Kankawa Nagarra’s ‘Wirlmarni’ Wins AMP

Kankawa Nagarra’s Wirlmarni is crowned with the 20th Soundmerch Australian Music Prize (AMP), celebrating the Australian album of the year. 

Celebrated as the “Queen of the Bandaral Ngadu,” the 80-year-old Walmatjarri Elder, teacher, and human rights advocate beats out recordings by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Amyl and the Sniffers, Dirty Three, Hiatus Kaiyote and others.

Wirlmarni, meaning “disappearing”, is the First Nations artist’s debut album.

“Many thanks to Darren Hanlon and Flippin yeah Records who helped me craft how it should look and sound. I wanted for it to be a very natural concept with just me and my guitar and the sounds of nature, and the sounds of my community,” she remarks.

“In that way the production of the album has been thousands of years in the making. I wish to thank Mississippi Records for getting my music out to the rest of the world.

Music “is a responsibility,” Kankawa remarks. “Caring for nature is a responsibility, and protecting culture is a responsibility for its holistic wellbeing. All these things are connected, and I make it my life’s work.”

Kankawa Nagarra

A special blend of Aboriginal Australian blues, country, and gospel styles, coupled with personal storytelling, Wirlmarni was declared winner during a ceremony Wednesday evening, December 4th at the APRA AMCOS headquarters in Sydney.

A music industry panel selected Wirlmarni from a long list of 600 eligible LPs released from October 28th, 2023, to October 25th 2024. From that pool, 46 official nominations were culled. Wirlmarni was the winner from the Top 9 Shortlist.

“The judges met this morning, face-to-face, to decide that the very deserving Wirlmarni by Kankawa would win the prize,” comments Scott Murphy, AMP founder and director.

“It wasn’t a quick-and-easy decision to make – there were 9 great albums, all quite diverse, all with judge support. Congratulations, Kankawa on winning our 20th prize.”

Modelled on the UK’s Mercury Prize, the AMP, reads a statement from organisers, “continues to exist to discover, reward and promote new Australian music of excellence.”

A partnership with SoundMerch, the national initiative is supported by the Australian Government through Music Australia. Each year, the AMP champion collects a $50,000 winner’s cheque.

Its “long-term champions” include long-term champions APRA AMCOS, The Music, Mushroom Group, PPCA, Inertia, Universal Music Australia, EMI, Virgin Music Australia, Island Records, MGM, Sony Music Publishing, Sony Music, The Annex, JB Hi-Fi, Linktree, The PR Files, Program Records, Tweak Distro, Warner Music Australia, The Ace Hotel, and Brett Oaten Solicitors.

The 20th SoundMerch AMP Shortlist:
Audrey Powne – From The Fire
Amyl & The Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness
Dobby – Warrangu; River Story
Grace Cummings – Ramona
Hiatus Kaiyote – Love Heart Cheat Code
Kankawa Nagarra – Wirlmarni
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Wild God
Rowena Wise – Senseless Acts Of Beauty
The Dirty Three – Love Changes Everything

Previous Australian Music Prize Recipients
2023 – RVG – Brain Worms
2022 – King Stingray – King Stingray
2021 – Genesis Owusu – Smiling With No Teeth
2020 – The Avalanches – We Will Always Love You
2019 – Sampa the Great – The Return
2018 – Gurrumul – Djarimirri
2017 – Sampa the Great – Birds and the BEE9
2016 – A.B. Original – Reclaim Australia
2015 – Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
2014 – REMI – Raw X Infinity
2013 – Big Scary – Not Art
2012 – Hermitude – HyperParadise
2011 – The Jezabels – Prisoner
2010 – Cloud Control – Bliss Release
2009 – Lisa Mitchell – Wonder
2008 – Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
2007 – The Mess Hall – Devils Elbow
2006 – Augie March, Moo – You Bloody Choir
2005 – The Drones – Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By