King Stingray

King Stingray is an Australian rock band from Northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.^[1] With a sound self-described as "Yolŋu surf rock",^[2] the band perform songs with lyrics in both English and Yolŋu Matha.^[3] King Stingray released their debut single, "Hey Wanhaka", in October 2020,^[1] and their self-titled debut album on 5 August 2022.

King Stingray
King Stingray, April 2023
Background information
Origin	Northeast Arnhem Land, Australia[1]
Genres	Indie rock pop-rock surf rock[1]
Years active	2020–present
Labels	Bargain Bin Records, Cooking Vinyl Australia (2021+)
Members	Roy Kellaway Dimathaya Burarrwanga Campbell Messer Lewis Stiles

Career

Two of the band's founding members have known one another since childhood – lead vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu is the nephew of Dr M. Yunupiŋu, and guitarist Roy Kellaway is the son of Stuart Kellaway, who were both founding members of Yothu Yindi.^[2] The pair grew up together in Yolngu country, in the community of Yirrkala.^[4] They were joined by guitarist/didgeridoo player Dimathaya Burarrwanga and bassist Campbell Messer to form King Stingray in 2020.^[3] They signed to The Chats' Bargain Bin Records in 2020.^[3]

King Stingray's debut single, "Hey Wanhaka", written by Yirrnga Yunupiŋu and Roy Kellaway, was released in October 2020.^[2][3]

In January 2021, King Stingray released "Get Me Out"; a song described by Double J as "a tribute to the importance of home".^[5] According to a press statement, the song was written following a family member of the band getting lost in Melbourne when they were on tour with Yothu Yindi. The band said: "She had no phone, [and] Yolŋu style, she navigated her way back to us miraculously and we now laugh about it."^[6] Dan Condon from the ABC said "It's as catchy as it is stirring and will no doubt help this new band continue to win the hearts of a broad range of music lovers."^[5] Lewis Stiles joined on drums in early 2021.^[4]

In August 2021, King Stingray signed with Cooking Vinyl Australia (a partner of Sony Music^[7]) and released "Milkumana"; a song described by triple j as being "about the power of passing on knowledge". The music video was filmed in the band's hometown of Yirrkala, and features tribal elders Mangatjay Yunupingu and Malŋay Yunupingu.^[8][9] In January 2022, both "Milkumana" and "Get Me Out" charted in the triple j Hottest 100 at number 56 and 46, respectively.^[10]

In March 2022, King Stingray released "Camp Dog". The title refers to the dogs that wander the streets of Yirrkala.^[11] The following month, the band supported Midnight Oil at the latter's final headlining show in Sydney on their Resist tour.^[12] In May 2022, King Stingray released the single "Let's Go" and announced their debut self-titled album. The album was released on 5 August 2022.^[13]

In July 2022, King Stingray were featured on the cover of NME Australia for an in-depth interview feature about their debut album, conducted by Torres Strait Islander freelance journalist Rhianna Patrick.^[14]

In October 2022, King Stingray released a cover of Men at Work's "Down Under" as part of a new campaign for Tourism Australia.^[15]

In June 2023, King Stingray released "Lookin' Out".^[16] August 2023 saw King Stingray win three AIR Awards: Best Independent Rock Album or EP, Independent Album of the Year, and Breakthrough Artist of the Year.^[17] In December 2023 They performed at the ABC New Year's Eve concert at Sydney Harbour.^[18]

The group's second studio album For the Dreams is scheduled for release in November 2024.

Band members

• Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu – lead vocals, clapsticks
• Roy Kellaway – guitar, backing vocals
• Dimathaya Burarrwanga – guitar, backing vocals, didgeridoo
• Lewis Stiles – drums, backing vocals
• Campbell Messer – bass, banjo, backing vocals
• Yimila Gurruwiwi – didgeridoo, backing vocals

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [19]
King Stingray	Released: 5 August 2022[13] Label: Cooking Vinyl Australia Format: Streaming, vinyl, CD, digital download	6
For the Dreams	Scheduled: 8 November 2024[20] Label: Cooking Vinyl Australia Format: Streaming, vinyl, CD, digital download	TBA

Singles

List of singles

Title	Year	Album
"Hey Wanhaka"[21]	2020	King Stingray
"Get Me Out"[22]	2021
"Milkumana"[23]
"Camp Dog"[11]	2022
"Let's Go"[13]
"Lupa"[24][25]
"Down Under (Under One Sun)"[15]		Non-album single
"Lookin' Out"[16]	2023	For the Dreams
"Through the Trees"[26]	2024
"Best Bit"[27]
"Octopus" (with Bluey)[28]		Rug Island
"Cat 5 (Cyclone)"[29]		For the Dreams

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	"Get Me Out"	Independent Song of the Year	Nominated	[30][31]
2023	King Stingray	Independent Album of the Year	Won	[32][33]
		Best Independent Rock Album or EP	Won
	"Camp Dog"	Independent Song of the Year	Nominated
	King Stingray	Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year	Won

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.^[34]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	"Get Me Out" (Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu)	Song of the Year	Shortlisted	[35]
	"Milkumana" (Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu)		Shortlisted
2023	"Lupa" (Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu)	Song of the Year	Nominated	[36][37]
	"Milkumana" (Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu)	Most Performed Rock Work of the Year	Nominated
	Roy Kellaway & Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu	Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year	Nominated
2024	"Lookin' Out"	Song of the Year	Shortlisted	[38]
		Most Performed Rock Work	Nominated	[39]

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	King Stingray	Album of the Year	Nominated	[40][41]
		Best Group	Nominated
		Michael Gudinski Breakthrough Artist	Won
		Best Rock Album	Nominated
	Kayla Flett, Gabi Coulthurst & Dimathaya Burarrwanga for King Stingray – King Stingray	Best Cover Art	Nominated
2023	Tourism Australia: Come and Say G'day (M&C Saatchi Sydney)	Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement (duration of 2 minutes or less)	Nominated	[42][43]
	Tourism Australia: G'day Short Film (M&C Saatchi Sydney)	Best Use of an Australian Recording in an Advertisement (over 2 minutes duration)	Nominated
	Sam Brumby for King Stingray – "Lookin' Out"	Best Video	Nominated
	That's Where I Wanna Be Tour	Best Australian Live Act	Nominated

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. It exists to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence.^[44]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	King Stingray	Australian Music Prize	Won	[45][46]

Environmental Music Prize

The Environmental Music Prize is a quest to find a theme song to inspire action on climate and conservation. It commenced in 2022.^[47]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	"Hey Wanhaka"	Environmental Music Prize	Nominated	[48]
2023	"Milkumana"		Nominated	[49][50]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	"Milkumana" (directed by King Stingray and Sam Brumby)	Australian Video of the Year	Nominated	[51][52]
	King Stingray	Unearthed Artist of the Year	Won
2022	King Stingray	Australian Album of the Year	Nominated	[53]
	King Stingray	Double J Artist of the Year	Nominated
2023	King Stingray	Australian Live Act of the Year	Nominated	[54]

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognise excellence, innovation and leadership among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from throughout Australia. They commenced in 2004.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2021	King Stingray	New Artist of the Year	Nominated	[55][56]
2022		Artist of the Year	Nominated	[57][58]
	"Milkumana"	Song of the Year	Won
2023	"Let's Go"		Won	[59][60]
		Film Clip of the Year	Won
2024	King Stingray	Artist of the Year	Nominated	[61]

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2023	King Stingray	Best Live Act	Nominated	[62][63]
		Best Live Act in the NT	Won
	Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (King Stingray)	Best Live Voice	Nominated
	Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (King Stingray)	Best Live Voice in the NT	Nominated
	Lewis Stiles (King Stingray)	Best Live Drummer	Nominated
	Roy Kellaway (King Stingray)	Best Live Guitarist	Nominated

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.^[64]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	King Stingray	Best New Artist	Won	[65]

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.^[66]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2022	"Milkumana"	Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition	1st	[67]
	"Camp Dog"		3rd

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