Stella Donnelly (Welsh-Australian indie rock singer-songwriter)

Stella Donnelly (born 10 April 1992) is a Welsh-Australian indie rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. After the success of her debut EP Thrush Metal in 2017, she signed with Secretly Canadian in 2018. She released her debut studio album Beware of the Dogs to critical acclaim in March 2019, peaking at number 15 on the ARIA Album Charts, and winning Independent Album of the Year at the AIR Awards. Her second studio album, Flood, was released in August 2022, debuting at number 29 on the ARIA Charts. Her third, Love and Fortune, was issued in November 2025. Born in Western Australia to a Welsh mother, she spent some childhood years in Morriston, Wales before moving to Perth, Western Australia with her family. Donnelly first started singing when she joined a rock band in high school (Irene McCormack Catholic College) that performed Green Day covers. After high school, Donnelly studied contemporary and jazz music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Donnelly was a part of the bands Boat Show and Bell Rapids before leaving them to pursue her solo career. In 2017, while working two hospitality jobs and playing in a band, Donnelly released a collection of five demo tracks which formed her debut extended play (EP), Thrush Metal. It was released digitally and on cassette via Melbourne label Healthy Tapes. In 2018, the EP was reissued in the United States by the American label Secretly Canadian. Donnelly released her debut studio album, Beware of the Dogs, on 8 March 2019 via Secretly Canadian. It received widespread acclaim from critics, including Robert Christgau, who praised it as a "musical encyclopedia of [male] assholes". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2019, Beware of the Dogs was nominated for Breakthrough Artist. In October 2019, Donnelly was placed at number six in Happy Mag's list of the 15 Australian female artists "changing the game". In January 2022, Donnelly provided vocals for "Proof", a single from Methyl Ethel's fourth studio album, Are You Haunted? She also featured on ReWiggled, a 2022 tribute album to Australian children's music group the Wiggles, covering their song "Ba Ba Da Bicycle Ride." On 10 May 2022, Donnelly premiered the song "Lungs" live on Triple J and announced her forthcoming second studio album, Flood. A music video for the song was also released, directed by herself and Duncan Wright. Two more singles – "Lungs" and "How Was Your Day?" – were released to promote the album before it was released on 26 August 2022. Following the release of the album, Donnelly embarked on a tour around the United Kingdom, Europe and North America that began in September. On 11 September 2025, Stella Donnelly announced her third studio album Love and Fortune was set for release on 7 November 2025 via Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control. She also released the single "Feel It Change". For recreation, Donnelly enjoys playing squash, swimming at beaches, birdwatching, gardening, completing cryptic crosswords, cooking, rock climbing with her partner, and playing board games with friends. In an interview with The Line of Best Fit she said, "My version of taking a break [from recording and touring] is filling up my day with as many activities as possible." Donnelly describes Billy Bragg and Courtney Barnett as musical influences. Donnelly is a supporter of various social and political causes. Her 2017 debut single "Boys Will Be Boys", written about societal attitudes towards women and her friend's experience of sexual assault, was dubbed a "#MeToo anthem". Donnelly is opposed to the celebration of Australia Day. In a 2019 interview with The Guardian she said, "It's a really nationalist, white pride day... and it's actually a very historic day for Indigenous Australians – an invasion day, and a day of mourning." Donnelly supports same-sex marriage, and was "relieved", when it was legalised in Australia in 2017. Donnelly is pro-choice. Notes "Boys Will Be Boys" is also included on Beware of the Dogs. "Talking" was originally a bonus track on the 2018 reissue of Thrush Metal before it was released digitally. The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". 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. 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.[citation needed] The WAM Song of the Year was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia. The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc. (WAM). Kingsmill, Richard (12 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly – 2020". ABC. Retrieved 27 May 2020. "About Stella Donnely, Australian Singer-Songwriter". Stella Donnelly. Retrieved 2 June 2019. "About Stella Donnelly, Australian Singer-Songwriter". Stella Donnelly. Retrieved 27 April 2019. "Stella Donnelly". triple j Unearthed. Retrieved 27 April 2019. Birrell, Alice (29 December 2019). "Stella Donnelly on fashion, sexism and proving people wrong". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2020. Akinfenwa, Jumi (7 March 2018). "Thrush Metal songwriter Stella Donnelly is a feminist folk hero on the rise". Fact. Retrieved 10 March 2018. Moodie, Claire (28 November 2017). "Cassette tapes making a comeback thanks to young, independent artists". ABC News. Retrieved 1 November 2023. D'Souza, Shaad. "Stella Donnelly "Mechanical Bull"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 10 March 2018. "Stella Donnelly Signs International Deal With US Indie Label". themusic.com.au. Retrieved 10 March 2018. Hatfield, Amanda. "Stella Donnelly signed to Secretly Canadian, re-releasing EP & touring". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 10 March 2018. Blais-Billie, Braudie (9 January 2019). "Stella Donnelly Announces Debut Album, Shares New Song "Old Man": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 January 2019. "Beware of the Dogs". Metacritic. Retrieved 20 April 2019. Christgau, Robert (6 April 2019). "Robert Christgau on Stella Donnelly's Musical Encyclopedia of Assholes". Vice. Retrieved 6 April 2019. "ARIA Awards: 2019 ARIA Awards Artists Revealed". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). 10 October 2019. Retrieved 10 October 2019. "The 15 Australian female artists changing the game right now". 24 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019. Staff Writers. "Methyl Ethel Collaborates With Stella Donnelly On New Single 'Proof'". scenestr - Pop Culture & Entertainment. Retrieved 28 August 2022. Young, David James (11 March 2022). "The Wiggles – 'ReWiggled' review: Stella Donnelly, Spacey Jane and more pitch in for a sunny yet strange covers album". NME. Retrieved 28 August 2022. Newstead, Al (10 May 2022). "Stella Donnelly returns with 'Lungs', talks up second album Flood". triple j. Retrieved 10 May 2022. "Stella Donnelly Announces New Album Flood, Shares "Lungs" Video". pastemagazine.com. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022. Varvaris, Mary (11 September 2025). "Stella Donnelly Returns, Announces New Album 'Love And Fortune'". The Music. Retrieved 11 September 2025. Crudgington, Kate (7 March 2019). "Stella Donnelly is pushing on through the haters". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 11 July 2020. Daly, Rhian (January 2020). "Stella Donnelly: "You have to stand up for people that don't have a voice"". NME. Retrieved 12 July 2020.