NARA

The second album from Indigenous Warnindhilyagwa singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara displays the growth of her music since 2016’s Black Smoke EP and the 2018 album Milyakburra. Born on Australia’s Groote Eylandt off the coast of Arnhem Land, she recently moved from Brisbane to Tasmania. The new album’s title is the Anindilyakwa word for ‘Nothing’, and it’s a major step for Wurramara, addressing complex personal themes of overcoming adversities and discovering ways of empowerment. Recorded in Darwin and co-produced by Wurramara herself, along with Kuya James (James Mangohig), the revealing songs are an equal mix of inner strength, resilience and a palpable sense of vulnerability. ‘Magic Woman Dancing’, ‘Lordy Lordy’ and the quiet ‘Verandah’ are standout tracks, but while Wurramara’s voice remains compelling, her combination of deeply personal lyrics and mainly indie-pop backings won’t be to all listeners’ tastes. NARA is a brave departure from her earlier recordings, but as Wurramara’s creativity continues to mature, her best work still lies ahead.