Emma Donovan

Emma Donovan (born 1981) is an Aboriginal Australian singer and songwriter. She is a member of the musical Donovan family. She started her singing career at age seven with her uncle's band, the Donovans. In 2000, she became a founding member of Stiff Gins, leaving the band three years later to release the solo album Changes, in 2004. She performs with the Black Arm Band and released a solo EP, Ngaaraanga, in 2009.

Donovan has been nominated for multiple Deadly Awards, including Female Artist of the Year, and performed at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She won Best Female Artist at the 2009 BUMP Awards. Donovan appeared in the ABC series Dynasties in 2004 and was the subject of the 2005 SBS TV documentary Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady.

Donovan has performed with Indigenous Australian musicians such as Frank Yamma, her cousin Casey Donovan, Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter, Christine Anu, Tiddas, Yothu Yindi, and Jimmy Little. Her mother, Agnes Donovan, is a Gumbaynggirr and Dunghutti woman from the Nambucca Valley on the north coast of New South Wales, where Emma was raised.

Music Donovan's musical singing career started at a young age. Her grandparents Micko and Aileen Donovan, years before her birth, founded the Aboriginal country band The Donovans, which consisted of their five sons and daughter Agnes singing at local events. Donovan's uncles still perform as the Donovan Brothers band. At the age of seven, she began periodically singing with the Donovans. Her family and mother Agnes encouraged and supported her singing, Agnes taking her to talent competitions around the country.

In 2007, Donovan was invited to become a member of the Black Arm Band.

Donovan performed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

2022–present In January 2022, Donovan released a cover of Archie Roach's "Get back to the Land" with The Teskey Brothers.

In November 2022, she collaborated with other First Nations artists DOBBY, Emily Wurramara, 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.

In July 2023, Donovan released "Take No More" with Kee'Ahn.

In February 2024, Donovan announced the release of her fifth studio album, Til My Song is Done, scheduled for release on 19 April 2024.

In May 2026, Donovan released a covers album titled, Take Me to the River.

Musical style Donovan's singing and songwriting frequently blend reggae, gospel, smooth soul, roots, and country music.

Although she has stated she is proud of her Naaguja, Yamatji, and Danggali tribal heritage, she most frequently expresses her Gumbaynggirr heritage from her mother's side in her music, often singing in the traditional language. Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady (SBS TV) (2004) Dynasties (ABC series) (2005) murundak – songs of freedom (AFI) (2011)

Discography Albums Title Album details Changes Released: 2004 Format: CD Note: The album was sponsored by the Australia Council for the Arts Dawn (by Emma Donovan & The PutBacks) Released: 7 November 2014 Format: CD, DD, LP Label: Hope Street Recordings (HS015) Crossover (by Emma Donovan & The PutBacks) Released: 6 November 2020 Format: CD, DD, LP, streaming Label: Hope Street Recordings Under These Streets (by Emma Donovan & The PutBacks) Released: 17 September 2021 Format: CD, DD, LP, streaming Label: Heavy Machinery Records/Cooking Vinyl Australia Til My Song Is Done Scheduled: 19 April 2024 Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP 2022 Under These Streets (with the Putbacks) Best Independent Soul/R&B Album or EP 2024 "Blak Nation" (directed by Chris Cowburn) Independent Music Video of the Year 2025 Til My Song Is Done Best Independent Blues and Roots Album or EP Rohan Sforcina and Lachlan Carrick for Emma Donovan Til My Song Is Done Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year

APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982. 2026 "Thick Skin" (Baker Boy featuring Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Kee'ahn & Jada Weazel) (Danzal Baker, Rob Amoruso, Kee'ahn Bindol, Emma Donovan, Thelma Plum, Pip Norman, Jada Weazel) Song of the Year

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual ceremony presented by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), which recognise excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of the music of Australia. They commenced in 1987.

Best Blues and Roots Album

Best Independent Release 2022 Under These Streets (with the PutBacks) Best Soul/R&B Release

Best Solo Artist

Best Adult Contemporary Album Australian Music Prize The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It commenced in 2005.

Crossover Album of the Year

Under These Streets Australian Music Prize The Deadly Awards The Deadly Awards, commonly known simply as The Deadlys, was an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. The ran from 1995 to 2013. 2003 Emma Donovan Female Artist of the Year 2021 Emma Donovan & The Putbacks Double J Artist of the Year Music Victoria Awards The Music Victoria Awards, are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2005.

Dawn (Emma Donovan & The Putbacks) Best Soul, Funk, R'n'B and Gospel Album

Emma Donovan Best Indigenous Act 2016 Emma Donovan Best Indigenous Act

herself Outstanding Woman in Music Crossover Best Victorian Album

Best Group Best Soul, Funk, R'n'B or Gospel Act Emma Donovan Best Musician 2022 Emma Donovan & The Putbacks Best Group

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

Dawn (Emma Donovan and Putbacks) Album of the Year

"Black Woman" Song of the Year 2016 Emma Donovan Artist of the Year 2022 Under These Streets Album of the Year

Emma Donovan Artist of the Year

Til My Song Is Done Album of the Year

Emma Donovan Artist 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 Live Act in Victoria

Best R&B or Soul Act Emma Donovan Live Voice in Victoria

Take Me to the River Album of the Year

Song of the Year Film Clip of the Year

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.

Til My Song Is Done Best LP/EP