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Emily Wurramara
Born Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
Origin Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • Director
  • activist

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

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

Career

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. 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.

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", was played at Turvey's funeral on 18 November 2022 funeral and released three days later on 21 November 2022.

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

Personal life

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

Discography

Albums

Title Details
Milyakburra

Extended plays

Title Details
Black Smoke
Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs)

Singles

Year Title Album
2016 "Ngerraberrakernama (Wake Up)" Black Smoke
"Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)"
"Black Smoke"
"Ementha-Papaguneray (Turtle Song)" Milyakburra
2017 "Hey Love"
2019 "Yuwani" (with Mambali) non album singles
"Laughing Buddha" (with Chong Ali)
"Black Boy" (with Flewnt)
2020 "Trust" (with Kuya James)
"Cruisin'"

Non-single album appearances

Year Title Album
2017 "Black Boy" Deadly Hearts
2020 "Get Back to the Land" (with DRMNGNOW) Deadly Hearts: Walking Together
2022 "Dressing Up" ReWiggled

Awards and nominations

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.

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

ARIA Music Awards

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

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

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

National Indigenous Music Awards

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

National Live Music Awards

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
Live Voice in Tasmania Nominated

Queensland Music Awards

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.

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