Emily Wurramara is an

Indigenous Australian Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...

singer and songwriter. In

2018 File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the United ...

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

Early life

Wurramara is a Warnindhilyagwa woman from

Groote Eylandt Groote Eylandt ( Anindilyakwa: ''Ayangkidarrba'' meaning "island" ) is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria and the fourth largest island in Australia. It was named by the explorer Abel Tasman in 1644 and is Dutch for "Large Island" in ...

, off the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

of Australia. She grew up in Brisbane.

Music

Wurramara writes and sings in both English and Anindilyakwa. 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 Alice Skye is an Australian singer and songwriter. She is a Wergaia woman from Horsham. In 2017, she was the Triple J Unearthed National Indigenous Winner. She released her debut album ''Friends with Feelings'' in 2018 and toured nationally wi ...

. In November 2022, she collaborated with other First Nations artists

Emma Donovan Emma Donovan (born 1981) is an Aboriginal Australian singer and songwriter. She is a member of the renowned musical Donovan family. She started her singing career at age seven with her uncle's band, the Donovans. In 2000, she became a founding m ...

DOBBY Rhyan Clapham, known by his stage name Dobby (stylised as DOBBY), is a Filipino-Aboriginal Australian musician. He describes himself as a "drapper", a contraction of rapper and drummer, although he also plays other instruments and is also a compo ...

, Drmngnow, and

Optamus Scott Griffiths, better known by the stage name Optamus, is one of the MCs of the Perth, Western Australia, Perth-based Australian Hip hop music, hip-hop group Downsyde and member of WA's Syllabolix Crew. Optamus is also the name of Griffiths' s ...

to create a song in memory of

Cassius Turvey Cassius Turvey was a 15-year-old Australian boy who was assaulted on 13 October 2022 in Perth, Western Australia, and died ten days later of his injuries. His death sparked vigils and rallies across Australia and internationally. A 21-year-old m ...

, a

Noongar The Noongar (, also spelt Noongah, Nyungar , Nyoongar, Nyoongah, Nyungah, Nyugah, and Yunga ) are Aboriginal Australian peoples who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia, from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the so ...

Yamatji Yamatji (or Yamaji) is a Wajarri word that has at least three different meanings: * a member of the Watjarri people * any Aboriginal Australian person from the Murchison region of Western Australia * any group made up of members of different I ...

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 Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, Western Australia. The song, titled "Forever 15", was played at Turvey's funeral on 18 November 2022 funeral and released three days later on 21 November 2022.

Personal life

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

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

Non-single album appearances

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as

AIR Awards 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. History The inaugural 2006 awards were held at ...

) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. , - , rowspan="2" ,

AIR Awards of 2019 The AIR Awards of 2019 is the thirteenth annual Australian Independent Record Labels Association Music Awards (generally known as the AIR Awards) and was an award ceremony at Freemasons Hall Adelaide, Australia on Thursday 25 July 2019. The aw ...

, Emily Wurramara , Breakthrough Independent Artist , , - , ''Milyakburra'' , Best Independent Blues and Roots Album , , -

ARIA Music Awards

The

ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of

Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of ...

. , - ,

, ''Milyakburra'' , Best Blues & Roots Album , , -

Environmental Music Prize

The

Environmental Music Prize The Environmental Music Prize is a prize launched in partnership with Green Music Australia. It aims to celebrate and amplify powerful music videos that inspire action for climate and conservation. It was launched during the United Nations Cl ...

is a quest to find a theme song to inspire action on climate and conservation. It commenced in 2022. ! , - , 2022 , "When a Tree Falls" (The Boy of Many Colors featuring Emily Wurramara) , Environmental Music Prize , , , -

National Indigenous Music Awards

The

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA), also known as the NT Indigenous Music Awards from 2004 to 2008, are music awards presented to recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians in ...

(NIMA) is an annual award ceremony and recognises excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the

music industry. , - , rowspan="2",

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

, "Herself" , New Talent of the Year , , - , "Hey Love" , Song of the Year , , - , rowspan="2",

, "Herself" , New Talent of the Year , , - , ''Milyakburra'' , Album of the Year , , - ,

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

, "Herself" , Artist of the Year , , -

Queensland Music Awards

The

Queensland Music Awards The Queensland Music Awards (commonly known as QMA and known as the Q Song Awards from 2006 to 2010) are annual awards celebrating Queensland's emerging artists. They commenced in 2006. Each year, the QMA Song of the Year is immortalised in a ...

(previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating

Queensland, Australia ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006. , - ,

, "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" , Indigenous Song of the Year , , - ,

, "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" , Indigenous Song of the Year , , - , rowspan="2",

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

, "Lady Blue" , Indigenous Song of the Year , , - , "Tap Sticks" , Blues and Roots Song of the Year , , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wurramara, Emily Indigenous Australian musicians Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Australian women singer-songwriters Musicians from the Northern Territory