Seeing Woodford through innocent eyes

New mum Emily Wurramara set to bring ARIA-nominated tunes to folk festival

EMILY Wurramara feels right at home at the Woodford Folk Festival.

But the indigenous singer/songwriter, who hails from Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, will see Woodfordia through new eyes – those of her one-year-old daugher K’iigari.

“It’s my bubba’s first birthday on Boxing Day, so to be able to celebrate with her is going to be really special,” she tells the Daily.

“It’s a really family-friendly festival and I have a lot of friends who will most likely steal her and show her around while I’m at gigs.

“My mum and brother are flying down from up north to spend Christmas with me so I’m bringing them along too to babysit (laughs).”

Hot off the heels of her ARIA nomination for best blues and roots album for her debut album Milyakburra, Ms Wurramara returns for her third appearance at the festival.

“As an indigenous woman coming from an island in the middle of nowhere, being ARIA nominated is just astounding,” she says.

“I was overwhelmed but at the same time I was really proud to be there – especially for my album because it’s all in language and the painting (on the album cover) is done by my grandmother, so I’m really grateful to be able to have her be recognised as well.”

The 22-year-old plans to wear her ARIAs dress, made for her by Gympie designer Cindy Vogels, during one of her Woodford performances.

“The material I was wearing my aunties made and it came together so beautifully,” she says. “It’s a really intricate design. It’s so Woodford.”

Ms Wurramara, who sings in both English and Anindilyakwa, will treat festival-goers to new music during her sets at Bill’s Bar and The Luna.

“I’ll be playing a lot of new songs, which are still in touch with roots and home but are on more of a personal level from my experience so far in this industry as a young indigenous woman,” she says.

“I’m a pretty big activist when it comes to the environment and there’s a lot of mob around here (at Woodford)who are the same, so it’s really cool to connect with people who have that same energy and vibe. You don’t come across that a lot.”

She’s already begun work on new music for her next album, which she plans to record and release next year.

The Woodford Folk Festival runs from December 27 to January 1.