land" (with DRMNGNOW)[27] Deadly Hearts: Walking Together
2022 "Dressing Up" ReWiggled
2024 "So High" (with PNAU) Hyperbolic

Awards and nominations[edit]

AIR Awards[edit]

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2019 Emily Wurramara Breakthrough Independent Artist Nominated [28][29]
Milyakburra Best Independent Blues and Roots Album Won
2023 Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs) Best Independent Children's Album or EP Nominated [30][31]

ARIA Music Awards[edit]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2018 Milyakburra Best Blues & Roots Album Nominated

Environmental Music Prize[edit]

The Environmental Music Prize is a quest to find a theme song to inspire action on climate and conservation. It commenced in 2022.[32]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2022 "When a Tree Falls" (The Boy of Many Colors featuring Emily Wurramara) Environmental Music Prize Nominated [33]
2023 "Lady Blue" Environmental Music Prize Nominated [34][35]

National Indigenous Music Awards[edit]

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) is an annual award ceremony and recognises excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry.

Year Nominee / work Award Result ! Ref.
2017 "Herself" New Talent of the Year Nominated
"Hey Love" Song of the Year Nominated
2018 "Herself" New Talent of the Year Nominated
Milyakburra Album of the Year Nominated
2020 "Herself" Artist of the Year Nominated [36]

National Live Music Awards[edit]

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2023 Emily Wurramara Best Folk Act Won [37][38]
Live Voice in Tasmania Nominated

Queensland Music Awards[edit]

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[39]

Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only)
2017[40] "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" Indigenous Song of the Year Won
2018[41] "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" Indigenous Song of the Year Won
2019[42] "Lady Blue" Indigenous Song of the Year Won
"Tap Sticks" Blues and Roots Song of the Year Won

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Nally, Alicia (6 July 2017), "Carving her own pathway", Cairns Post
  2. ^ a b Archibald-Binge, Ella (30 May 2017), "'There is no shame': Emily Wurramara determined to preserve culture through song", NITV
  3. ^ Heaney, Chelsea (12 July 2018), "Emily Wurramara and Alice Skye wrap up their 'River Eylandt' tour in Darwin", NT News
  4. ^ Rae, Rosie. "Emily Wurramara talks preservation of Milyakburra culture and the importance of community". purplesneakers.com.au. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "DOBBY, Emily Wurramara, Kee'ahn, DRMNGNOW and more feature on song honouring the late Cassius Turvey". NME. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  6. ^ Ho, Cason (18 November 2022). "Cassius Turvey funeral: hundreds mourn slain teenager and celebrate his life". ABC News. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Forever 15". Apple Music. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Coles Health and Beauty Magazine". Coles Online. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  9. ^ Langford, Jackson (2 May 2019), "'Emily Wurramara Has "Lost Everything" In A House Fire", Music Feeds
  10. ^ "Milyakburra". Apple Music. June 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Milyakburra (CD)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  12. ^ Johnson, Daniel (15 July 2018), "Emily Wurramara", Courier Mail
  13. ^ "Black Smoke (Ep)". Apple Music. June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Ngerraberrakernama (Wake Up) - single". Apple Music. March 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You) - Emily Wurramara". bandcamp. May 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Black Smoke - Emily Wurramara". YouTube. June 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Emily Wurramara - Ementha-Papaguneray (Turtle Song) - Greenpeace - Save The Reef". YouTube. November 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  18. ^ "Hey Love - single". Apple Music. February 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  19. ^ "Yuwani - single". Apple Music. May 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  20. ^ "Laughing Buddha - single". Apple Music. July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Black Boy - single". Apple Music. September 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  22. ^ "Trust - single". Apple Music. June 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  23. ^ "Cruisin' - single". Apple Music. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  24. ^ "Feature Video: Emily Wurramara - Magic Woman Dancing". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Emily Wurramara releases new single ahead of special Gadigal Country headline show". National Indigenous Times. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  26. ^ "VA Deadly Hearts". JBHiFi. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  27. ^ "VA Deadly Hearts 3". JBHiFi. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  28. ^ "2019 AIR Awards Nominees". 28 March 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  29. ^ "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  30. ^ "Nominees Announced for the Australian Independent Music Awards 2023". Music Feeds. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  31. ^ "King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards". Music Feeds. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  32. ^ "Environmental Music Prize Searches for Green Theme Song". The Music Network. May 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  33. ^ "Prize". Environmental Music Prize. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  34. ^ "Environmental Music Prize 2023 Finalists". Music Feeds. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Xavier Rudd Wins 2023's Environmental Music Prize". Music Feeds. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  36. ^ "Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled". noise11. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  37. ^ "Nominees Announced For The 2023 National Live Music Awards". The Music. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  38. ^ "Genesis Owusu And Amyl & The Sniffers Win Big At The 2023 National Live Music Awards". The Music. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  39. ^ "About the Queensland Music Awards". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  40. ^ "Past Winners 2020". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Past Winners 2018". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Past Winners 2019". Queensland Music Awards. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
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