Stella Donnelly

Did You Know?

• Donnelly's debut EP Thrush Metal was originally released on cassette via Melbourne label Healthy Tapes.
• Robert Christgau praised Beware of the Dogs as a 'musical encyclopedia of [male] assholes'.
• Donnelly directed the music video for 'Lungs' herself, alongside Duncan Wright.

Early life

Donnelly was born in Western Australia to a Welsh mother and spent part of her childhood in Morriston, Wales, before moving to Perth, Western Australia. She began singing in high school at Irene McCormack Catholic College, performing Green Day covers in a rock band. After school, she studied contemporary and jazz music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) and played in the bands Boat Show and Bell Rapids before going solo.

Career

In 2017, while working two hospitality jobs and playing in a band, Donnelly released five demo tracks as her debut EP Thrush Metal on cassette via Healthy Tapes. The EP was reissued in the US by Secretly Canadian in 2018. Her debut studio album Beware of the Dogs came out on 8 March 2019 via Secretly Canadian and was nominated for Breakthrough Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 2019. In October 2019, Happy Mag ranked her sixth on its list of 15 Australian female artists changing the game.

In January 2022, she sang on Methyl Ethel's single "Proof" and contributed a cover of "Ba Ba Da Bicycle Ride" to the Wiggles tribute album ReWiggled. On 10 May 2022, she premiered the song "Lungs" on Triple J and announced her second album Flood, which was released on 26 August 2022. She then toured the UK, Europe and North America. On 11 September 2025, she announced her third album Love and Fortune, set for release on 7 November 2025 via Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control, alongside the single "Feel It Change".

Personal life

Donnelly enjoys squash, swimming, birdwatching, gardening, cryptic crosswords, cooking, rock climbing with her partner, and board games. She cites Billy Bragg and Courtney Barnett as musical influences. Her 2017 single "Boys Will Be Boys" was written about societal attitudes toward women and a friend's experience of sexual assault, and was called a #MeToo anthem. She opposes Australia Day celebrations, describing it as a nationalist, white pride day and a day of mourning for Indigenous Australians. She supports same-sex marriage and was relieved by its 2017 legalisation in Australia, and is pro-choice.

Awards and nominations

At the AIR Awards, Donnelly's debut album Beware of the Dogs won Independent Album of the Year. The APRA Awards honour composers and songwriters. The J Awards are presented by Triple J. The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) celebrate Australia's live industry. The WAM Song of the Year awards are run by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (WAMis) are presented by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc.