Musicians

King Stingray

Origin
Yirrkala, North-East Arnhem Land
Genre/styles
Rock
About King

King Stingray is made of vocalist Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (nephew of late Yothu Yindi vocalist Dr M Yunupiŋu), guitarist Roy Kellaway (son of bassist Stuart Kellaway), drummer Dimathaya Burarrwanga and bassist Campbell Messer.

Inspired by Surf Rock, Yirrŋa incorporated lyrics from traditional Yolngu songlines (Yolngu Matha) and dubbed this new sound ‘Yolngu surf rock’.

Discography

Album formats explained

Album formats

  • 10": 10 inch vinyl records were played at 45 or 33 1/3 rounds per minute (rpm). The former could hold 9, the latter 12 minutes of music per side.
  • 7": 7 inch records (often referred to as 45s) were played at 45 rpm or 33 1/3 rpm, with about 4:30 or 6 minutes of music per side.
  • LP: Long play, is a vinyl record played at ​33 1⁄3 rpm with a 12 or 10-inch diameter.
  • EP: Extended play, are vinyl records that allowed two or even three songs on each side.

Hey Wanhaka (Single)

Released
14 October 2020
Tracks
  1. Hey Wanhaka
Notes

This is King Stingray's debut single. It draws on the traditional manikay (songline) of the lorrpu (the white cockatoo). ‘Wanhaka’ means ‘where’, but in new-generation slang it’s the Yolngu way of saying, ‘What’s up?’.


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Cite this page

Korff, J 2021, King Stingray, <https://www.creativespirits.info/resources/music/king-stingray>, retrieved 19 March 2024

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