Courtney Barnett: a year of success

Melbourne singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett  has gone from success to success this year, taking out Best Female Artist and Best Breakthrough Artist at this year’s ARIA awards, and receiving a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Barnett’s debut album, Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit, has had rave reviews worldwide and significant success on the music charts, peaking at number four in Australia, 19 in New Zealand, 16 in the United Kingdom and 20 in the United States.

Earlier in the year, Barnett spoke to NPR’s All Songs Considered  about the success of her album:

“I’m super proud of [Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit]. It’s a good feeling to turn all those ideas and emotions and good and bad things into something that people can take whatever they want from it or put it in their life. It’s cool.”

Australia Council supported Barnett through the PPCA partnership that assists Australian artists to create new recordings, through direct funding to showcase her work at South by South West and to tour Europe to promote her album.

Barnett has gone on to play in her unique Australian style to huge audiences worldwide – performing to crowds in the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan and throughout the United States. Recently, the signer-songwriter played at New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl supporting brit-pop legends Blur.

From this touring success, Barnett’s self-deprecating musical style has been recognised with a nomination in the Grammy Awards’ Best New Artist category. The 58th Grammy Awards will be held on Monday 15 February 2016 in Los Angeles, California.