Trailblazing young Groote Eylandt artist, Greenpeace ambassador and all-round total queen Emily Wurramara has just dropped her new single Ementha-Papaguneray (Turtle Song), which has been used in support of Greenpeace’s Save The Reef initiative.
You’ve probably heard Wurramara’s name around the traps, because holy shit has this ever been a gigantic year for her. Her debut track Ngerraberrakernama was added to rotation on ABC Local Radio, climbed to #1 in the AMRAP metro charts, and amassed airplay in every state and territory including on triple j. Her follow-up was Black Smoke, a mature, affecting debut EP that was PBS’s feature record and RRR’s Soundscape feature, along with its titular single track that gained full rotation on the j’s. She was a 2x finalist in the Indigenous category and performer at the Queensland Music Awards in March, a New Talent finalist at the National Indigenous Music Awards in August, triple j feature artist at BIGSOUND, and guest speaker on the BIGSOUND panel for AMRAP’S ‘The Future of Your Music’ conference. In short: girl has been killing it.
Her newest offering is sung in her native language of Anindilyakwa (annen-dilly-yark-wah), and is the third single pulled from Black Smoke. It’s a charmingly jangly, optimistic track that, fittingly enough, evokes a sense of childlike wonder – the song is acutally a combination of two traditional childrens songs, Ementha (turtle) Papaguneray (swim or fun and play) that Wurramara has then made her own. It’s being used as part of Greenpeace’s Save The Reef campaign – aiming to communicate the beauty, splendour and essential nature of our reef. “This song is a reminder of my childhood and the beauty, peace and carefree nature of living on the Island,” Wurramara said of the track. “As a salt water woman myself, to be able to lend this song to the Greenpeace campaign to raise awareness for the reef is such an honour. It is our individual and collective responsibility as custodians of the earth to protect it.”
In an often bleak and depressing world, Emily Wurramara’s relentlessly strong sense of identity and commitment to activism is a beacon of hope and light. We don’t think we’re alone in saying we are all about this. Wurramara’s art is important, and we can’t wait to see what she does next. You should definitely catch her at one of her upcoming tour dates, below.
Friday Nov 4th
Brisbane @ Milk Factory
Tickets $10 At Door
RSVP Here
Saturday Nov 5th
Geelong @ Narana Festival
Tickets Here
Friday Nov 18th
Melbourne @ Commonground Festival
SOLD OUT
Join Waitlist Here
Saturday Nov 19th
Melbourne @ Wesley Anne
Tickets $10 At Door
RSVP Here
Saturday Nov 26th
Adelaide @ Tandanya Arts Cafe – Spirit Festival
Tickets At Door
More Details Here
Tuesday Dec 27th – Saturday Dec 31st
Woodford Folk Festival
Tickets Here
Image: Dane Beesley