Mama Kin

Danielle Caruana, known professionally as Mama Kin, is an Australian singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, Beat and Holler and The Magician's Daughter. She lives with her family in Fremantle.

Early life Caruana grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Newport, the youngest, by some years, of six siblings by parents of Maltese extraction. The family was musical and she studied classical piano from the age of five to 16. Caruana says, "I loved all of it, because my brothers and sisters were into it. I couldn't imagine a life without music", The Mama Kin band came about through playing with her brothers Nicky Bomba and Michael Caruana. Caruana, her brother Michael on keyboards and drummer George Servanis are the principal members of the Mama Kin ensemble. Of the album Caruana has said, "In almost every song, although it might sound like I'm talking about a partner, I'm generally talking about a part of myself."

Caruana's second album, The Magician's Daughter, was released on 22 February 2013. It is named after her mother, an actual magician's daughter. Caruana's grandfather worked as a professional magician in post-World War II Malta, and her mother, Iris, was one of his assistants.

The Magician's Daughter was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Blues and Roots Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013.

Caruna joined with Dingo Spender from Offcutts to form Mama Kin Spender and they released the album Golden Magnetic in 2018. Golden Magnetic was nominated for an ARIA Award for Best Blues & Roots Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2018.

Philanthropy and other activities Caruana contributes to philanthropic activities in the fields of indigenous and environmental rights. their set introduced by Kevin Rudd.

The Seed Fund, originally the JB Seed Fund, was set up in 2005 by Butler, Caruana and others with an initial donation of A$80,000, to help artists and musicians become self-sustained. Its flagship project is the Management Workshop, in which 25 emerging managers have three days of workshops with experienced industry managers of internationally known Australian bands. Caruana says the main motivation behind creating the organisation is to create community within the music industry.

Personal life Caruana met John Butler in Fremantle, Western Australia

Discography Studio albums Title Details Beat and Holler Released: 2009 Label: Mama Kin (MAMA003) Format: CD, digital download The Magician's Daughter Released: 22 February 2013 Label: Star House Collective (SHC004) Format: CD, digital download Golden Magnetic Released: 13 February 2018 Label: ABC Music (6728163) Format: CD, LP, streaming digital download

EPs Title Details Papoose Released: 4 October 2008 Label: Mama Kin Format: Digital download Talisman Released: March 2013 Label: Mama Kin Format: Digital download Are You Listening? Released: 9 April 2020 Label: Mama Kin Spender Format: Digital download, streaming

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. 2010 Beat and Holler Best Blues and Roots Album 2013 The Magician's Daughter Best Blues and Roots Album

ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Lost to 2013 The Magician's Daughter Best Blues & Roots Album Russell Morris - Sharkmouth 2018 Golden Magnetic (as Mama Kin Spender) Best Blues & Roots Album Tash Sultana - Flow State

West Australian Music Industry Awards The West Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMIs) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM).

(wins only) 2013 Mama Kin Best Folk Act 2018 Mama Kin Spender Best Blues / Roots Act