Courtney Barnett's unflappable manner of performing songs, uncomplicated lyrics and openness of the Australian grunge, country and indie lover reminded the world that there are talents in little Australia too.
Sports and music don't mix Courtney Barnett
Courtney Melba Barnett was supposed to be an athlete. But her passion for music and the scarcity of the family budget did not allow the girl to make a double career. Maybe it's for the best, because there are many tennis players. And there are few energetic and promising singers, guitarists and authors in one person.
Courtney's mother devoted her entire life to ballet and art. She even gave her daughter Melba's middle name in honor of the famous opera prima Nelly Melba. Until the age of 16, Courtney lived with her family in Sydney. Then she moved to Hobart, where she received her education at St. Michael's College and the Tasmanian University of the Arts.
The girl herself, from the school bench, dreamed of how she would conquer the court with a tennis racket in her hands. But later she became interested in music. Since tennis lessons and guitar lessons were expensive, her parents advised Courtney to choose one. Barnett devoted herself to music.
Among the inspirations of her work, the singer names Darren Hanlon and Dan Kelly. Also American indie and country artists. Under the influence of these musicians, Courtney began to write songs herself, preferring not to delve into the philosophical jungle. She wrote and sang about what lies on the surface, making up ordinary everyday life. Probably, the lightness of the lyrics and the transparency of the meaning bribed people who first heard Courtney Barnett in 2012 and fell in love with the singer for her ease and energy.
One of the secrets of Courtney's original guitar playing is that she is left-handed. Therefore, the singer prefers to use guitars with standard tuning and left-handed string order. At the same time, Barnett does not use a mediator, but uses his own method - playing with his fingers, strumming with his thumb and forefinger on rhythmic parts.
Free woman in free talent
In order to actively engage in what you love, you need a source of finance. And for musicians, the relationship with the labels that will release their albums is very important. But the independent Australian went her own way here too. Initially, to support her musical career, she worked as a pizza delivery driver. According to Courtney herself, the time on the road between customers could be devoted to finding plots for songs that came across at every step.
Another source of inspiration and income was the participation of the girl in various groups. So from 2010 to 2011, Barnett was the second guitarist in the grunge band Rapid Transit. She then played slide guitar and sang in a psychedelic-influenced country band, Immigrant Union.
As for the company that would risk contacting an unknown singer in 2012, after the global financial crisis, there were no such risky companies in Australia. So Courtney Barnett just started her own label, Milk! records".
On it, she recorded the mini-album "I've Got a Friend called Emily Ferris", which immediately interested music critics. The very next year, fans were able to enjoy the new record of the Australian singer How to Carve a Carrot into a Rose. Courtney later re-released both mini-albums under the same cover.
Waiting for sincerity from Courtney Barnett
Barnett saw the big world in October of the same 2013. The performance on the popular show "CMJ Music Marathon" aroused the admiration of the singer not only among ordinary viewers, but also among music experts. The latter named Courtney New Star of the Year and Outstanding Performer.
But universal recognition was achieved in 2015 after the release of the full-length album “Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit”. Then Barnett went on tour in the United States. It is worth noting that for public performances, Courtney created the group "CB3". Its composition changed periodically. At the moment, in addition to the singer herself, Buns Sloane is participating in it. The guy was responsible for backing vocals and playing the bass guitar and Dave Moody, sitting behind the drum kit.
The release of a full-length disc attracted even more attention to the modest person of Barnett. It is not surprising that the praise of the critics, the love of the audience did their job. In 2015, the singer is included in the list of contenders for the victory of the popular ARIA Music Awards. There he manages to win four awards from eight nominations at once.
Her album was Breakthrough of the Year and won Best Independent Release with Best Cover. And the singer herself was recognized as the Best Performer.
So uncomplicated and very light songs by Courtney Barnett managed to win the hearts of indie and country lovers around the world. The incredible energy of the songs, the virtuoso parts on the guitar and the honesty of the singer to the audience allowed her to find her niche on the musical Olympus.
Personal life of Courtney Barnett
It is possible that the singer's revelations about her personal life played an important role in the popularity. She did not hide from the public that she was a lesbian. Since 2011, Courtney has lived with her colleague in the music world, Jen Kloel, who is 14 years older than her.
In 2013, Barnett released her debut album, The Woman Beloved, on her label. And in 2017, she recorded several joint songs. Among them was the track "Numbers", in which the ladies told the world about their feelings for each other. True, already in 2018, Australian tabloids began to spread that the singers nevertheless broke up.
However, the personal happiness of talented people should remain their own business. The main thing is that the crisis in relations does not entail silence in creativity. After all, Courtney Barnett has something else to say to a world tired of philosophy and moralizing. People now need so much lightness and simplicity, a sense of ease - all that the songs of the Australian star are full of.
