Emily Wurramara Creates ARIA Awards History

Emily Wurramara has etched her name in the history books.

By snagging the best adult contemporary album at the 2024 ARIA Awards last month for NARA NARA (via ABC Music), Wurramara becomes the very first Indigenous woman to win the category since the awards inception in 1987.

The feat was confirmed Friday by ARIA.

In support of her record-setting collection, the proud Warnindhilyagwa woman will hit the road in February 2025 for additional tour dates, which include headline spots in Naarm/Melbourne, Dharawal Country/Wollongong, Ngunnawal Country/Belconnen, plus a run of festivals including Treaty Day Out, Perth Festival, Riverboats Festival and WOMADelaide.

The tour opener at Workers Club on February 7th will mark first time she’ll have played a headline show in Naarm for nine years.

Her second album, NARA was also nominated for best independent release, a category won by Angie McMahon’s Light, Dark, Light Again.

Wurramara was in the winner’s circle with album cut “Lordy Lordy” featuring Tasman Keith, which claimed the J Award for triple j & rage’s music video of the year. NARA was also longlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

In a social post, Wurramara pays tribute to “all the elders and all the mob who came here in order for me to be here.” She adds, “NARA is a big album for me. I am so so honoured to be receiving  this ARIA recognition.”

NARA takes its name from the Anindilyakwa word for “nothing.” The followup to her debut album, Milyakburra from 2018, NARA chronicles intense highs and lows, from winning accolades, taking her music worldwide to losing her house in a fire, giving birth to her daughter, and struggling with mental health. Ultimately, the album reflects Wurramara’s peace in the realisation: “it was when I had nothing, I realised I had everything.”

NARA album encore tour dates:

Friday, February 7 – Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne VIC

Saturday, February 8 – Treaty Day Out, Gunaikurnai Country/Morwell VIC

Saturday, February 15 – Riverboats Music Festival, Yorta Yorta Country/Echuca VIC

Sunday, February 16 – Perth Festival, Boorloo/Perth WA

March 7 – 10 – WOMADelaide, Tarndanya Kaurna Yerta/Adelaide SA

Friday, Mar 21 – Great Southern Nights @ Music Lounge, Dharawal Country/Wollongong NSW

Saturday, March 22 – Belco Arts Centre, Ngunnawal Country/Belconnen ACT

For ticket details and updates, head to emilywurramara.au/home.