Nyaaringu

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Nyaaringu
Studio album by
Released29 May 2020 (2020-05-29)
StudioMiddle Arm and Sunshine Recorder Studios
Label
ProducerIAMMXO (aka Mohamed Komba)[1]
Singles from Nyaaringu
  1. "Black Privilege"
    Released: 28 June 2019[2]
  2. "Drowning"
    Released: 9 August 2019[3]
  3. "Twisting Words"
    Released: 27 February 2020[4]
  4. "Hold Strong"
    Released: 3 May 2020[5]

Nyaaringu is the debut studio album by Australian singer and songwriter Miiesha, released digitally on 29 May 2020. Following its physical release in August 2020, the album peaked at number 28 on the ARIA charts.[6]

Speaking about the album, Miiesha said "Nyaaringu is a collection of stories that I feel I wanted to tell or that I needed to speak on. For me it represents my journey and where I'm at now coming from Woorabinda. The interludes in the collection are recordings of my Grandmother speaking. For me she was and always will stay with me as the strongest voice in my life, so I felt she had to be a part of this with me."[7] Nyaaringu is a phrase meaning "what happened" in the Pitjantjatjara language.[8]

At the National Indigenous Music Awards 2020, the album was nominated for Album of the Year.[9][10] At the 2020 ARIA Music Awards it won Best Soul/R&B Release.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[8]
The Music AU[1]

Ali Shutler from NME said "Nyaaringu [is] a fearless debut album that weaves a story about the Indigenous experience", calling it "A soulful R&B record whose tales of discrimination, empowerment and freedom bear relevance well beyond Australia's borders."[8] The Music AU called the album "thematically and communally, powerful."[1]

Tyler Jenke from ToneDeaf said "Arguably one of the strongest debuts in recent memory, and one of the most fitting records to be released during Reconciliation Week, Nyaaringu sees Miiesha Young sharing her story in the way only she can, with a dazzling blend of smooth soulful vocals serving as a statement of self-belief."[12] Geordie Gray from ToneDeaf called Nyaaringu "essential listening", saying "Miiesha deftly weaves stories of community, survival and inherited knowledge. A pivotal masterpiece and an ode to resilience. A heartbreakingly timely debut."[12]

Laura English from Music Feeds called the album "absolutely stunning but the collection of songs goes deeper, exploring the themes of cultural identity and community."[13]

Al Newstead from Triple J said "Miiesha's debut release is one every Australian should hear... Weaving intensely personal and honest storytelling with the kind of warm production SZA or Solange would kill for, Miiesha captures the complexity of the individual Indigenous experience through universally appealing songs."[14]

Simon Winkler from Stack Magazine said the album "...draws upon gospel, R&B, hip hop, soul and spoken word poetry to create something unique, universal and profoundly personal."[7]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Caged Bird"
  • Steven Collins
  • Miiesha Young
1:34
2."Black Privilege"
  • Collins
  • Mohamed Komba
  • Young
3:13
3."Drowning"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
3:51
4."Broken Tongues" (Interlude by Elizabeth Young) 0:50
5."Broken Tongues"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
3:17
6."Hold Strong" (Interlude by Elizabeth Young) 0:53
7."Hold Strong"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
2:54
8."Tjitji"
  • Collins
  • Young
1:27
9."Twisting Words"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
3:14
10."Blood Cells"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
2:49
11."Self Care" (Interlude by Elizabeth Young) 0:48
12."Self Care"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
3:30
13."Outro"
  • Collins
  • Komba
  • Young
1:18

Charts[edit]

Chart (2020) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[15] 28

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label Catalogue
Various 29 May 2020[16] EMI Music Australia
Australia 28 August 2020[17]
EMI Music Australia 0736069
30 October 2020[18]
0736070

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Miiesha Nyaaringu EMI". The Music AU. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  2. ^ ""Black Privilege" - single". Apple Music. 28 June 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ ""Drowning" - single". Apple Music. 9 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  4. ^ ""Twisting Words" - single". Apple Music. 27 February 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. ^ "Miiesha releases new single "Hold Strong" ahead of debut collection". NME. 3 May 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  6. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Miiesha Nyaaringu review". Stack Magazine. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Shutler, Ali (29 May 2020). "Miiesha – Nyaaringu review: a fearless debut album that weaves a story about the Indigenous experience". NME. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled". noise11. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  10. ^ "National Indigenous Music Awards 2020: Baker Boy wins second artist of the year title". the Guardian. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ "And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To…". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. ^ a b "Album of the Week: Miiesha, Nyaaringu". Tone Deaf. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Miiesha Takes Us Track By Track Through Her New Collection of Songs Nyaaringu". MusicFeeds. 29 May 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Miiesha's debut release is one every Australian should hear". ABC. 3 June 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Troye Sivan – Bloom". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Nyaaringu by Miiesha on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Nyaaringu (CD)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  18. ^ "Nyaaringu (LP)". JB HiFi. Retrieved 9 September 2020.