KING STINGRAY RELEASE VIDEO FOR ‘HEY WANHAKA’ OUT NOW VIA BARGAIN BIN RECORDS

by the partae December 8, 2020

written by the partae December 8, 2020

KING STINGRAY RELEASE VIDEO FOR 'HEY WANHAKA' OUT NOW VIA BARGAIN BIN RECORDS

Following a hugely successful launch of their debut single, new Yolŋu surf-rock band King Stingray have released a mesmerising new video for ‘Hey Wanhaka’.

Premiering at the Clipped Music Video Festival this past weekend, the animated video for Hey Wanhaka was created by the band’s guitarist, Roy Kellaway, along with artist and long time mate, Kayla Flett. “This clip tells a story of the Stingray man travelling around the Territory.” explains Kellaway, “The Stingray man meets up with the Lorrpu (white cockatoo) and they party and celebrate together. The cockatoo is then putting the word out to everything “Hey! Wanhaka? Whats everyone up to?“.

Since the release of Hey Wanhaka in mid-October, King Stingray have firmly planted themselves in the Australian music scene as ‘ones to watch’, amassing fans in all corners of the country with solid triple j and community radio airplay. They were also crowned triple j Unearthed’s Feature Artist during NAIDOC week.

With more releases in the pipeline, and touring becoming increasingly possible, 2021 is shaping up to be a big year for King Sting. Catch them live at one of their upcoming shows with The Chats and Ruby Fields.

Friday December 11
Racecourse Hotel, Ipswich
Supporting The Chats

Saturday December 12
Highfields Tavern, Toowoomba
Supporting The Chats

Tuesday December 15
The Triffid, Brisbane
Supporting The Chats

Wednesday December 16
The Triffid, Brisbane
Supporting The Chats

Tuesday December 29
The Northern, Byron Bay
Supporting Ruby Fields

Wednesday December 30
The Northern, Byron Bay
Supporting Ruby Fields

About King Stingray:

King Stingray are a four piece from Yirrkala, North-East Arnhem Land. Formed by Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (nephew of the late Dr M Yunupiŋu – Yothu Yindi frontman) and Roy Kellaway (son of Stu Kellaway – Yothu Yindi founding member and bass player), King Stingray blend ancient indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk influences to create a genre of their own, Yolŋu surf-rock.

King Stingray is a story of lifelong friendship, of two cultures coming together. From toddlers in the Yothu Yindi tour entourage in the 90s, to fully fledged Yothu Yindi members today, Yirrŋa (current lead singer of Yothu Yindi) and Roy (current guitarist of Yothu Yindi and Emily Wurramara) have been playing and making music together for as long as they can remember. King Stingray seamlessly blends Yirrŋa’s timeless Yolŋu manikay vocals with Roy’s indie pop credentials (Mary Handsome, Django George).

Young multi-instrumentalist Dimathaya Burarrwanga joins the King Stingray line-up on drums and percussion, with Campbell Messer taking care of bass and back up vocals.

Hey Wanhaka is out now via Bargain Bin Records.

“…if Yothu Yindi is the family business, King Stingray is the fast-growing franchise that threatens to take over.” – The Guardian

“…An instant classic” – Claire Mooney, triple j Unearthed (5 stars)

“Iconic stuff” – Steph Hughes, triple j Unearthed (5 stars)