Yirrmal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yirrmal
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| Birth name | Yirrmal Marika |
| Born | 1993 Yirrkala, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Origin | Northern Territory, Australia |
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| Years active | 2013–present |
| Associated acts | |
Yirrmal Marika (born in 1993), known simply as Yirrmal, is an Indigenous Australian singer. He is a Yolngu man from the Northern Territory. His music mixes traditional sounds with elements of Yolŋu culture.
Contents
Yirrmal's Early Life
Yirrmal Marika was born in 1993 in a place called Yirrkala. He belongs to the Rirratjingu clan. Yirrmal started learning music when he was 11 years old.
Yirrmal's Family and Inspirations
Yirrmal's father, Witiyana Marika, was a singer and dancer. He was part of the famous band Yothu Yindi. Yirrmal is also related to the well-known musician Dr Gurrumul Yunupingu.
Yirrmal says his biggest inspiration was his grandfather, Dr Yunupingu. Dr Yunupingu was also the lead singer of Yothu Yindi. Yirrmal shared that his grandfather "did great things for all Australians."
He also looks up to other Indigenous artists. These include Archie Roach, Gurrumul, Saltwater Band, Dan Sultan, Jessica Mauboy, and Rrawun Maymuru. Yirrmal moved to Geelong, Victoria in 2011.
Yirrmal's Music Career
Yirrmal began his music career in 2013. He released his first song, "Deep Blue Sea." He performed this song at many events. Sometimes he sang alone, and sometimes with his group, Yirrmal & The Yolngu Boys.
In November 2016, Yirrmal released his first collection of songs. It was an EP (Extended Play) called Youngblood. He explained that the music was about "living in two worlds." It shared messages and culture. A magazine called Forte Magazine gave the EP a perfect score. They said his voice and lyrics told stories of dreams and culture.
In 2017, Yirrmal worked with the artist Baker Boy. They made the song "Marryuna" together. This song became very popular. It reached number 17 on Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2017 list. "Marryuna" also won "Best Song" at the Music Victoria Awards of 2018. Its music video won "Film Clip of the Year" at the National Indigenous Music Awards 2018.
Yirrmal continued to release new music. In August 2022, he released "Promised Land." This song featured the singer Dami Im. It was produced by Andrew Farriss. In March 2023, Yirrmal released "Love Sweet Love." He wrote this song with Shane Howard from the band Goanna.
Yirrmal's Extended Plays
- Youngblood (Released: November 2016)
Awards and Nominations
Yirrmal has been recognized for his music. He has received nominations and awards for his songs.
AIR Awards
The AIR Awards celebrate independent music in Australia.
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | "Marryuna" (with Baker Boy) | Best Independent Single or EP | Nominated |
APRA Awards
The APRA Awards recognize songwriting and music performance in Australia and New Zealand.
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | "Marryuna" (with Baker Boy) | Urban Work of the Year | Nominated |
National Indigenous Music Awards
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) celebrate excellent Indigenous music.
| Year | Nominated Work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Yirrmal | New Talent of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2021 | "Ride" (Baker Boy featuring Yirrmal) | Film Clip of the Year | Won | |
| 2023 | "Promised Land" (featuring Dami Im) | Song of the Year | Nominated | |
| "Indigenous" (Indigenous Outreach Project w/ Gunyangara, Yirrkala & Dhalinbuy featuring Yirrmal) | Community Clip of the Year | Nominated |
