Milyakburra by Emily Wurramara

Emily Wurramara is a talented singer-songwriter from Groote Eylandt, an island off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory, who is now based in Tasmania. Through her music, she shares stories of country, family and culture sung in English and her traditional language Anindilyakwa.

Her debut album Milyakburra is steeped in the sand, salt and concrete of her family, community, islands and all of the souls that have played a part in her journey so far. Teaming up with award-winning producer David Bridie, the album explores the contrasting themes of the two worlds in which Emily grew up – the island and the city. It contains special collaborations from her Uncle Enoch, some of the children of Groote Eylandt and her Great Great Grandmother ‘Gayangwa Lalara’.
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Milyakburra, released on Wantok Musik, was critically acclaimed and played widely on triple j & ABC radio amongst others. The album ​was nominated for the 2018 ARIA Award for ‘Best Blues And Roots Album’ and received four 2019 Queensland Music Award Nominations. The album also won the ‘Best Blues And Roots Album of the Year’ at the 2019 AIR Awards.

"The songs on this album have been written over time. ‘Tapsticks' was my second song to ever be written on guitar. I was 12 years old when I wrote it. These songs have grown out of my own experiences, the stories and dreams I’ve been told from the people I love and of course my love for our Earth and all the mystery and mystical beings she holds. During my career so far as a songwriter and as a musician I have met so many wonderful, kind and beautiful human beings along the way that have kept faith in my stories and my music. I am forever grateful for their friendship, advice and love. I’ve come across diversity. I’ve come across pain. I’ve come across freedom. I’ve come across the unknown, but music has always been my drive and passion for life. It has allowed me to discover my love for my people, for my culture, and a responsibility to archive my language and my stories through the universal language of music." - Emily Wurramara

Emily Wurramara is a young Aboriginal woman who has been writing songs since she was 6, singing in both English and Annandilyakwa, the traditional language of her home, Groote Eylandt. She is a prolific song-writer and multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, piano and ukulele.

emilywurramara.com.au