Fifteen-year-old Noongar artist Alyssa has been recognised as one of Western Australia’s most exciting emerging voices, taking home the Outstanding Indigenous category award and Second Runner-Up overall at the 2026 WAM Song of the Year Awards.
The remarkable achievement came on the same day Alyssa officially released her powerful new single, Walk With The Elders, a song grounded in culture, identity, intergenerational knowledge and connection to community.
Released on the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum and during National Reconciliation Week, the song celebrates the strength, wisdom and resilience passed down through generations while encouraging young people to walk alongside Elders as guides, teachers and cultural leaders.
When Alyssa’s name was announced as the winner of the Outstanding Indigenous category, the young artist was visibly overwhelmed.
“Wow, I was not expecting this. I’m speechless,” she told the audience while accepting her first award of the evening.
Despite her surprise, Alyssa took a moment to acknowledge her younger sister Kenzo, who had also been named among the category’s Top 5 finalists, sharing how special it was to experience the moment together.
The celebrations continued later in the evening when Alyssa was announced as Second Runner-Up in the overall Song of the Year competition, one of the event’s highest honours.
Accepting the award, Alyssa reflected on the significance of the day and the inspiration behind her song.
Launched on all platforms
“I want to thank our Elders — both the ones who came before us and the ones still with us today,” she said.
“On this anniversary of the referendum, I’m so grateful for the wisdom, strength, and stories they’ve passed down to keep us strong. This award isn’t just mine; it stands on the shoulders of everything they fought for.
“Today my song Walk With The Elders has launched on all platforms with an amazing music video to mark this important date.”
Developed through Boss Arts Creative’s Rise Up artist development program, Walk With The Elders blends contemporary pop with Noongar language, cultural storytelling and powerful community voices.
Another significant milestone
The song features contributions from respected Elders and cultural leaders Barry McGuire, Derek Nannup, Olman Walley, Rickeeta Walley, Jayden Boundary and Della Rae Morrison, creating a powerful intergenerational collaboration that places culture at its heart.
The project was developed alongside Charley Caruso and Rob Lake before being recorded and produced by acclaimed producer Lee Buddle at Crank Recording. The official music video was produced in partnership with Sandbox Productions and features Elders, family and community members.
Earlier this month, Alyssa performed the song live alongside Elders and community at Champion Centre in Armadale, a special full-circle moment for the young artist who began participating in cultural dance and community programs there at just ten years old.
The recognition marks another significant milestone for Boss Arts Creative’s Rise Up artist development program, which supports emerging First Nations artists through songwriting, recording, cultural mentoring, performance opportunities and creative development.
Alyssa’s success follows months of work developing and recording Walk With The Elders, a song that reflects the importance of listening to Elders, preserving culture and carrying knowledge forward to future generations.
About Rise Up
Rise Up is a First Nations artist development program delivered by Boss Arts Creative, supporting emerging artists to develop original music, strengthen cultural identity and build sustainable pathways into the creative industries.
Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.
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