Stella Donnelly
Stella Donnelly (born April 10, 1992) is a Welsh-Australian musician. Born in Western Australia to a Welsh mother,[1] she spent some childhood years living in Morriston before moving to Perth, Australia with her family.[2]
Stella Donnelly | |
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Donnelly in 2017 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Stella Donnelly |
Born | Western Australia | 10 April 1992
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instruments |
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Years active | 2016–present |
Labels |
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Website | stelladonnelly |
Early life
Donnelly first started singing when she joined a rock band in high school (Irene McCormack Catholic College) that performed Green Day covers. After high school, Donnelly studied contemporary and jazz music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.[3]
Personal life
For recreation, Donnelly enjoys playing squash, swimming at beaches, birdwatching, gardening, completing cryptic crosswords, cooking, rock climbing with her partner, and playing board games with friends.[4][5] In an interview with The Line of Best Fit, she stated:
"My version of taking a break [from recording and touring] is filling up my day with as many activities as possible."[4]
Musical style and influences
Donnelly describes Billy Bragg and Courtney Barnett as musical influences.[6]
Political views and activism
Donnelly is a supporter of various social and political causes. Her 2017 debut single "Boys Will be Boys", written about societal attitudes towards women and her friend's experience of sexual assault,[7][8] was dubbed a "#MeToo anthem" (despite being written and released prior to the widespread global coverage of the movement).[7][8]
Donnelly is opposed to the celebration of Australia Day. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian, she stated:
"It's a really nationalist, white pride day... and it's actually a very historic day for Indigenous Australians – an invasion day, and a day of mourning."[7]
Donnelly supports same-sex marriage, and was "relieved" when it was legalised in Australia in 2017.[7] Donnelly is pro-choice.[7]
Career
Donnelly released her first EP titled Thrush Metal in 2017 on the record label Healthy Tapes.[9] In 2018, the EP was reissued in the United States by the American label Secretly Canadian.[10][11][12] She released her debut album, Beware of the Dogs, on 8 March 2019 via Secretly Canadian.[13] It received widespread acclaim from critics,[14] including Robert Christgau, who praised it as a "musical encyclopedia of [male] assholes".[15]
At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, Beware of the Dogs was nominated for Breakthrough Artist.[16] In October 2019, Donnelly came at no.6 in Happy Mag's list of "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now".[17]
Before her solo projects were published, Donnelly was part of two bands called BOAT SHOW and BELL RAPIDS.[18]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [19] | ||
Beware of the Dogs |
|
15 |
EPs
Title | Details |
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Thrush Metal |
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Singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Mechanical Bull"[21] | 2017 | Thrush Metal[upper-alpha 1] |
"Boys Will Be Boys"[8] | ||
"Talking"[22] | 2018 | Non-album single |
"Old Man"[23] | 2019 | Beware of the Dogs |
"Lunch"[24] | ||
"Tricks"[25] | ||
"Die"[26] | ||
"Season's Greetings"[27] | ||
"Love Is in the Air" (Triple J Like a Version)[28] |
2020 | Non-album single |
Notes
- "Boys Will Be Boys" is also included on Beware of the Dogs.[20]
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 |
---|---|---|---|
AIR Awards of 2018[29][30] | herself | Best Independent Artist | Nominated |
Stella Donnelly with Thrush Metal | Breakthrough Independent Artist | Nominated | |
AIR Awards of 2020[31][32] | Beware of the Dogs | Independent Album of the Year | Won |
Best Independent Pop Album or EP | Won | ||
Stella Donnelly | Breakthrough Independent Artist | Nominated |
J Award
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 |
---|---|---|---|
J Awards of 2017[33] | herself | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Nominated |
J Awards of 2019[34] | Beware of the Dogs | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017[35][36] | Stella Donnelly | Live Voice of the Year | Nominated |
Best New Act of the Year | Nominated | ||
Best Live Voice of the Year - People's Choice | Won | ||
West Australian Live Voice of the Year | Won | ||
2018[37][38] | Stella Donnelly | Live Voice of the Year | Won |
Live Pop Act of the Year | Nominated | ||
International Live Achievement (Solo) | Nominated | ||
Best Live Voice of the Year - People's Choice | Nominated | ||
West Australian Live Voice of the Year | Won | ||
West Australian Live Actof the Year | Won | ||
2019[39][40] | Stella Donnelly | Live Voice of the Year | Nominated |
Live Guitarist of the Year | Nominated | ||
International Live Achievement (Solo) | Won | ||
2020[41] | Stella Donnelly | Live Voice of the Year | Nominated |
West Australian Live Act of the Year | Nominated |
West Australian Music Industry Awards
The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM).
- Best EP, Best Folk Act, Best Single, Best Female Vocalist and Most Popular New Act at the Western Australian Music Industry Awards (2018)[42]
References
- Kingsmill, Richard (12 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly - 2020". ABC. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- "About Stella Donnely, Australian Singer-Songwriter". Stella Donnelly. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- "About Stella Donnely, Australian Singer-Songwriter". Stella Donnelly. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- Crudgington, Kate (7 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly is pushing on through the haters". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Daly, Rhian (January 2020). "Stella Donnelly: "You have to stand up for people that don't have a voice"". NME. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- Birrell, Alice (29 December 2019). "Stella Donnelly on fashion, sexism and proving people wrong". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- Snapes, Laura (13 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly: 'I'm more than happy to cause friction among the right wing'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- Mapes, Julian (4 November 2017). ""Boys Will Be Boys" by Stella Donnelly Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Akinfenwa, Jumi. "Thrush Metal songwriter Stella Donnelly is a feminist folk hero on the rise". Fact. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- D'Souza, Shaad. "Stella Donnelly "Mechanical Bull"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- "Stella Donnelly Signs International Deal With US Indie Label". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- Hatfield, Amanda. "Stella Donnelly signed to Secretly Canadian, re-releasing EP & touring". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- Blais-Billie, Braudie. "Stella Donnelly Announces Debut Album, Shares New Song "Old Man": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
- "Beware of the Dogs". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
- Christgau, Robert (6 April 2019). "Robert Christgau on Stella Donnelly's Musical Encyclopedia of Assholes". Vice. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
- "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now". Retrieved 30 October 2019.
- "Stella Donnelly". triple j Unearthed. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
- "Thank U, Next gives Ariana Grande fourth week at #1". ARIA Charts. 16 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- "Beware of the Dogs by Stella Donnelly on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Newstead, Al (27 February 2018). "Watch: Stella Donnelly's 'Mechanical Bull' video is a biting satire worthy of her wit". ABC. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Talking – Single by Stella Donnelly on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Newstead, Al (10 January 2019). "First Spin: Stella Donnelly announces debut album with 'Old Man'". ABC. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Palermino, Chris Leo (31 January 2019). "Stella Donnelly shares lo-fi video for reflective new song "Lunch": Watch". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Schatz, Lake (27 February 2019). "Stella Donnelly is fed up on new song "Tricks": Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Martoccio, Angie (9 May 2019). "Watch Stella Donnelly evade death in new video for 'Die'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- Martoccio, Angie (5 November 2019). "Stella Donnelly gets into a food fight in 'Season's Greetings' video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "Love Is In The Air (triple j Like A Version) – Single by Stella Donnelly on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
- "2018 AIR Awards Nominees". 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
- "History Wins". Australian Independent Record Labels Association. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- "2020 AIR Awards Nominees". scenestr. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- "That's a wrap: 2020 AIR Awards winners and celebrations". the industry observer. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- "The J Award 2017". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- "The J Award 2019". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- "NLMA reveal 2017 Nominees". NLMA. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "Winners 2017". NLMA. December 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "NLMA announce 2018 nominees and Live legend". NLMA. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "Winners of the 2018 NLMA". NLMA. December 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!". NLMA. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…". NLMA. 5 December 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "Nominees announced for 2020 National Live Music Awards". NLMAs. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- "Tame Impala & Stella Donnelly Among 2018 West Australian Music Award Winners". Music Feeds. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
External links
- Official website
- Stella Donnelly discography at Discogs