Biography
A new chapter dawns for award winning songwriter and musician Emily Wurramara. Since audiences were first introduced to Wurramara via the Black Smoke EP (2016), Wurramara’s natural talents as a storyteller have been on show, beautifully delivered through music that is engaging and has built a history of being deeply resonant with audiences around Australia.
Amassing over fourteen million streams on Spotify alone, as well as widespread Australia industry acclaim…An artist whose musical output represented a new era coming to life for Indigenous Australian musicians, Wurramara’s impact was immediately felt. A Warnindhilyagwa woman from Groote Eylandt, Emily Wurramara has spent most of her life growing up between Meanjin (Brisbane) and the Northern Territory. Writing and singing in both English and Anindilyakwa language, Wurramara’s music has added to a recent wave of contemporary Australian blues and roots music that has seamlessly brought the language of her people to new communities in a way that empowers and celebrates her culture. Her music, honest and inspiring, has led Wurramara to establish a body of work that includes the acclaimed debut studio album, Milyakburra (2018) – a record that earned the performer an ARIA Award nomination, an AIR Award win; as well as six Queensland Music Awards. The album spoke to Wurramara’s connection to land, country and to her family, offering new and long term audiences alike a more specific insight into her journey; intimate and nuanced, the album proved to be an exciting release, as it provided a breath of fresh air into the Australian music scene.
The years that followed Milyakburra saw Wurramara develop a respected and refined live reputation, continuing to cut her teeth as a performer on stages around the country as a
headliner and supporting the likes of Midnight Oil, Jack Johnson, Michael Franti, Rob Thomas, Mavis Staples and more. As her profile and artistic journey flourished in the public space, Emily Wurramara has also been developing her interests in the space of advocacy; dedicating herself to championing important causes that need more awareness like mental health, youth suicide prevention and environmental issues. Tying into her emotional and in depth music and songwriting skill, Wurramara’s handle on language and its emotional impact has made her into a figure of
inspiration and admiration.
And as she has approached her long-awaited second studio album, Wurramara has continued to follow her natural instincts as a poet and musician, pouring her heart and clear artistic vision
into a beautiful new body of work, titled Nara Nara (meaning “nothing” in Anindilyakwa language) is a record five years in the making; though the journey to get here has bred a stronger Emily Wurramara on all levels. The seasoned vocals heard throughout the record offers a new perspective from Wurramara’s point of view; she has let herself grow into an even more confident vocalist and artist. The arrangements strike a balance between empowerment and fulfillment; Nara pulls deep in showing the listener a realistic and raw portrait of where Emily Wurramara is at this stage of her life. While Nara has been in the works for some time, it is a collection of music that still captures a feeling of vibrancy and peace felt in the process; making the overall listening experience that much more arresting to immerse oneself in.
This is music that captivates from the start – a reminder of where Emily Wurramara has come from, and an exciting indication of where she is heading next.