Gawurra in English means salt water catfish. It is also singer-songwriter Stanley Gaykamangu's totem and stage name. He will be coming to The Street Theatre with another Australian singer-songwriter, William Crighton, on their Trigger of Truth tour.

Crighton's two albums, the first self-titled, the second called Empire - have been well received and he has toured around Australia with appearances at events including WOMADelaide and Byron Bay Bluesfest as well as showcases in Canada, New York City and Kansas..

Gawurra, 42, a Yolngu man from Milingimbi Island, has recently been touring Europe and North America and says people were Despite his overseas experiences, he isn't jaded about coming home to tour.

"I'm so excited," he says.

"I like music - it changed my life."

Gawurra's career took off in 2016 with his debut album Ratja Yaliyali . That year, he won four National Indigenous Music Awards - Album of the Year, New Talent of the Year, Cover Art and Film Clip. He will perform songs from it and from his upcoming, as yet untitled, new album.

His songs are inspired by the traditional songlines of his homelands.

"I sing about white cockatoos, my clan," he says.

He also sings some traditional songs about "the land, the sea, rain, clouds and connection and respect and love with people".

Accompanied by keyboard, electric guitar and bass, Gawurra sings in his native tongue of Gupapuynga but says that in concerts, he talks to the audience before each song to identify and explain it.

Gawurra says he was inspired to become a musician as a boy while watching one of his cousins perform.

"He was my inspiration."

He began learning and playing music on keyboard and guitar and writing songs.

"I started my career when a man, Tony Batju, came up to me and said, 'I want to help you.... He helped me because he loved my music."

Batju, he says, assembled other musicians among other assistance and continues to help manage his career.

"I still trust him."

Now married to his wife Belda with six children - two of them adopted - and based in Melbourne, he has a busy time writing, recording and touring. He also runs his own music and artist services business, Gawurra Catfish Corporation there, providing artist representation, music production, music licensing and recording label services.

n the US, he says, a lot of people came to his shows to experience something they hadn't heard before - "some of them were good people" - and he made good connections as he does with Australian audiences, the different language being no barrier. Making connections between races and cultures is one of his aims.

"For me I'm building a bridge," he says.

"I don't care if my people don't come to my shows, that's OK ... they're busy with their own things."

But it seems more than enough people come to his concerts and buy his recordings to keep him able to do what he loves.