Barkaa

Chloe Quayle (born 1995), known by her stage name Barkaa (stylised in all caps), is an Aboriginal Australian (Malyangapa and Barkindji) and Triple J listed her as one of the top 5 female rappers in Australia.

Early life Barkaa was born as Chloe Quayle in 1995. She lived in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Merrylands as a child. She was known for performing rap at high school, and entered rap competitions in Blacktown. She is a Malyangapa and Barkindji woman.

Career Barkaa takes her name from the Barkindji word for the Darling River, Her music reflects her experiences with incarceration, child removal and addiction, with much of it overtly political; she has drawn from the words of Shareena Clanton and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks in her songs. Her song "Our Lives Matter", released in June 2020, became the unofficial anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement in Australia.

Her debut album, released on 2 December 2021, The song "King Brown", which she says is about a "shitty ex" is on the album. The Blak Matriarchy EP begins with a sample of actress Shareena Clanton.

Barkaa performed at the Paartjima festival on the 2022 Easter weekend in Alice Springs.

, Barkaa is signed to Bad Apples Music, which was founded by Briggs.

Released: 2 December 2021 Label: Bad Apples Formats: Digital download, streaming

Released: 30 August 2024

2023

Awards and nominations APRA Music Awards The APRA Music Awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually. 2025 "We Up" (Chloe Quayle and Jacob Turier) Song of the Year

Barkaa

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.

Blak Matriarchy Best Hip Hop / Rap Release

"Blak Matriarchy" (Barkaa, Selina Miles) Best Video 2024 Barkaa Best Australian Live Act

Best Solo Artist

Best Hip Hop/Rap Release Big Tidda Tour Best Australian Live Act

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music.

Barkaa New Talent of the Year

"King Brown" Song of the Year "King Brown" Film Clip of the Year "Blak Matriarchy" Film Clip of the Year

Barkaa Artist of the Year

"We Up" Film Clip of the Year "We Up" Song of the Year

Big Tidda Album of the Year

"Ngmaka" (featuring Leroy Johnson) Film Clip of the Year "Ngmaka" (featuring Leroy Johnson) Song of the Year

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

Barkaa Best Hip Hop Act

NSW Music Prize The NSW Music Prize aims to "celebrate, support and incentivise" the NSW's most talented artists, with "the aim of inspiring the next generations of stars". It commenced in 2025.

NSW Music Prize

NSW First Nations Music Prize Rolling Stone Australia Awards The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year. 2025 Barkaa Best Live Act