When Aminah Hughes steps on stage she does more than fill the room with her honeyed voice. She draws her audience into nostalgia, calling us to remember the beauty and rebelliousness of an analogue world. “Inspiring” and “strong” are words that are often passed around at her performances as she embodies the empowerment we are all aching to feel. “An intelligent and vocal woman of extraordinary musical talent – a powerful musical force” (Robert James, GANGgajang/Yothu Yindi), Aminah is unafraid to touch the rawness, giving voice to pain, laying it bare, and finding the light in its grace.

An Australian roots artist playing somewhere in between the worlds of folk, alt. country, blues, jazz and spoken word, Aminah is a seasoned performer in Australia and Europe. She performed in the Sydney Opera House at the age of sixteen and has shared stages with Tommy Emmanuel, Declan O’Rourke, KILA, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Waterboys fiddler Steve Wickham. She has been featured in US magazines, appeared on Irish TVRTÉ and BBC Radio and performed with various orchestras both as a vocalist and flautist. She appeared on 11 albums in Australia and Europe as a songwriter, vocalist, flautist, spoken word artist and producer, including albums by Australia’s Shane Howard, Ireland’s Martin O’Connor Band and European folk-fusion outfit No Crows, before producing her debut solo album, Blue Wooden Boat.

Recorded in Ireland, USA, Australia and Germany, the album features special guests Emmanuel, Wickham and Nashville gospel singers, The McCrary Sisters. Mixed in Nashville and mastered in Memphis by GRAMMY® award winning engineers, it launched her independent label, Blue Wolf Records, securing her a worldwide distribution deal with MGM. The album has earned Aminah a growing list of accolades, including two award wins at the Independent Music Awards in New York, a Best Song nomination at Berlin Motion Picture Festival and Honourable Mentions in the International Songwriting Competition and Unsigned Only Music Competition in Nashville. The album has received airplay in Australia, UK and Ireland, and over 80 stations in 26 states across the US and Canada, charting on thirteen US core and college radio charts, from #30 to #6.

Aminah has recorded vocals on various productions, including Australia’s Who Do You Think You Are?, feature documentary, Dying to Live and highly anticipated game, Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock, based on the popular NBCUniversal Television Series.

“A strong, soulful singer” (All About Jazz), Aminah’s voice appears on a variety of productions, including Australia’s Who Do You Think You Are? and highly anticipated NBCUniversal game, Battlestar Galactica: Deadlock.

An award-winning screenwriter and director who also helms her own music videos, Musical Notes Global (New York) cites Aminah as “a true Renaissance woman.” Her music videos have premiered with American Songwriter Magazine (Nashville), Musical Notes Global (New York) and Scenestr (Melbourne) and screened at international film festivals.

For Aminah’s full biography, visit the PRESS KIT.

Some press quotes about Blue Wooden Boat:

“A gorgeous emotional journey…Hughes demonstrates powerful vulnerability…enhanced by stunning, soulful vocals…not only does Blue Wooden Boat have something for everyone but it will open and heal those parts of your heart that need it most.” – Musical Notes Global (New York)

“Where heartbreak and struggle blur into uplifting gospel – a perfect song for healing.” – American Songwriter Magazine (Nashville)

“Nothing short of spectacular…a song cycle that will have enduring appeal”     – Around the Sound magazine

“A hint of Eva Cassidy’s vocal versatility and interpretive powers…(Aminah’s) own songs of nature and self-examination enchant…3 ½ stars”                             – The  Weekend Australian

“A wonderful ability to invoke realms of magic and beauty.” – Scenestr

“Trying to pin down what this singer can do with her voice is hard because she can do some amazing things. She can belt out a roof-raising blues tune just as readily as she can deliver a folk tune sweet enough to make you cry.”   – Nadia Mitsopoulos (ABC Radio)

ACCOLADES – MUSIC

SEMI-FINALIST – Unsigned Only Music Competition (Nashville) 2021 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

SEMI-FINALIST – Unsigned Only Music Competition (Nashville) 2021 – “I Need to Learn”

FINALIST Best Performance – International Songwriting Competition (Nashville) 2020 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

WINNER Best Alt. Country Song – Independent Music Awards (New York) 2020 – “Storm of Time”

NOMINATED Best Song – Berlin Motion Picture Festival 2019 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

NOMINATED Best Blues Song – Independent Music Awards (New York) 2019 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

HONOURABLE MENTION Best Blues Song – Unsigned Only Music Competition (Nashville) 2019 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

SEMI-FINALIST Best Folk Song – Unsigned Only Music Competition (Nashville) 2019 – “Blue Wooden Boat”

HONOURABLE MENTION Best Blues Song – International Songwriting Competition (Nashville) 2016 – “Tell Me It’s Over”

HONOURABLE MENTION Best Song – Recording Festival International Song Competition (Dublin) 2015 – “Blue Wooden Boat”

SEMI-FINALIST – International Vocalist Competition (Nevada) 2015

TOP 3 FINALIST – Rebel Yelp Songwriter Award (Canberra) 2008 – “Howling Rain”

TOP 20 FINALIST Best Topical/Political Song – Unisong International Song Contest (California) 2006-7 – “Out of Mind”

2nd PLACE WINNER Best Social/Political Song – Unisong International Song Contest (California) 2005-6 – “Broome Regional Prison 2002”

TOP 20 FINALIST Lyrics Only – Unisong International Song Contest (California) 2005-6 – “Rivertongue”

FINALIST Best Alternative Song – Australian Songwriters Association National Song Contest 2002 – “Storm”

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