Gurrumul Wins ARIA Award For Posthumous Album ‘Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions’

Gurrumul won the ARIA Award for Best World Music Album with his posthumous album, Banbirrngu – The Orchestral Sessions.

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The album arrived last November, seven years after Gurrumul’s passing in 2017. Before he passed away, he spent a decade collaborating with orchestras, from an early performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall to working with symphony orchestras in Australia.

Banbirrngu honours the late music legend’s most notable compositions from throughout his incredible career. The album was produced by Michael Hohnen, arranged by Erkki Veltheim, and recorded in Prague with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Jan Chalupecký.

The orchestral recordings explore the singer’s well-known and beloved performances, including his performance of Amazing Grace.

For the first time in the singer’s discography, Banbirrngu - The Orchestral Sessions was mixed in Spatial Audio, offering a new dimension to the stunning recordings that deliver an unforgettable listening experience to his fans.

Receiving the award celebrates Gurrumul’s longstanding impact on audiences in Australia and around the world. Throughout his career, Gurrumul spotlighted voices, language, and stories rooted in Yolŋu culture and delivered with his unmistakable voice. In 2022, he was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMA) Hall of Fame.

The singer’s long-time collaborator, Michael Hohnen, remarked, “When I listened to this album this morning, I was reminded of what we're going for on the first track, Banbirrngu, which is about the ancestors, and describes the Yolngu spirit coming out of the ground, living and then returning to the earth. Representing the cycle of life and everything about the way this album was produced just filled me with that same sentiment.”

Sean Warner, President and CEO of Universal Music Australia and New Zealand, added, “It is both a profound responsibility and an immense privilege to help carry forward the legacy of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu.

“Partnering with Skinnyfish, Gurrumul’s long-time collaborators, we continue a shared commitment to his mission of connecting cultures while honouring and protecting the sacred traditions that shaped his music. It’s all our responsibility to ensure Gurrumul’s music continues to inspire generations to come.”