AND THE WINNERS ARE…
Best Adult Contemporary Album:
Emily Wurramara – NARA (ABC Music/The Orchard)
Best World Music Album:
DOBBY – Warrangu; River Story (ABC Music/The Orchard)
The ABC Music team are immensely proud of ARIA Award winners EMILY WURRAMARA and DOBBY who have both taken away their first ever ARIA wins at the 2024 awards.
Natalie Waller, Head of ABC Music & Events, said today, “Our heartfelt congratulations to Emily and DOBBY for picking up their ARIA Award last night. It’s so special to see artists recognised for their work, we could not be more thrilled for them.”
Still in shock, Emily Wurramara said, “I’m so happy that I got this. It’s a bit surreal still. I’m so grateful for all the support for NARA and this new era. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Big love.”
Says DOBBY “It’s feels honestly super surreal to have won. I’m so appreciative and so grateful for everything that my team has put into the album to get it to where this is. It’s going to take a while for this to sink in.”
EMILY WURRAMARA – listen here
“NARA” which means ‘nothing’ in Emily’s native language was inspired by a house fire which saw Wurramara lose everything, and yet realise she had everything at the same time.
Emily says, “This album is a self-reflection of my journey and my stories, I’m extremely vulnerable through all these songs and you can really feel it.”
The album marks a major shift in Emily’s well-loved indie-folk sound, spanning genres, welcoming a host of renowned collaborators and introducing the world to a version of Wurramara who has seen hardship and reclaimed her power.
Emily recently took out the Triple J and Rage music video of the year award for “Lordy Lordy” and is currently touring Nationally to celebrate the release of “NARA”.
DOBBY – listen here
DOBBY said “This album is incredibly personal to me, born from the strength and urgency of my community. As a proud Murrawarri artist, I present “WARRANGU; River Story” with all its rich teachings and powerful messages. Seven years in the making, this project is a testament to our heritage, resilience, and the vibrant stories that flow through our rivers and culture. Dedicated to my grandmother Mary Shearer.”
WARRANGU; River Story is a collection of cultural knowledge of three rivers that form the surrounding tribal boundaries in Brewarrina NSW. The stories follow the Bogan River to the South, the Culgoa River to the North, and the Barwon River to the east. My grandmother Mary Clapham Nee Shearer was born and raised in Brewarrina. Her father, George Shearer, was born under the birthing tree on Murrawarri land on the Culgoa at Corella Station. WARRANGU; River Story is a journey back home to my family’s history, a connection to Culture.
