Courtney Barnett

Biography

Courtney Melba Barnett was born in Sydney, Australia, on 3 November 1987, and given her middle name after the famous opera singer Nellie Melba[1]. She grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches in a musically rich household with a ballet-dancer mother and artist father, where she was exposed to jazz and classical music[3]. At age 10, she began playing guitar, initially learning Nirvana songs[3]. When she was 16, her family relocated to Hobart, Tasmania, where she attended St Michael's Collegiate School and the Tasmanian School of Art[1]. Inspired by Australian singer-songwriters Darren Hanlon and Dan Kelly, she began writing her own songs[1].

After moving to Melbourne at age 20 to pursue music full-time, Barnett worked various jobs including pizza delivery and bartending while collaborating with local musicians[3]. Between 2010 and 2013, she played in several bands including the post-grunge outfit Rapid Transit, the Olivettes, and the country-psych band Immigrant Union, where she played slide guitar and shared vocal duties[1][3]. Her breakthrough came with the release of her debut EP I've Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris in 2012 on her own label, Milk! Records, followed by The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas in 2013, which garnered international attention[1]. Her debut album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit was released in 2015 to widespread critical acclaim, earning her four ARIA Music Awards, a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, and a Brit Award nomination for International Female Solo Artist[1].

Barnett is renowned for her deadpan singing style and witty, rambling lyrics that showcase her skills as both a deft lyricist and virtuosic guitarist[1][7]. Her distinctive musical voice and clever, detailed songwriting have established her as one of Australia's most successful musical exports[7]. She continues to perform and record, often collaborating with her band featuring lead guitarist and keyboardist Dan Luscombe, a configuration she has dubbed "CB3" on social media[2].

Fun Facts

• Barnett's middle name 'Melba' was given to her after the famous opera singer Nellie Melba[1]
• Before becoming a full-time musician, she worked as a pizza delivery driver and bartender to pay her bills[1][3]
• Her song 'Avant Gardener' from The Double EP was named 'Track of the Day' by Q Magazine and 'Best New Track' by Pitchfork, while 'History Eraser' was nominated for an APRA Song of the Year award[2]
• In August 2015, her UK label launched a surprise campaign for 'Nobody Really Cares If You Don't Go to the Party' featuring billboards and posters in major cities, culminating in a surprise street performance in London[2]

Associated Acts

• Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile - eponymous

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Darren Hanlon - Australian singer-songwriter who inspired Barnett to start writing songs (Inspired songwriting approach) [Teenage years (pre-2005)]
• Dan Kelly - Australian singer-songwriter who inspired Barnett to start writing songs (Inspired songwriting approach) [Teenage years (pre-2005)]
• Paul Kelly - Artist who inspired Barnett's early career in Melbourne bands (Career inspiration) [2010s]

Key Collaborators

• Brent DeBoer - Dandy Warhols drummer who co-founded Immigrant Union and played drums on Barnett's first EP (I've Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris (EP), Immigrant Union) [2011-2013]
• Jen Cloher - Singer-songwriter and romantic partner; Barnett played lead guitar on her album (In Blood Memory (2013), co-written song 'Numbers') [2013-present]
• Dan Luscombe - Lead guitarist and keyboardist in Barnett's band; co-produced her first album (Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, EPs, live performances) [2012-present]
• The Olivettes - Band that recorded early versions of Barnett's songs (Live EP demo CD) [2010-2012]
• Rapid Transit - Melbourne grunge band where Barnett played second guitar (Self-titled album (cassette)) [2010-2011]
• Immigrant Union - Australian psych-country band co-founded by Brent DeBoer; Barnett shared vocal duties and played slide guitar (Anyway (second studio album)) [2011-2013]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #alternative-rock, #indie-rock, #left-handed-musicians