Thelma Plum

Thelma Amelina Plumbe (born 21 December 1994), known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian (Gamilaraay ) singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her debut album, Better in Blak, was released on 30 July 2019 and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Plum has received various accolades, including for Best Cover Art at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards for Dennis Pfitzner's artwork.

Early life Thelma Amelina Plumbe was born on 21 December 1994 in Brisbane. She is a Gamilaraay woman from Delungra, New South Wales. Plum graduated from the Music Industry College, Brisbane and spent most of her early life in that city. "Father Said" was released in November 2012 as her official debut single. Plum released her debut extended play, Rosie, in March 2013 and followed with her second EP, Monsters (July 2014). By that time she had relocated to Melbourne. has toured around Australia

2018–2021: Better in Blak Plum released her debut album, Better in Blak, in July 2019. In October 2019 she came at No. 7 in Happy Mag 's list of "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019 she received six nominations and won Best Cover Art for Emilie Pfitzner's work on her album.

In January 2020, Plum became the highest ranking Indigenous artist ever in the Triple J Hottest 100, when "Better in Blak" was voted in at number 9. Two months later, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May 2020, Plum released a cover of Powderfinger's "These Days". In October, she performed at the 2020 AFL Grand Final.

2022–2023: Meanjin and When Rosie Met Monsters In July 2022, Plum announced her third EP, Meanjin, alongside its second single "When It Rains It Pours".

Meanjin is Plum's "love letter" to Brisbane and was written on her balcony in lockdown due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In November 2022, Plum announced When Rosie Met Monsters, compiling the EPs Rosie and Monsters together on vinyl, CD and cassette.

2024: I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back In November 2023, Plum released "We Don't Talk About It", the first new music in over twelve months. Her second studio album I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back was released in October 2024.

Discography Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details about release date and label Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications AUS Better in Blak Released: 12 July 2019 Label: Warner Music Australia (5419704880) Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming 4 ARIA: Gold I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back Released: 18 October 2024 Label: Warner Music Australia Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming 7

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected details about release date and label Title Details When Rosie Met Monsters Released: 25 November 2022 Label: Footstomp (STOMPER005) Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — Monsters Released: 4 July 2014 Label: Warner Music Australia (5419626612)

As featured artist +List of singles as featured artist, with year released, selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions Album AUS "No One" 2015 58 XXIV (EP) "Ticket to Heaven" 2020 — Don't Sleep "Go to War" 2020 — Always Was "Thick Skin" 2025 — Djandjay

Other charted songs +List of non-single chart appearances, with year released and album name shown Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZHot "Don't Let a Good Girl Down" 2019 35 Better in Blak

Guest appearances

Awards and nominations APRA Awards The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Plum has been nominated for two awards.

"Better in Blak" APRA Song of the Year

herself Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year

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 Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Thelma Plum won an award from six nominations in 2019.

Emilie Pfitzner for Thelma Plum - Better in Blak Best Cover Art

Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore for Thelma Plum – "Better in Blak" Best Video

Album of the Year Best Female Artist Best Pop Release Breakthrough Artist 2021 Thelma Plum – Homecoming Queen Tour Best Australian Live Act

Best Solo Artist

Best Pop Release The Meanjin Tour Best Australian Live Act

Album of the Year

Best Solo Artist Best Pop Release Alex Burnett for Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back Best Produced Release Kira Puru and Em Jensen for Thelma Plum – I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back Best Cover Art

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. 2019 Better in Blak Album of the Year

Australian Women in Music Awards The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018. 2019 Thelma Plum Songwriter Award 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. 2012 herself Unearthed Artist of the Year

Better in Blak Australian Album of the Year

"Better in Blak" Australian Video of the Year

National Indigenous Music Awards The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. Thelma Plum has won two awards. 2013 Thelma Plum Best New Talent 2015 "How Much Does Your Love Cost?" Song of the Year

Better in Blak Album of the Year

"Better in Blak" Song of the Year

Thelma Plum Artist of the Year

"Homecoming Queen" Song of the Year

Thelma Plum Artist of the Year

"Backseat of My Mind" Song of the Year

Meanjin (EP) Album of the Year

"The Brown Snake" Film Clip of the Year

Song of the Year

Film Clip of the Year

National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

Live Voice of the Year

Queensland Live Voice of the Year 2023 Thelma Plum Best Pop Act 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.

(wins only) 2013 "Rosie" Indigenous Song of the Year 2020 Better in Blak Album of the Year

Pop Award

Song 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. 2023 Meanjin Best Record

"Freckles" Best Single

Thelma Plum Rolling Stone Readers Award

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009. 2013 "Breathe in Breathe Out" Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

2020 "Better in Blak" Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition