"What’s more important than telling your stories?” – Emily Wurramara, a proud Warnindhilyagwa woman, asks during the uke-guided lullaby Verandah.
In 2019, Wurramara’s house in Meanjin/Brisbane was gutted by fire. She lost everything and was left with nara, which translates to ‘nothing’ in the Anindilyakwa language.
But through tragedy, Wurramara found peace: “It was when I had nothing, I realised I had everything.”
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Longing for home and missing loved ones is a recurring theme throughout Wurramara’s breathtaking second record, which embraces collaboration while celebrating community.
“Don’t forget me when I go back home…” – WWGBH, a woozy, sun-drenched ballad featuring Zeppelin Hamilton, laments the tyranny of distance.
As FRIEND escalates, Wurramara eventually sounds utterly crestfallen while repeatedly admitting, “I wish I never called you friend”.
Arringarri (aka Sharky), Wurramara’s little brother, makes his musical debut with a guest spot on the upbeat STFAFM (short for Stay The Fuck Away From Me).
Written on her ancestral home of Milyakburra (Bickerton Island), Wurramara cheekily ponders, “Do I have some breakfast? Do I wake and bake?” during this cathartic focus track featuring a reggae-infused breakdown.
The pop/R&B-leaning Lordy Lordy (feat. Tasman Keith) – a “protest club song” – highlights the importance of listening to and respecting First Nations voices. Lisa Mitchell’s divine, breathy contribution to See Me There lands like a comforting hug from a wise older sis.
“Oysters on the beach”, Auntie’s padlocked fridge, “Underneath the starry gaze of our ancestors…” – rich with lyrical detail, NARA welcomes us into her world. Wurramara creates the kind of music that saves lives.
LABEL: ABC MUSIC
RELEASE: OUT NOW
