Emma Donavan
Encyclopedia
Emma Donovan is an Indigenous Australian singer and songwriter. She is a member of the renowned Australian musical family the Donovan family. She started her singing career at age seven with her uncle's band, The Donovans
. In 2000 she became a founding member of Stiff Gins
, leaving the band three years later to release the solo album Changes in 2004. She performs with The Black Arm Band
, and released a solo EP, Ngaaraanga, in 2009.
She has been nominated for multiple Deadly Awards
including Female Artist of the Year, and performed at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She won Best Female Artist at the 2009 BUMP Awards. Donovan appeared in the ABC
series Dynasties in 2004, and was the subject of the 2005 SBS TV
documentary Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady.
Emma Donovan was born in 1981 at Liverpool, Australia, a suburb of Sydney. Her father, Neville Councillor, is from Geraldton in Western Australia
, and he's of Naaguja and Yamatji
heritage. Her mother, Agnes Donovan, is a Gumbainggir/Danggali woman from the Nambucca Valley on the north coast of New South Wales
, where Emma was raised.
Music
Donovan's musical singing career started at a young age. Her grandparents Micko and Aileen Donovan, years before her birth, founded the Aboriginal country band The Donovans
, which consisted of their five sons and daughter Agnes singing at local events. Emma's uncles still perform as the Donovan Brothers band. At the age of seven Emma began periodically singing with the Donovans. Her family and mother Agnes encouraged and supported her singing, Agnes taking her to talent competitions around the country. Agnes also helped developed Aboriginal showcases at the Tamworth Country Music Festival
in the late 1990s, which Emma took part in.
Education
Emma's family moved frequently, and she attended multiple schools in New South Wales
and WA
, with an extended time spent at North Newtown Primary. In 1997, at age sixteen, Donovan was studying contemporary music at the Eora
College for Performing Arts in Chippendale, New South Wales
. The school was founded to provide educations for Indigenous students. She began branching out from country music
, exploring reggae
and R&B as well.
with Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs after meeting at the Eora College. They released their first EP, Soh Fa, on Sony Records in 2000. Donovan co-wrote their second release, the full album Origins. The album won the 2000 Deadly Award
for Most Promising New Talent. Their single "Morning Star" won the Deadly's Best Single Release in 2001. After touring both nationally and internationally, Donovan left the group in 2003 to work on solo material with industry proessionals.
Some of her popular singles from the album were included on Indigenous compilations; "Koori Time" was included on the Sending a Message album put out by ABC
, and "Gumbayngirr Lady" was included on the Fresh Salt compilation. The album made radio playlists throughout Australia, including the Qantas Inflight radio station, which added the single "Changes" into regular rotation. In 2007, Wendy Martin of the Sydney Opera House
stated "Emma is one of the most requested artists on Koori Radio 93.7FM
since the release of her CD Changes, and is fast becoming one of the most popular live performers in Sydney."
"Changes" was released as a single on 15 February 2010 on MGM. A music video for the single was shot in Donovan's home region of Nambucca, and released in May 2010.
Which Way Program (2006)
In 2006 Donovan went into the studio to record three songs with long time writing writing partner Yanya Boston, a drummer she had met while performing with the Stiff Gins. She also worked with Rob Wolf and Adam Ventoura. Among the songs were "Lonely" and "He's Just A Kid." At the time she was a participant in the Music NSW industry program Which Way.
in 2007. The traveling group performed a stage musical called Murundak/Alive - The Black Arm Band, which reproduced iconic songs of the Aboriginal resistance movement. The show toured England
and Canada
to great acclaim. The cast consists of a rotating line-up of Australian indigenous musicians, and in 2007 murundak won the Helpmann Award
for Best Contemporary Music Concert for murundak.
By April 2008, Donovan was working with industry veteran Vicki Gordon of VGM Media and Marketing. Together they created a gospel remix of the single "Ngarranga - Remember," along with four other songs to create a 5 track EP. The EP, Ngarraanga (Remember), or Ngarraanga Ngiinundi Yuludarra (Remember Your Dreaming), is intended as a tribute to the Stolen Generations. The songs include Donovan's traditional language, as well as spoken words from her Uncle Harry Buchanan and backing vocals from Gary Pinto
and Juanita Tippins. The EP was released by MGM on National Sorry Day
on 26 May 2009. A music video to accompany the "Ngarranga" single was filmed at Carriageworks performance space in Redfern, New South Wales
, starring Donovan and Torres Strait Islander dancer Albert David. It is interwoven with archival footage.
for the Indigenous Australia Now exhibition prior to the 2004 Olympics. That year she also performed at the 10th Festival Of Pacific Arts in Palau
. In 2006 she performed at the Perth Festival of the Arts, the Australian Performing Arts market in Adelaide
, the Waitangi Day
Ceremony in New Zealand
, The Dreaming Festival in Queensland
, and a short tour to Paris. In 2007 she performed at the WOMADELAIDE festival, various festivals in Melbourne
, and the Sydney Opera House
with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
. She has also performed her solo material at the Royal Concert Hall
and London
, Musee de Quai Branli in Paris
, the Benaki Museum
in Athens
, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia
, the Treaty Grounds of Waitangi
in New Zealand
, and the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver
.
She has sung with and performed with indigenous Australian musicians such as Frank Yamma
, her cousin Casey Donovan
, Archie Roach
and Ruby Hunter
, Kerriane Cox, Christine Anu
, Tiddas
, Yothu Yindi
, and Jimmy Little
. She has also performed with Paul Kelly
, Ursula Yovich
, and Shellie Morris
.
in 2004 as part of their BLAKTRAX series. The hour-long film followed Donovan to her home region of Macksville, New South Wales
. In 2005 she appeared in the ABC
series Dynasties (episode 5), which was filmed on location in Woodford, Queensland
while she was performing at the Dreaming Festival.
, which were held at the Sydney Opera House. The next year she performed at the Deadly Awards, as well as at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She was again nominated for a Deadly award in 2005.
She won Best Female Artist and her single "Ngarraanga" won Best R&B Single at the inaugural 2009 BUMP Awards. "Ngarraanga" was also nominated for two 2009 Deadly Awards; Single of the Year and Best Female Artist. Donovan's single "Changes" won the "New Artists 2 Radio Competition" for the Adult Contemporary genre and was picked up by major commercial networks across the country. The first time the award went to an Indigenous artist. "Ngarraanga" and "Changes" were also nominated in the 2010 Top 5 Australian Independent MusicOz Awards.
, gospel
, smooth soul
, roots
, and country music
. Although she has stated she is proud of her Naaguja, Yamatji
, and Danggali tribal heritage, she most frequently expresses her Gumbaynggirr
heritage from her mother's side in her music, often singing in the traditional language.
, who in 2004 became the youngest winner of the Australian Idol competition at 16. Casey is the daughter of Merv and Tracy Donovan.
The Black Arm Band
Singles
The Donovans
The Donovans is an Australian Aboriginal country band. It comprises the Donovan brothers and Troy Russell. They won a Deadly Award in 2004.They are members of a large musical family who were profiled in an episode of ABC's Dynasties television series...
. In 2000 she became a founding member of Stiff Gins
Stiff Gins
Stiff Gins are an Indigenous Australian band from Sydney. They call their music "acoustic with harmonies" and are regularly compared to Tiddas. The band was formed by Emma Donovan, Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs after meeting at the Eora Centre while studying music...
, leaving the band three years later to release the solo album Changes in 2004. She performs with The Black Arm Band
The Black Arm Band
The Black Arm Band is a collection of some of Australia's premier Indigeous musicians. The band, conceived by Artistic Director Steven Richardson, was brought together "to perform, promote and celebrate contempary Australian Indigenous music". Members come from all over the country and have diverse...
, and released a solo EP, Ngaaraanga, in 2009.
She has been nominated for multiple Deadly Awards
The Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
including Female Artist of the Year, and performed at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She won Best Female Artist at the 2009 BUMP Awards. Donovan appeared in the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
series Dynasties in 2004, and was the subject of the 2005 SBS TV
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
documentary Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady.
Early life, education
HeritageEmma Donovan was born in 1981 at Liverpool, Australia, a suburb of Sydney. Her father, Neville Councillor, is from Geraldton in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, and he's of Naaguja and Yamatji
Yamatji
Yamatji is a name commonly used by Aboriginal people in the Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia to refer to themselves, and sometimes also to Aboriginal people generally, when speaking English. The word comes from the Wajarri language where it has the meaning 'man' or 'human being'...
heritage. Her mother, Agnes Donovan, is a Gumbainggir/Danggali woman from the Nambucca Valley on the north coast of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, where Emma was raised.
Music
Donovan's musical singing career started at a young age. Her grandparents Micko and Aileen Donovan, years before her birth, founded the Aboriginal country band The Donovans
The Donovans
The Donovans is an Australian Aboriginal country band. It comprises the Donovan brothers and Troy Russell. They won a Deadly Award in 2004.They are members of a large musical family who were profiled in an episode of ABC's Dynasties television series...
, which consisted of their five sons and daughter Agnes singing at local events. Emma's uncles still perform as the Donovan Brothers band. At the age of seven Emma began periodically singing with the Donovans. Her family and mother Agnes encouraged and supported her singing, Agnes taking her to talent competitions around the country. Agnes also helped developed Aboriginal showcases at the Tamworth Country Music Festival
Tamworth Country Music Festival
The Tamworth Country Music Festival is an annual music festival held in Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia and is a celebration of Australian country music culture and heritage. The festival lasts for two weeks during late January and during this period the city of Tamworth comes alive, with...
in the late 1990s, which Emma took part in.
Education
Emma's family moved frequently, and she attended multiple schools in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and WA
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, with an extended time spent at North Newtown Primary. In 1997, at age sixteen, Donovan was studying contemporary music at the Eora
Eora
The Eora are the Aboriginal people of the Sydney area, south to the Georges River, north to the Hawkesbury River, and west to Parramatta. The indigenous people used this word to describe where they came from to the British. "Eora" was then used by the British to refer to those Aboriginal people...
College for Performing Arts in Chippendale, New South Wales
Chippendale, New South Wales
Chippendale is a small inner-city suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Chippendale is located on the southern edge of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
. The school was founded to provide educations for Indigenous students. She began branching out from country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, exploring reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and R&B as well.
Stiff Gins
In late 1999, Donovan formed the vocal acoustic band Stiff GinsStiff Gins
Stiff Gins are an Indigenous Australian band from Sydney. They call their music "acoustic with harmonies" and are regularly compared to Tiddas. The band was formed by Emma Donovan, Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs after meeting at the Eora Centre while studying music...
with Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs after meeting at the Eora College. They released their first EP, Soh Fa, on Sony Records in 2000. Donovan co-wrote their second release, the full album Origins. The album won the 2000 Deadly Award
The Deadlys Award winners 2000
-Music:*Excellence In Film or Theatrical Score: Wesley Enoch Sunshine Club*Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Music: Tiddas*Most Promising New Talent: Stiff Gins*Male Artist of the Year: Troy Cassar-Daley*Female Artist of the Year: Ruby Hunter...
for Most Promising New Talent. Their single "Morning Star" won the Deadly's Best Single Release in 2001. After touring both nationally and internationally, Donovan left the group in 2003 to work on solo material with industry proessionals.
Changes (2004)
Donovan released her debut solo album Changes in 2004. The Sydney launch of the album was well-received. The style was a blend of soul, gospel, and reggae, with country undertones. In 2005 Donovan embarked on an Australian tour to promote the album.Some of her popular singles from the album were included on Indigenous compilations; "Koori Time" was included on the Sending a Message album put out by ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
, and "Gumbayngirr Lady" was included on the Fresh Salt compilation. The album made radio playlists throughout Australia, including the Qantas Inflight radio station, which added the single "Changes" into regular rotation. In 2007, Wendy Martin of the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
stated "Emma is one of the most requested artists on Koori Radio 93.7FM
Koori Radio
Koori Radio is a community radio station based in Redfern broadcasting to Sydney on a city-wide licence. It is part of the Gadigal Information Service and is the only radio station in Sydney providing full-time broadcasting to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.Koori Radio is the...
since the release of her CD Changes, and is fast becoming one of the most popular live performers in Sydney."
"Changes" was released as a single on 15 February 2010 on MGM. A music video for the single was shot in Donovan's home region of Nambucca, and released in May 2010.
Which Way Program (2006)
In 2006 Donovan went into the studio to record three songs with long time writing writing partner Yanya Boston, a drummer she had met while performing with the Stiff Gins. She also worked with Rob Wolf and Adam Ventoura. Among the songs were "Lonely" and "He's Just A Kid." At the time she was a participant in the Music NSW industry program Which Way.
The Black Arm Band
Donovan was invited to become the youngest member of The Black Arm BandThe Black Arm Band
The Black Arm Band is a collection of some of Australia's premier Indigeous musicians. The band, conceived by Artistic Director Steven Richardson, was brought together "to perform, promote and celebrate contempary Australian Indigenous music". Members come from all over the country and have diverse...
in 2007. The traveling group performed a stage musical called Murundak/Alive - The Black Arm Band, which reproduced iconic songs of the Aboriginal resistance movement. The show toured England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to great acclaim. The cast consists of a rotating line-up of Australian indigenous musicians, and in 2007 murundak won the Helpmann Award
Helpmann Award
The Helpmann Awards recognize distinguished artistic achievement and excellence in Australia's live performing arts sectors. The recognized disciplines include musical and physical theatre, contemporary and classical music, opera, and dance, with a comedy category introduced in 2006...
for Best Contemporary Music Concert for murundak.
Ngarraanga (2009)
Simultaneously while working on murundaki in 2007, Donovan was working on more of her own material with drummer Yanya Boston. The pair co-wrote the single "Ngarranga - Remember", intended as a prayer to acknowledge the Stolen Generations experience. It was initially released on the Kimberly Stolen Generation Corporation's 2007 compilation CD Cry Stolen.By April 2008, Donovan was working with industry veteran Vicki Gordon of VGM Media and Marketing. Together they created a gospel remix of the single "Ngarranga - Remember," along with four other songs to create a 5 track EP. The EP, Ngarraanga (Remember), or Ngarraanga Ngiinundi Yuludarra (Remember Your Dreaming), is intended as a tribute to the Stolen Generations. The songs include Donovan's traditional language, as well as spoken words from her Uncle Harry Buchanan and backing vocals from Gary Pinto
Gary Pinto
Gary Pinto is an Australian singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Gary Pinto is an Australian musician of Indian descent. His parents were from Chennai and members of a minority Christian Indian Catholics...
and Juanita Tippins. The EP was released by MGM on National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day
The National Sorry Day is an Australian event, held each year on 26 May since 1998, to express regret over the historical mistreatment of Aboriginal peoples. The day was chosen in commemoration of the Bringing Them Home report being handed to the federal government on 26 May 1997. It is not an...
on 26 May 2009. A music video to accompany the "Ngarranga" single was filmed at Carriageworks performance space in Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Redfern is 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, starring Donovan and Torres Strait Islander dancer Albert David. It is interwoven with archival footage.
Touring
Emma Donovan has toured extensively in her home country and abroad, with groups as well as with her own material and backing band. In 2004 she toured in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for the Indigenous Australia Now exhibition prior to the 2004 Olympics. That year she also performed at the 10th Festival Of Pacific Arts in Palau
Palau
Palau , officially the Republic of Palau , is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines and south of Tokyo. In 1978, after three decades as being part of the United Nations trusteeship, Palau chose independence instead of becoming part of the Federated States of Micronesia, a...
. In 2006 she performed at the Perth Festival of the Arts, the Australian Performing Arts market in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, the Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day
Waitangi Day commemorates a significant day in the history of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on 6 February to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document, on that date in 1840.-History:...
Ceremony in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, The Dreaming Festival in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, and a short tour to Paris. In 2007 she performed at the WOMADELAIDE festival, various festivals in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Melbourne, Australia. It has 100 permanent musicians. Melbourne has the longest continuous history of orchestral music of any Australian city and the MSO is the oldest professional orchestra in Australia...
. She has also performed her solo material at the Royal Concert Hall
Royal Concert Hall
The Royal Concert Hall may refer to:*Glasgow Royal Concert Hall*Nottingham Royal Concert Hall, part of the Royal Centre in Nottingham*Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Musee de Quai Branli in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, the Benaki Museum
Benaki Museum
The Benaki Museum, established and endowed in 1930 by Antonis Benakis in memory of his father Emmanuel Benakis, is housed in the Benakis family mansion in downtown Athens, Greece...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
, the Treaty Grounds of Waitangi
Treaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
.
She has sung with and performed with indigenous Australian musicians such as Frank Yamma
Frank Yamma
Frank Yamma is an Australian musician.Frank is a singer and song writer from Central Australia and is a Pitjantjatjara man who speaks 5 languages and sings in both Pitjantjatjara and English...
, her cousin Casey Donovan
Casey Donovan (singer)
-Australian Idol :Donovan transferred to the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney's Surry Hills in 2004 and it was in this year that her stepfather encouraged her to audition for the second season of Australian Idol...
, Archie Roach
Archie Roach
Archie Roach is an Australian musician. A singer, songwriter and guitarist, he survived a turbulent upbringing to develop into a powerful voice for Indigenous Australians, a storyteller in the tradition of his ancestors, and a nationally popular and respected artist.- Biography :In his own words,...
and Ruby Hunter
Ruby Hunter
Ruby Charlotte Margaret Hunter was an Australian singer and songwriter. She was a member of the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal nationality, and often performed with her partner, Archie Roach, whom she met at the age of 16, while both were homeless teenagers...
, Kerriane Cox, Christine Anu
Christine Anu
-Early life:Anu was born in Cairns, Queensland to a Torres Strait Islander mother from Saibai and Mabuiag Islands.-Career:Anu began performing as a dancer and later went on to sing back-up vocals for The Rainmakers, which included Neil Murray of the Warumpi Band. Her first recording was in 1993...
, Tiddas
Tiddas
Tiddas are a three piece all-girl folk band from Victoria, Australia.-Biography:Originally the three women, Amy Saunders , Lou Bennett and Sally Dastey combined their vocal talents as backing singers for Aboriginal band Djaambi, led by Saunder's brother Richard Frankland in 1990...
, Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi
Yothu Yindi are an Australian band with Aboriginal and balanda members formed in 1986. Aboriginal members come from Yolngu homelands near Yirrkala on the Gove Peninsula in Northern Territory's Arnhem Land...
, and Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little
Jimmy Little AO , is an Australian Aboriginal musician, singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose career has spanned six decades. For many years he was the only Aboriginal star on the Australian music scene...
. She has also performed with Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
, Ursula Yovich
Ursula Yovich
Ursula Yovich is an actress and singer. She received a Helpmann Award in 2007 for her performance in Capricornia and was nominated in 2005 for her performance in The Sapphires...
, and Shellie Morris
Shellie Morris
Shellie Morris is an Australian indigenous singer/songwriter who plays a mix of contemporary folk music and contemporary acoustic ballads. She was raised in Sydney and began singing at an early age...
.
Documentaries
Donovan has appeared in or been featured in a handful of documentaries. The documentary Gumbayngirr Lady featured Donovan, and was filmed and aired by the Special Broadcasting ServiceSpecial Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
in 2004 as part of their BLAKTRAX series. The hour-long film followed Donovan to her home region of Macksville, New South Wales
Macksville, New South Wales
Macksville is a small town on the Nambucca River in Nambucca Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.-Town information:...
. In 2005 she appeared in the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
series Dynasties (episode 5), which was filmed on location in Woodford, Queensland
Woodford, Queensland
Woodford is a small town in Queensland, Australia, on the D'Aguilar Highway 72 km north-west of Brisbane and 24 km west of Caboolture. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The town is noted for its folk festival that takes place over the New Year holidays. The Woodford...
while she was performing at the Dreaming Festival.
Awards
In 2003 Donovan was nominated for Female Artist of the Year at The DeadlysThe Deadlys
The Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
, which were held at the Sydney Opera House. The next year she performed at the Deadly Awards, as well as at the opening of the 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. She was again nominated for a Deadly award in 2005.
She won Best Female Artist and her single "Ngarraanga" won Best R&B Single at the inaugural 2009 BUMP Awards. "Ngarraanga" was also nominated for two 2009 Deadly Awards; Single of the Year and Best Female Artist. Donovan's single "Changes" won the "New Artists 2 Radio Competition" for the Adult Contemporary genre and was picked up by major commercial networks across the country. The first time the award went to an Indigenous artist. "Ngarraanga" and "Changes" were also nominated in the 2010 Top 5 Australian Independent MusicOz Awards.
Style
Donovan's singing and songwriting frequently blends reggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
, smooth soul
Smooth soul
Smooth soul is a subgenre of soul music that developed in the early 1970s from soul, funk and pop music in the United States. The subgenre experienced mainstream success from the time of its development to the late 1970s, before its succession by disco and quiet storm.Smooth soul is characterized...
, roots
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
, and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Although she has stated she is proud of her Naaguja, Yamatji
Yamatji
Yamatji is a name commonly used by Aboriginal people in the Murchison and Gascoyne regions of Western Australia to refer to themselves, and sometimes also to Aboriginal people generally, when speaking English. The word comes from the Wajarri language where it has the meaning 'man' or 'human being'...
, and Danggali tribal heritage, she most frequently expresses her Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggirr
Gumbaynggir are an Australian Aboriginal group of the Coffs Harbour, New South Wales area. The Gumbaynggirr lands cover an area of the Mid North Coast from the Nambucca River to as far north as the Clarence River , west to Armidale and eastward to the Pacific coast, making the Gumbaynggirr tribe...
heritage from her mother's side in her music, often singing in the traditional language.
Personal life
Emma is based in Sydney, Australia. She remains close with her cousin Casey DonovanCasey Donovan (singer)
-Australian Idol :Donovan transferred to the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney's Surry Hills in 2004 and it was in this year that her stepfather encouraged her to audition for the second season of Australian Idol...
, who in 2004 became the youngest winner of the Australian Idol competition at 16. Casey is the daughter of Merv and Tracy Donovan.
Collaborations
Stiff GinsStiff Gins
Stiff Gins are an Indigenous Australian band from Sydney. They call their music "acoustic with harmonies" and are regularly compared to Tiddas. The band was formed by Emma Donovan, Nardi Simpson and Kaleena Briggs after meeting at the Eora Centre while studying music...
- Soh Fa EP (2000)
- Morning Star EP (2000)
- Origins (2001)
The Black Arm Band
The Black Arm Band
The Black Arm Band is a collection of some of Australia's premier Indigeous musicians. The band, conceived by Artistic Director Steven Richardson, was brought together "to perform, promote and celebrate contempary Australian Indigenous music". Members come from all over the country and have diverse...
- murundak (2007) (stage performance)
Solo work
AlbumsSingles
- "Changes" (February 2010)
Documentaries
- Emma Donovan: Gumbainggir Lady (SBS TVSpecial Broadcasting ServiceThe Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
) (2004) - Dynasties (ABCAustralian Broadcasting CorporationThe Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Series) (2005) - murundak - songs of freedom (AFIAustralian Film InstituteThe Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
) (2011)
Further reading
- The Black Arm Band site - Emma Donovan bio
External links
- Emma Donovan on MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Emma Donovan on iTunesITunesiTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
- Emma Donovan on Amazon.comAmazon.comAmazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
- Emma Donovan on CD UniverseCD UniverseCD Universe.com is an e-commerce site that sells music CDs and mp3 downloads, movies and video games worldwide. CD Universe was created in 1996 by founder and CEO Charles Beilman in Wallingford, Connecticut, where it is still maintained and operated...
- Emma Donovan on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
(fan page) - Emma Donovan on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
(personal)