King Stingray is a story of lifelong friendship and two cultures coming together. Growing up together in Yirrkala in North-East Arnhem Land, founding members Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu (frontman) and Roy Kellaway (guitar) have been playing and making music together for as long as they can remember.

Yirrŋa and Roy formed King Stingray with mates Dimathaya Burarrwanga (rhythm guitar, backing vocals and yidaki), Campbell Messer (bass) and Lewis Stiles (drums) in 2019, before officially welcoming Yidaki-master Yimila Gurruwiwi into the fold in 2022. The band blend ancient indigenous melodies with surf, indie and funk influences to create their unique “Yolŋu surf-rock” sound which has captivated the nation.

Propelled by the instant success of their debut track “Hey Wanhaka” in 2020, and subsequent singles “Get Me Out”, “Milkumana”, “Camp Dog” and “Let’s Go”, the band soared to unexpected heights in record time. Hailed as “one of the most exciting acts in the country today” (NME), King Stingray took out triple j’s ‘Unearthed Artist of the Year’ J Award for 2021, NME Australia’s ‘Best New Act From Australia’ and Rolling Stone Australia’s ‘Best New Artist’ award all before an album was released.

On the live front, the band haven’t missed a beat. They’ve shared stages with Ball Park Music and Midnight Oil, performed before more than 70,000 AFL fans during the ‘Dreamtime at The G’ match, sold out a massive 11-date national headline tour and played countless festival slots including Falls, Spilt Milk, First & Forever and Splendour In The Grass.

“You can sense “King Sting” are part of a bigger cultural movement, as evidenced by the huge reaction the band received for their set at the recent Splendour In The Grass festival” observes the Daily Telegraph “… you can guarantee in three years, about 100,000 people will be claiming they were there.”

With fans in every corner of the country, King Sting have had the opportunity to work on some serious collaborations including one with Australian retail giant Cotton On where a range of eco-friendly King Stingray apparel and accessories were designed and sold in over 280 stores across the country. They also recorded an epic version of Down Under by Men At Work for Tourism Australia’s Come and Say G’day campaign, which served as a conduit to their first international trip as a band and an official introduction to the rest of the world.

With friendship, family, connection to country and culture resonating through everything they do, King Stingray are on track to forge a lasting legacy in the Australian music landscape.

“a band living their own dream, radiating with happiness and infectious enthusiasm. It’s happening.” – The Guardian

“..one of the most exciting rock bands to emerge from this country in a generation.” – Rolling Stone