Yirrkala, AU · surf-rock · Yolŋu rock

King Stingray

2 upcoming festivals

Yolŋu surf-rock from northeast Arnhem Land — joyous bilingual anthems that carry Australia's oldest musical traditions on the brightest new hooks.

King Stingray come from northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia and are led by vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu and guitarist Roy Kellaway. Both have direct family ties to Yothu Yindi — Yunupiŋu is related to that band's frontman, and Kellaway's father played in the group — and King Stingray describe their own music as "Yolŋu surf rock".

Their songs mix bright, jangling guitar lines and pop melodies with Yolŋu Matha lyrics alongside English, and often incorporate yidaki. The result keeps a strong connection to the songlines and language of their community while working within a straightforward guitar-band format, and they have become one of the more widely heard First Nations acts in Australia.

surf-rockYolŋu rock