Toronto Summer 2015 - Frank Yamma at Planet IndigenUS

Music Yet to Come: Frank Yamma
August 7, 2015

Planet IndigenUS is excited to present Frank Yamma, a gifted songwriter and guitarist and traditional Pitjantjatjara man from Australia’s central desert, as part of Music Yet to Come, a program that highlights new music from Indigenous artists making their mark in the industry.

Frank Yamma is regarded as one of Australia’s most important Indigenous songwriters. Yamma’s sometimes brutally honest tales of alcohol abuse, cultural degradation, respect for the old law and the importance of the land are potent statements and visceral "shouts of pain."


Frank Yamma was born at a waterhole in Kaltukatjara, in Australia’s Northern Territory, and grew up in Alice Springs. Frank’s father was Isaac Yamma, a country singer and one of the earliest Australian musicians to become well known for singing Western-style songs in traditional languages. Frank performed with his dad’s band, and in a group with his seven older brothers before playing solo and in other groups, to some acclaim. In 1999, Yamma formed Piranpa. The name means “white” in Pitjantjatjara, a reference to the fact that all the other band members were “whitefellas.” Fans and awards followed. For over a decade Yamma’s music career was put on hold, but in 2010, with the support of David Bridie, he released his debut solo album, Countryman. Frank is now making waves around the globe for his incredible voice, thought-provoking and powerful lyrics, expressive guitar and soulful bluesy-folk and country ballads.