Barkaa

Chloe Quayle (born 1995), known by her stage name Barkaa (stylised in all caps), is an Aboriginal Australian rapper and musician.

In September 2020, GQ Magazine dubbed her "the new matriarch of Australian rap".{{ cite web| url= https://www.gq.com.au/entertainment/music/meet-barkaa-the-new-matriarch-of-australian-rap/image-gallery/2a608b85228cf47661998eaa74adf7a4| website= GQ Magazine| title=Meet Barkaa, the New Matriarch of Australian Rap| first= Amy |last=Campbell| date=6 Oct 2020| quote=This piece originally appeared in GQ Australia's September/October 2020 edition | access-date=16 April 2022}} and in 2020, Triple J listed her as one of the top 5 female rappers in Australia.{{cite web | last=Latukefu | first=Hau | title=Five female rappers you need to get around | website=triple j | date=7 August 2020 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hip-hop-show/five-female-rappers-you-need-to-get-around/12535868 | access-date=16 April 2022}}

Early life

Barkaa was born as Chloe Quayle in 1995. Her mother was one of the Stolen Generations, and she had an uncle who died in police custody.{{Cite web|last1=Israel |first1=Janine |date=2021-11-28 |title= 'Unapologetically truthful and unapologetically Blak': Australia bows down to Barkaa| url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/29/unapologetically-truthful-and-unapologetically-blak-australia-bows-down-to-barkaa|access-date=2021-12-01|website=The Guardian|language=en}} She lived in the Greater Western Sydney suburb of Merrylands as a child. She was known for performing rap at high school, and entered rap competitions in Blacktown.{{cite web |last1=Byrne |first1=Declan |author-link=Declan Byrne (radio presenter) |title=Bars behind bars: How jail and motherhood forced rising rapper Barkaa to turn life around |url=https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/news/musicnews/bars-behind-bars:-how-having-a-child-in-jail-forced-rising-rapp/12866456 |publisher=Triple J |access-date=4 November 2021 | date =10 November 2020}} She is a Malyangapa and Barkindji woman.{{cite interview| author=Barkaa| interviewer-first=Neil |interviewer-last= Morris | format = Audio + text |title=Segments: Still Here: Barkaa On The Healing Power Of Rap |website= Triple R 102.7FM | date=14 April 2021 | url=https://www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/segments/still-here-barkaa-on-the-healing-power-of-rap | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314044006/https://www.rrr.org.au/on-demand/segments/still-here-barkaa-on-the-healing-power-of-rap | archive-date=14 March 2022 | url-status=dead | access-date=16 April 2022}}

Career

Barkaa takes her name from the Barkindji word for the Darling River, and says that she feels very honoured to have been given permission to use this name to represent her people.{{cite interview| interviewer-first=Alice |interviewer-last=Keath |author=BARKAA| title=Rap matriarch BARKAA and crossing the Borderlands with Van Diemen's Band's Julia Fredersdorff | website=ABC Radio National| series= The Music Show| date=16 April 2022| format=Audio + text | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/barkaa-rapper-first-nations-julia-fredersdorff-van-diemens-band/13837522 | access-date=16 April 2022}} Her music reflects her experiences with incarceration, child removal and addiction, with much of it overtly political; she has drawn from the words of Shareena Clanton and Rosalie Kunoth-Monks in her songs.

She first performed in front of an audience in 2019, at a Klub Koori event.

She released her debut single, "For My Tittas", in March 2020.{{youTube|vj3iGqCkW6I| BARKAA - For My Tittas (Official Video)}} 7 March 2020. Her song "Our Lives Matter", released in June 2020,{{youTube|bzJmRbncyVQ|BARKAA - Our Lives Matter (Official Audio)}} 6 June 2020. became the unofficial anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement in Australia. She has collaborated with DOBBY ("I Can't Breathe") and Electric Fields, and has performed at the Sydney Opera House, Enmore Theatre in Sydney and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne.{{cite web | title=About | website=BARKAA | url=https://www.barkaa.com.au/about | access-date=16 April 2022}}

Her debut album, released on 2 December 2021, was Blak Matriarchy, so named "in honour of powerful First Nations women who've paved the way for future generations", including her mother.{{cite web | last=Silva | first=Nadine | title=Barkaa releases debut album honouring Blak matriarchs | website=NITV | date=3 December 2021 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2021/12/03/barkaa-releases-debut-album-honouring-blak-matriarchs | access-date=16 April 2022}} The song "King Brown", which she says is about a "shitty ex" is on the album. The album was produced by jayteehazard.{{Cite web |last=Howarth |first=Madison |date=2021-12-15 |title=BARKAA: Rapper claims the crown with fiery hip-hop that honours Blak women |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/features/music-interviews/barkaa-blak-matriarchy-ep-bad-apples-3118327 |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=NME |language=en-AU}} The Blak Matriarchy EP begins with a sample of actress Shareena Clanton. One of the standout tracks is "Bow Down",{{cite web | last=Billy | first=August | title=The Indigenous Hip Hop Takeover: Barkaa, Kobie Dee, Briggs + More | website=Music Feeds | date=15 October 2023 | url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/2021-the-year-that-indigenous-hip-hop-took-over/ | access-date=6 September 2024}} which was used in Warwick Thornton's 2021-2022 vampire TV series, Firebite.{{cite web | title=New TV Series To Showcase Aussie Artists To Millions Worldwide | website=The Music | date=16 December 2021 | url=https://themusic.com.au/news/firebite-australian-vampire-tv-series-soundtrack/3HvEzvHw8_I/16-12-21 | access-date=6 September 2024}}

Barkaa performed at the Paartjima festival on the 2022 Easter weekend in Alice Springs.

In August 2024, Barkaa announced the forthcoming release of her second EP Big Tidda which she described as "a celebration of Blak joy, the importance of Blak love and just feeling yourself."{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/barkaa-announces-new-ep-big-tidda-a-celebration-of-blak-joy/|title=Barkaa Announces New EP 'Big Tidda': "A Celebration Of Blak Joy"|website=MusicFeeds|date=6 August 2024|access-date=12 August 2024}}

{{as of|September 2024}}, Barkaa is signed to Bad Apples Music,{{cite web | title=BARKAA | website=Bad Apples Music | date=15 August 2024 | url=https://badapplesmusic.com.au/artist/barkaa/ | access-date=6 September 2024}} which was founded by Briggs.

Personal life

Barkaa grew up with a single mother. She was addicted to methamphetamine as a teenager, and spent three periods in juvenile detention, where she gave birth to her third child, a son, {{Circa|2016}}. She has been sober since, and has her children back. Her daughter Alinta often performs with her.

Discography

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| EP details ! scope="col" colspan="2"\| Peak chart positions
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ARIA Charts {{cite web \|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2024-09-09/ \|title=ARIA Top 50 Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 9 September 2024 \|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) \|date=9 September 2024 \|access-date=6 September 2024}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| ARIA Charts {{cite web \|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2021-12-13/ \|title=ARIA Top 10 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 13 December 2021 \|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) \|date=10 December 2021 \|access-date=31 January 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131080000/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2021-12-13/ \|archive-date=31 January 2022 \|url-status=live}} Big Tidda: {{cite web \|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2024-09-09/ \|title=ARIA Top 10 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 9 September 2024 \|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) \|date=9 September 2024 \|access-date=6 September 2024}}
scope="row"\| Blak Matriarchy \| Released: 2 December 2021{{cite web \|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-releases-her-debut-ep-blak-matriarchy-3109939/ \|title=Barkaa releases her debut EP Blak Matriarchy \|work=NME Australia \|date=2 December 2021 \|access-date=31 January 2022 \|author=Langford, Jackson \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202233028/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-releases-her-debut-ep-blak-matriarchy-3109939/ \|archive-date=2 December 2021 \|url-status=live}} Label: Bad Apples Formats: Digital download, streaming \| — \|\| 7
scope="row"\| Big Tidda \| Released: 30 August 2024 Label: Bad Apples Formats: Digital download, streaming \| 26 \|\| 2

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| EP details

! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| ARIA Charts
{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2024-09-09/ |title=ARIA Top 50 Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 9 September 2024 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |date=9 September 2024 |access-date=6 September 2024}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| ARIA Charts
{{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2021-12-13/ |title=ARIA Top 10 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 13 December 2021 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |date=10 December 2021 |access-date=31 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131080000/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2021-12-13/ |archive-date=31 January 2022 |url-status=live}}

Big Tidda: {{cite web |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/australian-hip-hop-r-and-b-albums-chart/2024-09-09/ |title=ARIA Top 10 Australian Hip Hop/R&B Albums for week of 9 September 2024 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) |date=9 September 2024 |access-date=6 September 2024}}

scope="row"| Blak Matriarchy

Released: 2 December 2021{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-releases-her-debut-ep-blak-matriarchy-3109939/ |title=Barkaa releases her debut EP Blak Matriarchy |work=NME Australia |date=2 December 2021 |access-date=31 January 2022 |author=Langford, Jackson |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202233028/https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-releases-her-debut-ep-blak-matriarchy-3109939/ |archive-date=2 December 2021 |url-status=live}}
Label: Bad Apples
Formats: Digital download, streaming

| — || 7

scope="row"| Big Tidda

Released: 30 August 2024
Label: Bad Apples
Formats: Digital download, streaming

| 26 || 2

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" rowspan="1"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="1"\| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="1"\| Album
scope="row"\| "For My Tittas" \| rowspan="5"\| 2020 \| rowspan="5" {{N/a\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row"\| "Our Lives Matter"
scope="row"\| "I Can't Breathe" {{small\|(with Dobby)}}
scope="row"\| "22Clan"
scope="row"\| "Groovy"{{cite web \|title=Groovy \|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/groovy-mw0003464275 \|publisher=AllMusic \|access-date=4 November 2021}}
scope="row"\| "King Brown"{{cite web \|title=King Brown \|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/king-brown-mw0003554465 \|publisher=AllMusic \|access-date=4 November 2021}} \| rowspan="2"\| 2021 \| rowspan="3"\| Blak Matriarchy
scope="row"\| "Blak Matriarchy"
scope="row"\|"Fight for Me"{{cite web\|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/new-aus-music-playlist-our-favourite-tunes-of-the-week-99/\|title=New Aus Music Playlist ADDITIONS – 01/04/22\|website=Music Feeds\|date=1 April 2022\|access-date=2 April 2022}} {{small\|(featuring Electric Fields)}} \| rowspan="2"\| 2022
scope="row"\| "Ball On 'em"{{cite web\|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/chillinit-sahxl-barkaa-nba-2k23-campaign/\|title=Chillinit, Sahxl and Barkaa Score Big With NBA 2K23 Campaign\|website=The Music Network\|date=30 November 2022\|access-date=2 December 2022}} \| rowspan="2" {{non-album singles}}
scope="row"\|"Division"{{cite web\|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-division-indigenous-voice-no-3535710\|title=Barkaa responds to rejection of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with new single 'Division'\|website=NME\|date=10 November 2023\|access-date=11 November 2023}} \| 2023
scope="row"\|"We Up"{{cite web\|url=https://happymag.tv/barkaa-music-video-single-we-up/\|title=Barkaa's shares new music video for latest single 'We Up'\|website=Happy Mag TV\|date=15 March 2024\|access-date=16 March 2024}} \| rowspan="2"\| 2024 \| rowspan="2"\| Big Tidda
scope="row"\|"Preach"{{cite web\|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/barkaa-preach-single-61557/\|title=BARKAA Drops Defiant Anthem 'Preach'\|website=Happy Mag TV\|date=14 June 2024\|access-date=16 June 2024}}
scope="row"\|"Bow Down" {{small\|(Jayteehazard x Flywaves remix)}}{{cite web\|url=https://badapplesmusic.com.au/releases/barkaa-bow-down-jayteehazard-flywaves-remix/\|title=Bow Down because BARKAA has returned.\|website=Bad Apples Music\|date=7 February 2025\|access-date=8 June 2025}} \| rowspan="2"\| 2025 \| rowspan="1" {{non-album single}}
scope="row"\|"Ngamaka" {{small\|(featuring Leroy Johnson)}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.abc.net.au/rage/features/feature-video-barkaa-ft-leroy-johnson-ngamaka/105359250\|title=Feature Video: Barkaa ft. Leroy Johnson "Ngamaka"\|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation\|date=30 May 2025\|access-date=8 June 2025}} \| rowspan="1" {{tba}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Year

! scope="col" rowspan="1"| Album

scope="row"| "For My Tittas"

| rowspan="5"| 2020

| rowspan="5" {{N/a|Non-album singles}}

scope="row"| "Our Lives Matter"

scope="row"| "I Can't Breathe"
{{small|(with Dobby)}}

scope="row"| "22Clan"

scope="row"| "Groovy"{{cite web |title=Groovy |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/groovy-mw0003464275 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=4 November 2021}}

scope="row"| "King Brown"{{cite web |title=King Brown |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/king-brown-mw0003554465 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=4 November 2021}}

| rowspan="2"| 2021

| rowspan="3"| Blak Matriarchy

scope="row"| "Blak Matriarchy"

scope="row"|"Fight for Me"{{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/features/new-aus-music-playlist-our-favourite-tunes-of-the-week-99/|title=New Aus Music Playlist ADDITIONS – 01/04/22|website=Music Feeds|date=1 April 2022|access-date=2 April 2022}}
{{small|(featuring Electric Fields)}}

| rowspan="2"| 2022

scope="row"| "Ball On 'em"{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/chillinit-sahxl-barkaa-nba-2k23-campaign/|title=Chillinit, Sahxl and Barkaa Score Big With NBA 2K23 Campaign|website=The Music Network|date=30 November 2022|access-date=2 December 2022}}

| rowspan="2" {{non-album singles}}

scope="row"|"Division"{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/barkaa-division-indigenous-voice-no-3535710|title=Barkaa responds to rejection of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament with new single 'Division'|website=NME|date=10 November 2023|access-date=11 November 2023}}

| 2023

scope="row"|"We Up"{{cite web|url=https://happymag.tv/barkaa-music-video-single-we-up/|title=Barkaa's shares new music video for latest single 'We Up'|website=Happy Mag TV|date=15 March 2024|access-date=16 March 2024}}

| rowspan="2"| 2024

| rowspan="2"| Big Tidda

scope="row"|"Preach"{{cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/barkaa-preach-single-61557/|title=BARKAA Drops Defiant Anthem 'Preach'|website=Happy Mag TV|date=14 June 2024|access-date=16 June 2024}}

scope="row"|"Bow Down"
{{small|(Jayteehazard x Flywaves remix)}}{{cite web|url=https://badapplesmusic.com.au/releases/barkaa-bow-down-jayteehazard-flywaves-remix/|title=Bow Down because BARKAA has returned.|website=Bad Apples Music|date=7 February 2025|access-date=8 June 2025}}

| rowspan="2"| 2025

| rowspan="1" {{non-album single}}

scope="row"|"Ngamaka"
{{small|(featuring Leroy Johnson)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/rage/features/feature-video-barkaa-ft-leroy-johnson-ngamaka/105359250|title=Feature Video: Barkaa ft. Leroy Johnson "Ngamaka"|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=30 May 2025|access-date=8 June 2025}}

| rowspan="1" {{tba}}

Awards and nominations

= APRA Music Awards =

The APRA Music Awards were established by Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) in 1982 to honour the achievements of songwriters and music composers, and to recognise their song writing skills, sales and airplay performance, by its members annually.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| 2025

| "We Up" (Chloe Quayle and Jacob Turier)

| Song of the Year

| {{shortlisted}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.noise11.com/news/the-20-songs-in-for-apra-song-of-the-year-2025-20250206|title= The 20 Songs in for APRA Song of the Year 2025|website=Noise11|date=6 February 2025|access-date=7 February 2025}}

=ARIA Music Awards=

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony held by the Australian Recording Industry Association. They commenced in 1987.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| rowspan="2"| 2022

| Blak Matriarchy

| Best Hip Hop / Rap Release

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2"| {{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/2022-aria-awards-nominees/|title=Rüfüs Du Sol Leads 2022 ARIA Awards Nominees (Full List)|website=The Music Network|date=12 October 2022|access-date=12 October 2022|author=Lars Brandle}}

| "Blak Matriarchy" (Barkaa, Selina Miles)

| Best Video

| {{nom}}

| 2024

| Barkaa

| ARIA Award for Best Australian Live Act

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-26/aria-awards-2024-nominations-royel-otis-kylie-minogue-dom-dolla/104398174|title= ARIA Awards 2024 nominations — everything you need to know|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 September 2024|access-date=29 September 2024}}

=National Indigenous Music Awards=

The National Indigenous Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

! scope="row" rowspan="4"| 2022

| Barkaa

| New Talent of the Year

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="4"| {{cite web|url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/nominees-and-performers-announced-for-national-indigenous-music-awards-2022/|title=Nominees and Performers Announced For National Indigenous Music Awards 2022|website=Music Feeds|date=13 July 2022|access-date=14 July 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://themusicnetwork.com/baker-boy-2022-nimas-winners/|title=2022 NIMAs: Baker Boy Wins Two Awards, Archie Roach and Gurrumul Honoured |website=The Music Network|date=6 August 2022|access-date=7 August 2022}}

| "King Brown"

| Song of the Year

| {{won}}

| "King Brown"

| Film Clip of the Year

| {{nom}}

| "Blak Matriarchy"

| Film Clip of the Year

| {{nom}}

! scope="row" rowspan="3"| 2024

| Barkaa

| Artist of the Year

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3"| {{cite web|url= https://themusic.com.au/industry/the-kid-laroi-barkaa-lead-national-indigenous-music-awards-nominations/yHR22t3c394/19-07-24 |title= The Kid LAROI & Barkaa Lead National Indigenous Music Awards Nominations |website=The Music|date= 19 July 2024|access-date= 19 July 2024|author= Mary Varvaris }}{{cite web | last=Charles | first=Bronte | title=Check out the full list of winners of the National Indigenous Music Awards 2024 | website=NITV | date=10 August 2024 | url=https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/these-are-the-winners-of-the-national-indigenous-music-awards/dmgh04mr4 | access-date=11 August 2024}}

| "We Up"

| Film Clip of the Year

| {{won}}

| "We Up"

| Song of the Year

| {{nominated}}

=National Live Music Awards=

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) commenced in 2016 to recognise contributions to the live music industry in Australia.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| rowspan="1" | 2023

| Barkaa

| Best Hip Hop Act

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="1" | {{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/nominees-announced-for-the-2023-national-live-music-awards/SrrwXF9eQUA/05-09-23/|title=Nominees Announced For The 2023 National Live Music Awards|website=The Music|date=5 September 2023|accessdate=11 September 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://themusic.com.au/industry/genesis-owusu-and-amyl-the-sniffers-win-big-at-the-2023-national-live-music-awards/ias3nZyfnoE/11-10-23|title=Genesis Owusu And Amyl & The Sniffers Win Big At The 2023 National Live Music Awards |website=The Music|date= 11 October 2023|access-date= 12 October 2023}}

=Rolling Stone Australia Awards=

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of Rolling Stone magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year.

! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

| 2025

| Barkaa

| Best Live Act

| {{shortlist}}

| {{cite web|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rolling-stone-australia-awards-longlist-revealed-73101/|title= 2025 Rolling Stone Australia Awards: Longlist Revealed|publisher=Rolling Stone Australia|date=5 March 2025|access-date=6 March 2025}}

References

External links

{{official website|https://www.barkaa.com.au/}}

Category:1995 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Australian musicians

Category:Australian women rappers

Category:Bad Apples Music artists

Category:Rappers from Sydney