Emily Wurramara

Emily Wurramara is an Indigenous Australian / Filipino singer and songwriter. At the 2024 ARIA Music Awards, she won the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album, making her the first Indigenous woman to ever win in this category.

Early life Emily Wurramara moved between Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island (Milyakburra), two islands in the Gulf of Carpentaria off the coast of the Northern Territory, until she was six years old. Her father is of Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish descent, who grew up on the Philippine island of Negros. Her mother is a Warninidlyakwa/Greek/Italian/Turkish woman who grew up on the two islands.

Emily grew up in Brisbane after her family moved there when she was six. As a child, she wrote songs and poetry, and listened to Coloured Stone and Yothu Yindi on her grandparents' cassette player. and 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 on "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", and released three days later on 21 November 2022.

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

In July 2024, Wurramara announced the release of her second studio album Nara. The album was released on 23 August 2024. The album was supported with a national tour, and won Best Adult Contemporary Album at the 2024 ARIA Awards. She is the first Indigenous woman to win in this category at the ARIA Awards.

Personal life Wurramara has a daughter, born in 2017.

Discography Albums Title Details Milyakburra Release date: June 2018 Label: Wantok Music (W0020) Formats: Digital download, CD Nara Scheduled: 23 August 2024 Label: Emily Wurramara Formats: Digital download Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs) Release date: February 2022 Label: ABC Formats: digital download

Singles

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.

Emily Wurramara Breakthrough Independent Artist

Milyakburra Best Independent Blues and Roots Album 2023 Ayarra Emeba (Calm Songs) Best Independent Children's Album or EP

Independent Album of the Year

Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore for Emily Wurramara (featuring Tasman Keith) "Lordy Lordy" Independent Music Video of the Year ABC Music and The Annex for Nara Independent Marketing Team of the Year Liz Ansley for Nara Independent Publicity Team of the Year 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 Emily Wurramara Emerging Songwriter of the Year

"Adore Me" (Emily Wurramara and Caiti Baker)

Emily Wurramara

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. 2018 Milyakburra Best Blues & Roots Album

Best Adult Contemporary Album

Best Independent Release

Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore for Emily Wurramara – "Lordy Lordy" Best Video

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. 2022 "When a Tree Falls" (The Boy of Many Colors featuring Emily Wurramara) Environmental Music Prize 2023 "Lady Blue" Environmental Music Prize

J Awards The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

"Lordy Lordy" (featuring Tasman Keith) Directed by Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore Australian Video of the Year

Emily Wurramara Double J Artist of the Year 2025 Emily Wurramara Double J Artist of the Year

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.

"Herself" New Talent of the Year

"Hey Love" Song of the Year

"Herself" New Talent of the Year

Milyakburra Album of the Year 2020 "Herself" Artist of the Year

Emily Wurramara Artist of the Year

Nara Album of the Year "Lordy Lordy" Film Clip of the Year "S.T.F.A.F.M." 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.

Best Folk Act

Live Voice in Tasmania 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. 2017 "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" Indigenous Song of the Year 2018 "Ngayuwa Nalyelyingminama (I Love You)" Indigenous Song of the Year

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