Thelma Plum Explained

Thelma Plum
Birth Name:Thelma Amelina Plumbe
Birth Date:1994 12, df=y
Birth Place:Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Origin:Delungra, New South Wales, Australia
Genre:Folk[1]
Years Active:2012–present

Thelma Amelina Plumbe (born 21 December 1994), known professionally as Thelma Plum, is an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician from Delungra, New South Wales. Her debut album, Better in Blak, was released on 30 July 2019 and peaked at number 4 on the ARIA Albums Chart.

Plum has received various accolades, including for Best Cover Art at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards for Dennis Pfitzner's artwork.

Early life

Thelma Amelina Plumbe[2] was born on 21 December 1994[3] in Brisbane.[4] She is a Gamilaraay woman[5] from Delungra, New South Wales. Plum graduated from the Music Industry College, Brisbane and spent most of her early life in that city.

Career

2012–2017: Triple J Unearthed and early EPs

In May 2012, Plum uploaded the tracks "Blackbird" and "Father Said" onto Triple J Unearthed and in July 2012, won the inaugural Triple J's National Indigenous Unearthed Music competition[5] and was nominated for a Deadly award for Most Promising New Talent. "Father Said" was released in November 2012 as her official debut single. Plum released her debut extended play, Rosie, in March 2013 and followed with her second EP, Monsters (July 2014).[6] By that time she had relocated to Melbourne.[4]

Plum appeared at Womadelaide in 2014 and 2019,[7] has toured around Australia and has been on rotation nationally on Triple J.[8] [9]

2018–2021: Better in Blak

Plum released her debut album, Better in Blak, in July 2019. The video for the single, "Better in Blak", was nominated for Film Clip of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards.[10] [11] In October 2019 she came at No. 7 in Happy Mag's list of "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now."[12] At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019 she received six nominations and won Best Cover Art for Emilie Pfitzner's work on her album.

The Better In Black album became a collection of anthems for Blak women.[13]

In January 2020, Plum became the highest ranking Indigenous artist ever in the Triple J Hottest 100, when "Better in Blak" charted at number 9.[14] Two months later, she was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

In May 2020, Plum released a cover of Powderfinger's "These Days".[16] In October, she performed at the 2020 AFL Grand Final.[17]

2022–present: Meanjin and When Rosie Met Monsters

In July 2022, Plum announced the forthcoming release of her third EP, Meanjin, alongside its second single "When It Rains It Pours".[18]

Meanjin, is Plum's "love letter" to Brisbane and was written on her balcony in lockdown due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Plum's Meanjin EP won Album Of The Year at the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards.[19]

In November 2022, Plum announced the forthcoming release of When Rosie Met Monsters, compiling the EPs Rosie and Monsters together on vinyl, CD and cassette.[20]

In November 2023, Plum released "We Don't Talk About It", the first new music in over twelve months.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
DetailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
AUS
[22]
Better in Blak 4
I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back
  • To be released: 18 October 2024
  • Label: Warner Music Australia
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col"
Details
When Rosie Met Monsters
  • Released: 25 November 2022
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (5419740238)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, LP, streaming
  • Note: Compiles EPs Rosie and Monsters

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
DetailsPeak chart positions
AUS
Rosie
  • Released: 15 March 2013[26]
  • Label: Footstomp (STOMPER005)
  • Formats: CD,[27] digital download, streaming
—
Monsters
  • Released: 4 July 2014[28]
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (5419626612)
  • Formats: CD,[29] digital download, streaming
—
Meanjin
  • Released: 12 August 2022
  • Label: Warner Music Australia (5419724168)
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
28

Singles

As lead artist

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
AUS
[30] 		NZ
Hot
[31]
"Father Said"[32] 2012— —Rosie
"Around Here"[33] 2013— —
"Dollar"[34] — —
"How Much Does Your Love Cost"
[35] [36] 		2014— —Monsters
"Monsters"[37] — —
"Young in Love"[38] — —
"Any Other Name"
[39] 		2015— —rowspan="2"
"Clair de Lune"2018— —
"Clumsy Love"— — Better in Blak
"Not Angry Anymore"[41] 2019— —
"Better in Blak"89 —
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum
"Homecoming Queen"— —
  • ARIA: Platinum
"These Days"2020— —
  • ARIA: Gold
"Backseat of My Mind"[42] 2022— 40Meanjin
"When It Rains It Pours"— —
"The Brown Snake"[43] — —
"We Don't Talk About It"2023— —I'm Sorry, Now Say It Back
"Nobody's Baby"[44] 2024— —
"Freckles"— —

As featured artist

List of singles, with year released and album shown! Title! Year! Album
"No One"
[45] 		2015XXIV
"Ticket to Heaven"
[46] 		2020Don't Sleep
"Go to War"
[47] 		2020Always Was

Other charted songs

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
NZ
Hot
[48]
"Don't Let a Good Girl Down"201935Better in Blak

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are held in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Performing Right Association to recognise songwriting skills, sales and airplay performance by its members annually. Plum has been nominated for two awards.

! |-| rowspan="2"| 2020| "Better in Blak"| APRA Song of the Year| | rowspan="2"| [49] [50] |-| herself| Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year| |-| 2021 || herself || Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year || || [51] |-| 2023 || "Backseat of My Mind"|| APRA Song of the Year || || [52] |-

ARIA Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Thelma Plum won an award from six nominations in 2019.

! |-| rowspan="6"| 2019| Emilie Pfitzner for Thelma Plum - Better in Blak| Best Cover Art| | rowspan="6"|[53] [54] [55] |-| Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore for Thelma Plum – "Better in Blak"| Best Video| |-| rowspan="4"|Better in Blak| Album of the Year| |-| Best Female Artist| |-| Best Pop Release| |-| Breakthrough Artist| |-| 2021| Thelma Plum – Homecoming Queen Tour| Best Australian Live Act| | [56] |-| rowspan="3"| 2022| rowspan="2"| Meanjin| Best Solo Artist| | rowspan="3"| [57] |-| Best Pop Release| |-| The Meanjin Tour| Best Australian Live Act| |-

Australian Music Prize

The Australian Music Prize (the AMP) is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award.

! |-| 2019| Better in Blak| Album of the Year| | [58] |-

Australian Women in Music Awards

The Australian Women in Music Awards is an annual event that celebrates outstanding women in the Australian Music Industry who have made significant and lasting contributions in their chosen field. They commenced in 2018.

! |-| 2019| Thelma Plum| Songwriter Award| | [59]

J Awards

The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J. They commenced in 2005.! |-| 2012| herself| Unearthed Artist of the Year| ||-| rowspan="2"| 2019| Better in Blak| Australian Album of the Year| | rowspan="2"| [60] |-| "Better in Blak"| Australian Video of the Year| |-

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs) is an annual awards ceremony that recognises the achievements of Indigenous Australians in music. Thelma Plum has won two awards.

! |-| 2013| Thelma Plum| Best New Talent| | |-| 2015| "How Much Does Your Love Cost?"| Song of the Year| ||-| rowspan="2"| 2019| Better in Blak| Album of the Year| | rowspan="2"||-| "Better in Blak"| Song of the Year| |-| rowspan="2"| 2020| Thelma Plum| Artist of the Year| | rowspan="2"| [61] [62] |-| "Homecoming Queen"| Song of the Year| |-| rowspan="2"| 2022| Thelma Plum| Artist of the Year| | rowspan="2"| [63] [64] |-| "Backseat of My Mind"| Song of the Year| |-| rowspan="2"| 2023| Meanjin (EP)| Album of the Year| |rowspan="3"| [65] [66] |-| "The Brown Snake"| Film Clip of the Year| |-

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.! |-| rowspan="2"| 2019| rowspan="2"| herself| Live Voice of the Year| | rowspan="2"| [67] [68] |-| Queensland Live Voice of the Year| |-| 2023| Thelma Plum| Best Pop Act| | [69] [70]

Queensland Music Awards

The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006.[71]

(wins only)! |-| 2013| "Rosie"| Indigenous Song of the Year| | [72] [73] |-| 2020| Better in Blak| Album of the Year| | [74] |-|rowspan="2"| 2023|rowspan="2"| "Backseat of My Mind"| Pop Award| |rowspan="2"| [75] |-| Song of the Year| |-|}

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.[76] ! |-| 2023| Meanjin| Best Record| | [77] |-

Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition

The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that "acknowledges great songwriting whilst supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins" and is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS. It commenced in 2009.[78]

! |-| 2013| "Breathe in Breathe Out"| Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition| style="background:tan;"| 3rd| [79] |-| 2020| "Better in Blak"| Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition| style="background:gold;"| 1st| [80] |}

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Thelma Plum: On a Roll . The Weekly Review Eastern . 14 February 2013 . 1 September 2021.
  2. Web site: 'Around Here' at APRA search engine . . 30 November 2019. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  3. thelmaplum . CS0uvk-Lrf7 . Hot girls get vaxxed . 21 August 2021 . 1 September 2021.
  4. Web site: Thelma Plum: 'I was lucky ... to take a bad situation and make something beautiful' . registration . . 8 July 2019 . 30 November 2019 . Mathieson, Craig . Craig Mathieson.
  5. Web site: Singer wants her indigenous culture to shine . . 27 July 2012 . 1 September 2021 . Shedden, Iain . subscription.
  6. News: NOEL MENGEL. Teen singer Thelma Plum in tune with her culture at the Deadlys. 4 October 2016. The Courier-Mail. 25 September 2012.
  7. Web site: Womadelaide. Welcoming back in 2019. 4 September 2019.
  8. News: MEL EVANS. Singer Thelma Plum loving life on the road during her national tour. 4 October 2016. The Daily Telegraph. 15 November 2014.
  9. News: Fedele, Robert. Singer-songwriter Thelma Plum branches out. 4 October 2016. The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 June 2014.
  10. Web site: National Indigenous Music Awards unveils 2019 Nominations . National Indigenous Music Awards. July 2019 . 19 August 2019.
  11. Web site: Record Breaking Crowd for the 2019 National Indigenous Music Awards! . National Indigenous Music Awards . 13 August 2019. 16 April 2019.
  12. Web site: The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now. en-US. 2019-10-30.
  13. Web site: Howarth . Madison . 2022-08-12 . Thelma Plum on her new EP 'Meanjin': "I've put so much into these songs… I feel very exposed, very vulnerable" . 2023-07-29 . NME . en-AU.
  14. Web site: Thelma Plum has transformed trauma into Hottest 100 history. ABC. January 2020. 28 May 2020.
  15. Web site: Thelma Plum has been diagnosed with coronavirus. ABC. 15 March 2020.
  16. Web site: Thelma Plum shares gorgeous cover of Powderfinger's "These Days" . ABC. 28 May 2020. 29 May 2020.
  17. Web site: All-Aussie music lineup announced for AFL's grand final at the Gabba. SMH. 12 October 2020. 14 October 2020.
  18. Web site: Thelma Plum Shares "When It Rains It Pours" Announces New EP & Tour Dates. Music Feeds. 13 July 2022. 13 July 2022.
  19. News: Morgan . Thomas . 2023-08-12 . Budjerah wins Artist of the Year at star-studded 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-08-15.
  20. Web site: Thelma Plum Announces 'When Rosie Met Monsters' Double EP. Music Feeds. 3 November 2022. 4 November 2022.
  21. Web site: Thelma Plum Returns With New Single ‘We Don’t Talk About It’ . Rolling Stone Australia. 14 November 2023. 18 November 2023.
  22. Web site: Discography Thelma Plum. australian-charts.com. 19 August 2022.
  23. Web site: Thelma Plum announces debut album 'Better In Blak', National Tour dates & shares moving new video . . 29 May 2019 . 31 May 2019 . Gallagher, Allison.
  24. Web site: Thelma Plum announces debut album 'Better In Blak' with new video . . 30 May 2019 . 31 May 2019.
  25. Australia. 2023. 30 September 2023. 23 October 2023.
  26. Web site: Rosie – EP by Thelma Plum on Apple Music. iTunes Australia. 15 March 2013. 11 June 2019.
  27. Web site: Rosie – CD by Thelma Plum at Sanity. Sanity. 15 March 2013. 11 June 2019.
  28. Web site: Review: Thelma Plum – Monsters EP – Music Feeds. Music Feeds. 11 June 2019. McNamara, Justine. 7 July 2014 .
  29. Web site: Monsters — CD by Thelma Plum. Warner Music Australasia. 11 June 2019.
  30. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #562 . auspOp . 1 February 2020 . 1 February 2020.
  31. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 6 June 2022. 4 June 2022.
  32. Web site: Father Said – Single by Thelma Plum on Apple Music . Apple Music AU . 20 November 2012 . 16 June 2020.
  33. Web site: Around Here – Single by Thelma Plum on Apple Music . Apple Music AU . 13 February 2013 . 16 June 2020.
  34. Web site: Thelma Plum – Dollar . AIRIT . 16 May 2013 . 1 October 2019.
  35. Web site: Thelma Plum – How Much Does Your Love Cost?. SpeakerTV . 13 June 2014 . 11 June 2019 . Beth, Sinead.
  36. Web site: New: Thelma Plum – How Much Does Your Love Cost (Dugong Jr Remix) . Pilerats . 13 June 2014 . 11 June 2019.
  37. Web site: Thelma Plum – Monsters . AIRIT . 16 July 2014 . 1 October 2019.
  38. Web site: Young in Love (The Remixes) – Single by Thelma Plum – Single by Thelma Plum on Apple Music . Apple Music AU . 15 December 2014 . 11 June 2019.
  39. Web site: Any Other Name (with Thelma Plum, Jimblah & Urthboy) – Single on Apple Music . . 28 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190530032826if_/https://music.apple.com/au/album/any-other-name-with-thelma-plum-jimblah-urthboy-single/1028176719/ . 30 May 2019 . dead.
  40. Australia. 2024. single. 16 May 2024.
  41. Web site: Thelma Plum releases cathartic new single & video "Not Angry Anymore" . . 1 February 2019 . 11 June 2019 . English, Laura.
  42. Web site: New Aus Music Playlist Additions 27/05/22. Music Feeds. 27 May 2022. 21 June 2022.
  43. Web site: The Brown Snake Single. Amrap. 12 August 2022. 12 August 2022.
  44. Web site: From Girl to Woman: Thelma Plum’s ‘Nobody’s Baby’ Explores Coming of Age . Rolling Stone Australia. 24 July 2024. 25 July 2024.
  45. Web site: Listen: Golden Features – No One feat. Thelma Plum . Pilerats . 5 June 2015 . 30 May 2020 . Davies, Hayden.
  46. Web site: Alice Ivy shares highly-anticipated new album "Don't Sleep" via Dew Process including latest single 'Ticket to Heaven' featuring Thelma Plum. The Partae . 18 July 2020 . 30 July 2020.
  47. Web site: First Spin: Briggs taps Thelma Plum for haunting collab "Go to War" . . 7 August 2020 . 7 August 2020 . Newstead, Al.
  48. Peak chart positions in New Zealand:
  49. Web site: Tones and I Leads Nominations for 2020 Virtual APRA Awards. Noise11. 7 April 2020. 7 April 2020.
  50. Web site: 2020 Awards. APRA. 7 April 2020. 7 April 2020.
  51. Web site: Nominees announced for the 2021 APRA Music Awards . APRA AMCOS . 31 March 2021 .
  52. Web site: These 20 songs are up for 2023 APRA Song Of The Year . . 25 January 2023 . 28 January 2023 .
  53. Web site: ARIA Awards: 2019 Fine Arts & Artisan Winners Announced . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 10 October 2019 . 11 October 2019 .
  54. Web site: ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Nominated Artists Revealed . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 10 October 2019 . 11 October 2019 .
  55. News: 2019 ARIA Award Winners Announced . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 27 November 2019 . 29 November 2019 .
  56. Web site: ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge . . 20 October 2021 . 24 October 2021 . Kelly, Vivienne . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020000045/https://themusicnetwork.com/2021-aria-awards-nominees/ . 20 October 2021 . live.
  57. Web site: Rüfüs Du Sol Leads 2022 ARIA Awards Nominees (Full List). The Music Network. 12 October 2022. 12 October 2022. Lars Brandle.
  58. Web site: AMP winner Sampa The Great creates history. Sydney Morning Herald. 6 March 2020. 13 April 2020.
  59. Web site: Congratulations to our 2019 Recipients & Finalists. women in Music Awards. October 2019. 19 March 2021.
  60. Web site: The J Award 2019. Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2019. 15 August 2020.
  61. Web site: Announcement: National Indigenous Music Awards Finalists Unveiled . noise11 . 13 July 2020. 18 July 2020.
  62. Web site: 2020 Finalists. NIMA. July 2020. 18 July 2020.
  63. Web site: Nominees and Performers Announced For National Indigenous Music Awards 2022. Music Feeds. 13 July 2022. 14 July 2022.
  64. Web site: 2022 NIMAs: Baker Boy Wins Two Awards, Archie Roach and Gurrumul Honoured . The Music Network. 6 August 2022. 7 August 2022.
  65. Web site: Budjerah & Wildfire Manwurrk Lead NIMA Finalist Nominations . The Music. 12 July 2023. 12 July 2023. Mary Varvaris .
  66. Web site: Here Are All the Winners from the 2023 National Indigenous Music Awards. Music Feeds. 12 August 2023. 13 August 2023.
  67. Web site: HERE ARE YOUR 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES!. NLMA. 22 October 2020. 5 September 2020.
  68. Web site: AND THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 NATIONAL LIVE MUSIC AWARDS ARE…. NLMA. 5 December 2020. 5 September 2020.
  69. Web site: Nominees Announced For The 2023 National Live Music Awards. The Music. 5 September 2023. 11 September 2023.
  70. Web site: Genesis Owusu And Amyl & The Sniffers Win Big At The 2023 National Live Music Awards . The Music. 11 October 2023. 12 October 2023.
  71. Web site: About the Queensland Music Awards. Queensland Music Awards. 21 March 2021.
  72. Web site: Emma Louise Sweeps 2013 Queensland Music Awards. Music Feeds. 13 August 2013. 25 March 2021.
  73. Web site: Emma Louise, Ball Park Music Win Big At Queensland Music Awards 2013. Tone Deaf. 14 August 2013. 25 March 2021.
  74. Web site: Past Winners 2020. Queensland Music Awards. 26 March 2021.
  75. Web site: Thelma Plum, Ball Park Music win top gongs at 2023 Queensland Music Awards. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 29 March 2023. 30 March 2023.
  76. Web site: Rolling Stone Magazine Australia announces 3rd annual awards event . The AU Review . 5 December 2011 . 5 March 2021 . Barnes, Amelia . https://web.archive.org/web/20160808174029/http://www.theaureview.com/news/rolling-stone-magazine-australia-announces-3rd-annual-awards-event . 8 August 2016 . dead.
  77. Web site: Amy Shark, The Wiggles & Kylie Minogue Among 2023 Shure Rolling Stone Australia Awards Nominees. Rolling Stone Australia. 1 February 2023. 5 February 2023.
  78. Web site: About the Vanda Young Global Song Writing Competition. APRA AMCOS. 12 March 2021.
  79. Web site: Past Winners. APRA AMCOS. 12 March 2021.
  80. Thelma Plum's "Better in Blak" Wins Vanda & Young Songwriting Comp. Billboard. 12 March 2021. 13 March 2021.

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