Biography

Kristal West is a proud Piadram, Manbarra and Palawa woman with a passion for culture and identity.

She is granddaughter to the legendary First Nations land rights activist, Dr. Eddie Mabo, who campaigned for ten years to eventually have the legal doctrine of terra nullius overturned. Her grandmother, Dr. Bonita Mabo AO, was a staunch black rights activist, recognized for her ‘distinguished service to the Indigenous community and to human rights as an advocate for the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander peoples’. Kristal is heavily influenced by her grandparents and strives to capture the stories of her bloodlines through music.

She was one of 8 winners of the nationwide Alukura songwriting competition and has appeared on NITV’s “Our Songs” which aired nationally and internationally.

On stage, she has stunned audiences in A Streetcar Named Desire as an actor and lead vocalist and also performed in Deborah Cheetham’s Short Black Opera at the Sydney Opera House. In 2023, she returned to the theatrical stage in ‘The Lucky Country’ at Hayes Theatre Co. in Sydney.

Kristal released ‘Nibe Nibe’ as a tribute to her late grandfather marking 20 years since the Mabo decision and look forward to releasing music in dedication to both her grandparents.

Kristal recently showcased at BIGSOUND, and the Australian Women in Music Awards First Nations Showcase in September 2023 and is currently developing her debut EP to be released in 2024.