'My parents nurtured my dreams': Musician honours Filipino and Aboriginal heritage

According to Dobby, his mother recognised his love for music and enrolled him in piano lessons at age seven. With his father’s support, they later bought a piano so he could keep practicing. Years later, that early encouragement helped lead him to win an ARIA Award in 2024.

According to Dobby, his parents recognised his passion for music and enrolled him in piano lessons at seven, later buying him a piano to support his practice. Their support helped lead to his success, including winning an ARIA Award in 2024. He recently released the single ‘Good for Nothing,’ with his new album ‘Marshmellow’ coming in 2026. Credit: Dobby Facebook

Key Points

• Rhyan Clapham, also known as Dobby, is a musician with a deep connection to Indigenous Australia. His father is Indigenous, from Brewarrina on Ngemba land and the Murrawarri Republic in Weilmoringle, New South Wales.
• Dobby’s mother came to Australia in 1985 from Tacloban, Philippines, and her homemade adobo is his favourite Filipino dish.
• He recently released the single ‘Good for Nothing,’ and his new album ‘Marshmellow’ is coming in 2026.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

'My parents nurtured my dreams': Musician honours Filipino and Aboriginal heritage

SBS Filipino

10:05Filipino

My mother, along with my dad, recognised my passion for music and nurtured it from the start, their belief became my inspiration. Through music, I honour my languages, share our history, and represent my ancestors in hip-hop music with pride and purpose.

Rhyan Clapham 'Dobby', Filipino-Aboriginal musician

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