Courtney Barnett
Courtney Melba Barnett (born 3 November 1987) is an Australian singer, songwriter, and musician. Known for her deadpan singing style and witty, rambling lyrics,[2] she attracted attention with the release of her debut EP I've Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris in 2012. International interest came with the release of her EP The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas in 2013.[3]
For the British rock musician, see Barns Courtney.Barnett's debut album—Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit—was released in 2015 to widespread acclaim. At the 2015 ARIA Music Awards, she won four awards from eight nominations. She was nominated for Best New Artist at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards and International Female Solo Artist at the 2016 Brit Awards.[4][5] She released Lotta Sea Lice, a collaborative album with Kurt Vile, in 2017.[6][7] She released her second album, Tell Me How You Really Feel, to further acclaim in 2018.[8] Barnett's third studio album—Things Take Time, Take Time—was released in November 2021.[9]
Early life[edit]
Courtney Melba Barnett[10] was born in Sydney on 3 November 1987.[11] She was given her middle name after opera singer Nellie Melba. She grew up in Sydney's Northern Beaches area. Her mother was a ballerina.[12] When she was 16, her family moved to Hobart. She attended St Michael's Collegiate School and the Tasmanian School of Art.[13] Having grown up listening to American bands, she discovered Australian singer-songwriters Darren Hanlon and Dan Kelly, who inspired her to start writing songs.[14] While pursuing a music career, she worked as a pizza delivery driver.[15]
Equipment and playing style[edit]
Barnett plays left-handed, using mostly left-handed guitars with standard tuning and string order for left-handed players (low strings at the top, high strings at the bottom).[10] She occasionally plays right-handed guitars flipped upside down, but does not prefer it. She learned to play on acoustic guitars, and developed her own method of fingerstyle guitar because she disliked the sound of a pick; she later transferred this playing style to the electric guitar. She is capable of using a pick and claims she could probably play better with one, but prefers to play using her fingers, strumming with both her thumb and index finger on rhythm parts and using her index finger where she would otherwise use a pick for lead parts. She prefers to play in standard tuning, but has used open G tuning for slide guitar.[57]
Among the guitars Barnett has used for performance and recording are a Harmony H59 and a number of Fenders, including Jaguars, Stratocasters, and Telecasters, which she strings with Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings in the 0.011–0.048 gauge. She plays through Fender Hot Rod Deville and Fender Deluxe amplifiers, with effects pedals including a Fulltone OCD overdrive pedal, a "cheap delay pedal", and a chorus pedal.[57][58]
Personal life[edit]
Barnett was in a relationship with fellow musician Jen Cloher from 2012 to 2018,[59][60] and the song "Numbers" was co-written by the pair about their relationship. Barnett's song "Pickles from the Jar" also details their relationship, and Cloher is mentioned in the first line of "Dead Fox". Barnett called Cloher a "huge constant influence" on her music.[61] She also played guitar in Cloher's band from 2012 to 2018.
Current
Former
Session/touring
Awards and nominations[edit]
AIR Awards[edit]
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
