"It feels good to share my music," Gawurra, 40, tells NITV News about his upcoming single, 'Burala'.
"It’s important for me to help connect black and white Australia, to make everyone feel good through my music and my language.”
'Burala', is also the first song on his debut album 'Ratja Yaliyali', released in April, and means "vine of love" in his Gupapungu language.
"It's all about love," he says. "It's about how you love your mum, your dad, your past, your family back home, your language."
The song Ratja Yaliyali was written specifically with his mother in mind.
“After she passed away, and after that, for two weeks, I was praying and and praying, feeling sick at home, and I was thinking, 'she's gone'. I said to my family, 'my mother, she's gone' – but [through this song I realised] she's here with me, in my heart.”
Gawurra was born on the Gove Peninsula in East Arnhem Land before moving to Milingimbi Island where he has been composing and performing for twenty years.
After catching the attention of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association, which now represents him, he moved to Melbourne in 2016 to pursue his career in music.
And it's been getting notice in recent days, including by Rolling Stones' Gareth Hipwell who says in his review: "Like fellow Yolngu artist Gurrumul, Gawurra commands attention regardless of backdrop."
Gawurra is gearing up to perform at Walking with Spirits Festival on July 23, where he will perform his album for the first time live.
Gawurra Source: Supplied
Festival artistic director Tom E. Lewis says he welcomes Gawurra.
"It makes so much sense for someone as spiritually toned as Gawurra to premiere this beautiful body of music at Walking With Spirits."
The emerging musician will then support former Midnight Oil lead Peter Garrett at the Darwin Festival on August 7.
'Burala' will be released on June 10.
