Ziggy Ramo
Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna, known professionally as Ziggy Ramo is an Australian singer-songwriter.
Ziggy Ramo | |
---|---|
Birth name | Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna[1] |
Born | Bellingen, New South Wales |
Origin | Australia |
Occupation(s) | singer |
Instruments | Vocals |
Years active | 2016–present |
Associated acts | Miiesha |
Early life
Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna was born to an Aboriginal and Solomon Islander father and a mother of Scottish heritage in Bellingen, New South Wales and brought up across Arnhem Land and Perth, Western Australia.[1]
Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna moved to Perth when he was six years old and began pursuing music in his mid-teens, the social messaging of classic US hip-hop resonating with him. After graduating from school, he embarked on a Pre-Medicine degree, determined to advocate for Indigenous health, before switching back to music, aiming to represent Indigenous Australian perspectives in rap.[2]
Career
In 2015, Ramo completed his debut album Black Thoughts; an album that incisively addressed colonial dispossession, systemic racism and intergenerational trauma. Yet he worried that non-Indigenous Australia wasn't ready to engage with his truth-telling, so he shelved the album. Instead, in 2016, an EP of the same name was released.[2]
The EP spawns the singles "Black Thoughts"[3] and "Black Face".[4]
Following George Floyd's death in Minneapolis on 25 May 2020, prompting a global Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality, Fatnowna decided to "rush release" the album saying "It was just still so relevant".[2]
In August 2020, Ramo performed the album live at Sydney Opera House as part of its From Our House to Yours weekly program.[5]
Influences
Ramo lists his musical influences including Lauryn Hill and Yasiin Bey and Aboriginal activists such as Charlie Perkins and Gary Foley.[1][6]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details |
---|---|
Black Thoughts |
|
Extended Plays
Title | EP details |
---|---|
Black Thoughts |
|
As lead artist
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"Black Throughts" (featuring Stan Grant)[9][3] | 2016 | Black Thoughts (EP) |
"Black Face"[10][4] | ||
"Same Script"[11] | 2017 | |
"Ykwd (You Know We're Done)"[12] | ||
"A to Z"[13] | 2018 | |
"Empire"[14] | 2019 | |
"Pretty Boy"[15] | ||
"Tjitji" (featuring Miiesha)[16] | 2020 | Deadly Hearts: Walking Together |
Awards and nominations
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. They commenced in 2005.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
Australian Music Prize 2020[17] | Black Thoughts | Album of the Year | Pending |
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 2020[18] | himself | You Done Good Award | Nominated |
National Indigenous Music Awards
The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) recognise excellence, dedication, innovation and outstanding contribution to the Northern Territory music industry.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2018[19] | "himself" | Best New Talent | Nominated |
References
- "QandA Ziggy Ramo". ABC. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Ziggy Ramo is the Indigenous rapper who made 2020's most important Australian album – five years ago". NME. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Premiere: Ziggy firms as a powerful young Indigenous voice in the video for Black Thoughts". PileRats. April 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Ziggy delivers a fierce message with new single and video clip, Black Face". PileRats. November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Ziggy Ramo at SOH". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Ziggy Ramo JJJ Unearthed". ABC Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Black Thoughts (album)". Apple Music. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Exclusive: Stream Ziggy's powerful new EP, Black Thoughts". Pilerats. 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
- "Ziggy Ramo: Black Thoughts ft. Stan Grant (Official Video)". YouTube. April 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Ziggy Ramo: Black Face - prod. JCAL (Official Video)". YouTube. November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Same Script - single". Apple Music. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "YKWD- single". Apple Music. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "A to Z- single". Apple Music. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Empire - single". Apple Music. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Pretty Boy - single". Apple Music. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- "Tjitji (featuring Miiesha) – Single by Ziggy Ramo on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- "2020 Australian Music Prize Finalists". scenestr. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- Wilson, Zanda (4 November 2019). "triple j announce J Award nominees & new 'You Done Good' award". The Music Network. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- "2018 National Indigenous Music Award Winners". National Indigenous Music Awards. NIMA. Retrieved 16 April 2019.