Lady Blue

Emily Wurramara

A dedication to the sea

Why I wrote this song

I wrote this song about the sea. My grandmother called it thrthrka Makarda (mother sea) I care about the sea because I am a saltwater woman. My people are from Groote Eylandt and Milyakburra.

The sea to us is sacred, it connects our songs and stories to the mainland. The sea carries just as much stories and history as the land. It’s just as important.

About me as an artist

Originating from Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory, Emily released an 11-track album Milyakburra, educating and informing in both English and Anindilyakwa languages. The critically acclaimed 2018 album features the emotive ‘Lady Blue’ (over 12 million Spotify streams) and ‘Black Smoke’, amassing over 2 million Spotify streams and rotation on Triple J, ABC Local and 10 weeks in the AMRAP charts.

Emily is a six time Queensland Music Award winner, she was selected for the AMP Tomorrow Maker Award and won AIR Award’s Best Blues and Roots Album of the Year.

Emily has performed on many global stages including Woodford Folk Festival, Bluesfest, TEDX Sydney, GARMA, Port Fairy Folk Festival, BIGSOUND and International Folk Alliance showcases in Kansas, Canada and New Orleans. She has also toured and played with iconic artists including Archie Roach, Mavis Staples, John Farnham, Busby Marou, Coloured Stones, Missy Higgins, Shellie Morris, Jessica Mauboy, The Cat Empire and John Butler.

About the music video

I recorded the film clip in lockdown 2020 in Lutruwita/Trowunna (Tasmania). I asked my partner to film it and my daughter to be in it. We went down to the beach and took some shots of the ocean and myself and my daughter at the sea. I went home and edited it on my phone and ‘Lady Blue’ is what we have.