This country has a cultural heartbeat like few others. For millennia that pulse has been powered by music. It has always been song that has told this country’s stories – it’s why such an ancient culture remains so alive and powerful. But today we see a new tradition being born – young artists drawing from two very different worlds to make music and tell stories about contemporary life but with an ageless perspective. And right there at the front of that crop of new artists is Emily Wurramara .

Emily’s debut EP is ‘Black Smoke’, 6 songs proving her passion for culture and heritage heard through every beat and skip of her deeply engaging and personal songs pulsed by her detailed and crafted talent for songwriting. Singing in both English and Anindilyakwa (annen-dilly-yark-wah), the traditional language of her home on Groote Eylandt, NT, Wurramara says “The language songs are definitely a dedication to my grandmother.” Produced by acclaimed artist David Bridie (My Friend The Chocolate Cake: Not Drowning, Waving) and featured percussion by Greg Sheehan, June 17 will mark the release of ‘Black Smoke’ through Wantok Musik.

Released in March this year, Emily’s debut single ‘Ngerraberrakernama’ (pronounced nehrah-berah-ker-nahma) is a case in point. Added to rotation on ABC Local Radio the track debuted #7 in the Amrap Metro Charts before holding a top 10 position regionally for over a month, and trumping #1 late April. The track amassed airplay in every state and territory at stations including JJJ, ABC Radio National, ABC Local Radio, ABC Gold Coast, PBS, FBI, 4ZZZ, RTRFM, Triple R, 2XXfm, Homebrew, Radio Adelaide, Edge Radio Hobart, ArtSound, Eastside Radio, Three D, Voice FM, TEABBA, Koori Radio, Radio Goolarri, Mountain District Radio, Yolngu Radio in NT, Fraser Coast FM in QLD, King Island Community Radio in TAS, as well as Inner FM, 3RPC and 3MGB in VIC, Tjuma Pulka FM, 6DBY and Voice of Avon in WA, PBA FM, Fleurieu FM, Alex FM, 5GTR and 5CST in SA, and Bay FM, Radio Dungog, Norfolk Island Radio, 2AIR FM, Wagga’s Life FM, 2SEA, Nambucca Valley Radio and Radio Blue Mountains in NSW. Add in a couple of 2016 Queensland Music Award nominations and the picture starts to build of a young artist with a very bright tomorrow.

Emily has become a seasoned performer who has taken her music around the country and abroad with show and festival appearances in Sweden and France. Closer to home she has performed at Gaarma Festival, Island Vibes, Woodford Folk Festival, Clancestry and numerous other events; performing alongside respected artists like Shellie Morris, Troy Cassar Daley and Impossible Odds.

This June/July the 20-year-old will embark on a national tour to launch Black Smoke – keeping it simple and speaking loud and proud about issues close to her heart. This is an artist on an important journey that’s only just beginning. Listen.