Yolŋu surf-rock outfit King Stingray have released animated visuals for their previously-released debut single ‘Hey Wanhaka’. The clip was developed by the band’s guitarist Roy Kellaway, along with artist Kayla Flett.
“This clip tells a story of the Stingray man travelling around the Territory,” Kellaway explained in a statement.
“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?’.”
Watch the video for ‘Hey Wanhaka’ below:
King Stingray made their introduction with ‘Hey Wanhaka’ back in October of this year via Bargain Bin, the label owned and operated by The Chats.
The song was written in both English and Yolŋu Matha, a native dialect from the band’s home of Yirrkala in North-East Arnhem Land. In Yolŋu Matha, the single’s name means “hey, where you going?”.
The band features Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu, the nephew of late Yothu Yindi frontman Dr M Yunupiŋu, and Roy Kellaway, the son of founding Yothu Yindi bass player Stu Kellaway. Dimathaya Burarrwanga and Campbell Messer round out King Stingray’s lineup.
Both Yunupiŋu and Kellaway also perform in the current iteration of Yothu Yindi – Yunupiŋu as lead singer, and Kellaway on guitar. In addition, Kellaway also plays guitar in Emily Wurramara‘s band.
King Stingray are set to perform a string of shows with The Chats this month. They’ll play the first five dates of the band’s Australian tour, which kicks off this Friday December 11 in Ipswich.
King Stingray will also join singer-songwriter Ruby Fields for a pair of shows at The Northern in Byron Bay, on December 29 and 30.