Ziggy Ramo
Birth nameZiggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna[1]
BornBellingen, New South Wales
OriginAustralia
Occupation(s)singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active2016–present

Ziggy Ramo Burrmuruk Fatnowna, known professionally as Ziggy Ramo is an Australian singer-songwriter.

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

List of studio album released, with release date and label shown
Title EP details
Black Thoughts
  • Released: 5 June 2020[7]
  • Label: Ramo Records
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Extended Plays

List of EPs released, with release date and label shown
Title EP details
Black Thoughts
  • Released: 2016[8]
  • Label: Ziggy
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles, with year released, selected certifications and album name shown
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

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[17] 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[18] "himself" Best New Talent Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b c "QandA Ziggy Ramo". ABC. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "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.
  3. ^ a b "Premiere: Ziggy firms as a powerful young Indigenous voice in the video for Black Thoughts". PileRats. April 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ziggy delivers a fierce message with new single and video clip, Black Face". PileRats. November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Ziggy Ramo at SOH". Sydney Opera House. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  6. ^ "Ziggy Ramo JJJ Unearthed". ABC Triple J Unearthed. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Black Thoughts (album)". Apple Music. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Stream Ziggy's powerful new EP, Black Thoughts". Pilerats. 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Ziggy Ramo: Black Thoughts ft. Stan Grant (Official Video)". YouTube. April 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Ziggy Ramo: Black Face - prod. JCAL (Official Video)". YouTube. November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Same Script - single". Apple Music. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  12. ^ "YKWD- single". Apple Music. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  13. ^ "A to Z- single". Apple Music. 13 April 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Empire - single". Apple Music. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Pretty Boy - single". Apple Music. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Tjitji (featuring Miiesha) – Single by Ziggy Ramo on Apple Music". Apple Music AU. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  17. ^ Wilson, Zanda (4 November 2019). "triple j announce J Award nominees & new 'You Done Good' award". The Music Network. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  18. ^ "2018 National Indigenous Music Award Winners". National Indigenous Music Awards. NIMA. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
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