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.
Early life 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.
Career 2017–2021: Thrush Metal and Beware of the Dogs
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 Mags list of the 15 Australian female artists "changing the game".
2022–2024: Flood 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.
2025: Love and Fortune 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".
Personal life 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.
Political views and activism 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.
Discography Studio albums +List of studio albums with details and selected chart positions shown Title Album details Peak chart positions AUS Beware of the Dogs Released: 8 March 2019 Label: Stella Donnelly (SDCD001) Secretly Canadian (SC372) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette 15 Flood Released: 26 August 2022 Label: Stella Donnelly (SDCD002) Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming, cassette 29 Love and Fortune Released: 7 November 2025 Label: Dot Dash Recordings Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming 31
EPs +List of extended plays with details shown Title Details Thrush Metal Released: 6 April 2017 Label: Healthy Tapes (HT026) Formats: CD, 12" LP, digital download, streaming
Singles + List of singles with year released and album name Title Year Album "Mechanical Bull" 2017 Thrush Metal "Boys Will Be Boys" "Talking" 2018 "Old Man" 2019 Beware of the Dogs "Lunch" "Tricks" "Die" "Season's Greetings" "Love Is in the Air" 2020 rowspan="2" "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)" 2021 "Lungs" 2022 Flood "Flood" "How Was Your Day?" "Baths" / "Standing Ovation" 2025 Love and Fortune "Feel It Change" "Year of Trouble" "Laying Low"
Notes
Other contributions + List of songs contributed to other albums Title Year Album "They Need Us" 2018 "Proof" 2022 Are You Haunted? "Ba Ba Da Bicycle Ride" ReWiggled
Awards and nominations AIR Awards 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. Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref. 2018 Herself Best Independent Artist Breakthrough Independent Artist 2020 Beware of the Dogs Independent Album of the Year Best Independent Pop Album or EP Stella Donnelly Breakthrough Independent Artist 2026 Love and Fortune Best Independent Pop Album or EP
APRA Awards The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref. 2018 "Boys Will Be Boys" Song of the Year 2020 "Old Man" Song of the Year
J Awards 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. Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref. 2017 Herself Unearthed Artist of the Year 2019 Beware of the Dogs Australian Album of the Year
National Live Music Awards 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. Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref. 2017 Herself Live Voice of the Year Best New Act of the Year Best Live Voice of the Year – People's Choice West Australian Live Voice of the Year 2018 Herself Live Voice of the Year Live Pop Act of the Year International Live Achievement (Solo) Best Live Voice of the Year – People's Choice West Australian Live Voice of the Year West Australian Live Act of the Year 2019 Herself Live Voice of the Year Live Guitarist of the Year International Live Achievement (Solo) 2020 Herself Live Voice of the Year West Australian Live Act of the Year
WAM Song of the Year 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. Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only) Ref. 2017/18 "Boys Will Be Boys" Pop Song of the Year Grand Prize 2018/19 "They Need Us" (by Feels) Electronic Song of the Year
West Australian Music Industry Awards 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). Year Nominee / work Award Result (wins only) Ref. 2017 Herself Best Female Vocalist Most Popular New Act Best Folk Act Thrush Metal Best EP "Mechanical Bull" Best Single 2019 Herself Best Pop Act Beware of the Dogs Best Album
References
External links
Stella Donnelly at Bandcamp
Sound examples at Soundcloud