Mia Wray
Mia Wray | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mia Isobel Wray-McCann 28 October 1995 Sunrise Beach, Noosa, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2011–present |
| Partner(s) | Drew Hammond |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
| Associated acts |
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| Website | miawray |
Mia Isobel Wray-McCann (born 28 October 1995), known professionally as Mia Wray, is an Australian pop singer, songwriter and musician from Noosa, Queensland.
Born and raised in Noosa, Wray rose to prominence after winning Telstra's Road to Discovery Program in 2011, and released two extended plays independently before her debut single, "Work for Me", was released on 16 September 2020.
Wray began her career performing soul, blues and folk music, with her musical style later shifting to encompass genres such as pop and bedroom pop whilst retaining soul influences. She has toured with the Rubens and the Teskey Brothers, and is scheduled to support Vance Joy on his Long Way Home Tour in 2022.
Following her breakthrough in 2020, Wray received a nomination for Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year at the 2021 AIR Awards and for Best Solo Artist at the 2021 Music Victoria Awards.
Early life[]
Mia Isobel Wray-McCann[1] was born on 28 October 1995[2][3] in Sunrise Beach, Noosa, Queensland,[4][5] to parents Carolyn and her father .[6] At the age of 11, Wray's parents inherited her late grandfather's piano, and moved it into Mia's bedroom upon discovering it was the only room of the house big enough for it.[7] Wray learnt to play it from that age onwards, and began to write songs in her adolescent years.[4] She would later learn to play the guitar through video lessons on YouTube.[7]
Wray completed her senior secondary education at St Andrew's Anglican College in Peregian Springs, Queensland.[8]
Musical style and influences[]
Wray began her career in 2011 as a folk-pop and acoustic artist,[4][7] citing the Beatles, Paul Kelly, Bob Dylan, Pete Murray, Laura Marling, and Gabrielle Aplin among her sonic influences.[8][9] Wray described herself at the time as a soul, blues and folk musician.[8] Wray has listed Gabrielle Aplin, Coldplay, Paul Kelly, and Bob Dylan as being several of her favourite musicians.[7] Wray has since shifted to more pop-oriented music,[3][10] drawing influence from Florence and the Machine, Lana Del Rey and Maggie Rogers.[11] Her music has been additionally described as bedroom pop[12] and soul.[13]
Wray can play the piano, guitar, the harmonica and the foot drum.[7]
Wray's music has received favourable comparisons to that of Lorde, Meg Mac, Vera Blue, Florence and the Machine, and Adele.[3][14]
Career[]
2011–2018: Breakthrough and Mia Wray[]
On 3 December 2011, Wray was announced as the joint finalist of the 2011 Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program, alongside Andrew Redford from Maroochydore, Queensland.[5] On 24 January 2012, the pair competed in the final of the quest, held during the 40th Tamworth Country Music Festival.[15][16] On 13 February 2012, Wray was announced as the recipient of the Telstra Road to Discovery People's Choice Award.[17] Wray signed with Mushroom Records following her People's Choice Award win.[4] On 2 July 2014,Wray released her debut extended play Mia Wray.[4] Mia Wray was recorded in Gippsland, Victoria over five days and was produced by Greg Walker.[4] A track from the EP, "Where I Stand", was featured on the soundtrack for the 2018 film Midnight Sun.[18] On 22 April 2016, Wray released her second extended play "Send Me Your Love". The EP was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, with production from Brad Jones.[19] On 17 February 2017, Wray featured on the single "Put Your Records On" by Aslove.[20]
2020–2021: "Work for Me" and "Never Gonna be the Same"[]
On 9 May 2020, Wray appeared as part of online music initiative ,[21] where she performed Helen Reddy's "I Am Woman" alongside Kate Miller-Heidke, Mahalia Barnes, and Missy Higgins.[22] On 13 September, Wray's debut single "Work for Me" was premiered on Triple J's 2020 program with Richard Kingsmill.[23] "Work for Me" was officially released on 16 September, alongside an accompanying music video.[24] Triple J described the song as having "stomping percussion, electrifying brass and empowering AF songwriting".[3] On 24 October, Wray was announced as one of the acts scheduled to perform on the premiere of the second season of Australian live music program The Sound.[25] On 31 October, Wray performed on the 32nd edition of Isol-Aid, an Instagram live music festival created during the COVID-19 pandemic.[26] On 1 November, Wray performed an a cappella version of "Work for Me" from Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne for The Sound's season two premiere.[27] On 20 January 2021, Wray released the single "Never Gonna Be the Same".[28] "Never Gonna Be the Same" was added to rotation by Triple J on 25 January 2021.[29] On 9 April, Wray was announced as a support act for the Teskey Brothers' concert at the Forum Theatre in Melbourne, held in support of the band's live album named after the venue. The one-off concert took place on 21 April 2021.[30] Throughout April and May 2021, Wray supported the Rubens alongside Alice Ivy on their national Live in Life Tour.[31] On 2 June, Wray was announced as a nominee for Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year at the 2021 AIR Awards;[32] Spacey Jane were later announced as the recipient of the award on 5 August.[33] On 3 June, Wray released the single "Needs".[34] On 4 November, Wray was announced as a support act for the Oceanian leg of Melbourne musician Vance Joy's 2022 Long Way Home Tour, alongside the Rubens, Thelma Plum, Middle Kids and Budjerah.[35]
Personal life[]
Wray currently resides in Melbourne, Victoria,[14] with her partner Drew Hammond.[36]
Discography[]
Extended plays[]
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Mia Wray |
|
| Send Me Your Love |
|
Singles[]
As lead artist[]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Work for Me"[24] | 2020 | Non-album singles |
| "Never Gonna Be the Same"[28] | 2021 | |
| "Needs"[34] |
As featured artist[]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Put Your Records On" (Aslove featuring Mia Wray)[20] |
2017 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances[]
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Where I Stand"[18] | 2018 | Midnight Sun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
Filmography[]
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Sound | Herself | Pre-recorded live performance of "Work for Me" | [27] |
| The Sound | Herself | Live performance of "Slipping Away" alongside Marcia Hines, Didirri, Andy Bull, and Russell Morris | [37] |
Music videos[]
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Work for Me" | Cybele Malinowski | [14] |
| 2021 | "Never Gonna Be the Same" | Grace Cardona | [38] |
Concert tours[]
Supporting[]
- Live in Life Tour – the Rubens (2021) (with Alice Ivy)[31]
- The Forum Concert – the Teskey Brothers (2021)[30]
- Long Way Home Tour – Vance Joy (2022) (with the Rubens, Thelma Plum, Middle Kids and Budjerah)[35]
Awards and nominations[]
AIR Awards[]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Herself | Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year | Nominated | [32] |
Music Victoria Awards[]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Herself | Best Solo Artist | Nominated | [39][40] |
Telstra Road to Discovery Program[]
Wray (alongside fellow Sunshine Coast resident Andrew Redford), was named as one of ten finalists for the 2012 Telstra Road to Discovery talent development program on 3 December 2011,[5] before being announced as the winner of the People's Choice Award on 13 February 2012.[17]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Telstra Road to Discovery Program | People's Choice Award | Won | [17] |
References[]
- ^ "ACE Repertory – Wray, Mia". American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ @miawray (28 October 2020). "happy birffdey to me