Darwin hip hop artist Yung Milla wins The Voice Australia

For the past two months Northern Territory hip-hop artist Yung Milla has been broadcast into the homes of millions of Australians — an opportunity the Marranunggu 23-year-old has described as a "once-in-a-lifetime moment".

In August, Yung Milla — or to his family, Levi Nichaloff — appeared for the first time on the reality music competition show The Voice Australia, where he auditioned with a song written by his brother and fellow artist J-Milla.

Performing for the likes of the Spice Girls' Melanie C, Ronan Keating, Richard Marx and Kate Miller-Heidke, Yung Milla's audition showcased not just his talent, but a slice of his own story as a young man who has overcome a difficult upbringing.

"DV [domestic violence], crime scenes, and drug dealing

Seeing my eyes, I'm traumatised from blood spilling."

- All My Life by J-Milla

The young artist, who grew up in Darwin's satellite city of Palmerston, made it through to the show's grand final along with three other contestants.

After the tallying of audience votes from across Australia, Yung Milla was crowned the winner of the 2026 season, with loved ones cheering across the Top End including at a community watch party attended by hundreds.

Speaking to the ABC last night, Yung Milla said he was feeling "so grateful right now", not just for the win but for the community that had supported him along the way.

"If it wasn't for my people I wouldn't have won it, it was all their votes," he said.

"This is bigger than me.

"I haven't won, everybody where I'm from has won, all my mob has won."

The rapper's win sees him taking home an all-inclusive recording and development package and a $100,000 cash prize.

Adversity and the inspiration of Mother Miller

Throughout his time on the national television show, Yung Milla candidly spoke about growing up in what he described as a "rough household".

"Domestic violence, alcohol and drugs, you know, they were all big factors in my household," Yung Milla said in the semifinal episode.

"My dad would hurt my mum and, you know, having to lie to my school, you know, about bruises on my mum's face, cuts, you know, that destroys a kid's world, especially when you're a young boy and it confuses you.

"But my mum always made sure that we knew that wasn't the right way."

During his introductory video on his audition episode, Yung Milla says it was his mother who taught him "how to be a man" and who continued to inspire him to be a "good role-model".

"My mother was the main rock of my family and showed me the right way, where to go, and because of her I've gone down the right path," he said.

Notably, a little inspection of his and his brother's stage names only further solidifies the fact that she's been an inspiration to her children — with both adopting her maiden name "Miller".

Reflecting on her own experiences, Ms Miller told ABC Radio Darwin last week that she wanted to recognise that domestic violence was an issue that impacted many people and that it was "harder to get out of than it really seems".

In the NT — where the family resides — domestic and family violence rates remain the highest in Australia.

Ms Miller says although as a single mother of four there were "hard times" for her and her family, who lived in housing commission for many years with "not a lot of money", she was always focused on "looking straight ahead".

"The kids came first. It was about healing the children and, as a parent, that's what our lives are about," she said.

"As times come along, there's a light at the end of the tunnel for everybody."

It's a hope for the future that Yung Milla holds for both himself and others who have lived through similar experiences as his.

"The trials and errors and struggles we grew up with, it's all paid off," he said

"So to all the young ones looking, you mob can do this too — I'm the definition of it, you can do this too."

Spotlighting community and Aboriginal culture

At the centre of Yung Milla's profile as a musician is the pride he holds for his Aboriginal culture and his dedication to his community.

Garnering 2.2 million views on Instagram alone, Young Milla's rendition of Down Under in the show's semifinals has for many, given the song — per the judges own comments — new meaning, with the rapper incorporating some of his own lyrics.

"All the struggle that we had only a few can relate,

Being raised up in a home knowing that it ain't safe,

I'm giving everything I got pour out my heart on the stage,

And they asking where I'm from and all I gotta say,

Yeah, yeah, yeah, come on,

I come from the land down under."

- Yung Milla's rendition of Down Under by Men At Work

The young artist also decided to open the performance by playing the yidaki (didgeridoo), an instrument he grew up with.

"I've been playing didgeridoo/yidaki for as long as I can remember, but that was actually the first time I played it on stage," he told ABC Radio Darwin.

"So I was a bit nervous, but I've been doing it my whole life; it's my culture, so I just embraced it all."

Yung Milla says during the show, Spice Girl and mentor Melanie C gave him advice that he still holds close to his heart.

"[Mel] just always said, remember why you're doing it, never forget where you're from," he shared.

"I always carry that, so just for her to say that as well, just reassures it."

His sense of service to the community has for years gone beyond his pursuits in music, with Yung Milla also taking on work supporting young people.

"I've worked with kids with disabilities, kids in bail accommodations and I've worked one-on-one with kids mentoring, just being the person I needed growing up."

The artist says following his win he plans to not only put out some EPs, but also to use part of his $100,000 prize to establish a local studio that will "go to the mob" and help "give the kids a voice".