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Alison Barter (born 1986) is an Australian pop rock singer-songwriter. Trained in classical music, Barter began writing and independently releasing pop rock in her mid-twenties. She released an EP, ''Trip'', in 2012 and was the winner of the 2013 Triple J Unearthed competition. An opinion column Barter wrote in 2016 for Junkee, on the need for representation of women in music history, attracted local and international attention. , Barter has released one live and two studio albums. She married musician and collaborator Oscar Dawson in 2016.


Early years

Ali Barter was born in Melbourne in 1986. She was raised by an Irish Catholic father (who had a son from a previous marriage) and a Buddhist mother. She spent her early years in Lae, Papua New Guinea, where her father worked. The family moved to
Cairns Cairns (; ) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. The city was founded in 1876 and named after William Cairns, Sir W ...
before returning to Melbourne where she attended a Methodist secondary school. Barter was trained as a classical vocalist and spent eight years singing in the Australian Girls Choir. She left music, at about 14 to 16, and became a self-proclaimed 'rat bag': "I was just naughty. Drinking/partying too much and too often, behaving badly... just bummed around being a pest. Not contributing!" Her father unexpectedly died when she was 24.


Career

Barter said she had a "taste of mortality" resulting from her father's early death. She returned to music soon after, feeling that if she "didn't do something then then I'd waste my life", and began writing and releasing music independently. Barter issued her debut extended play (EP), ''Trip'', in August 2012. It was recorded and produced in Melbourne by local beat-maker Matik. It provided the single "Run You Down", which was co-written by Barter and Stephen Mowat. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:' She was a 2013 Triple J Unearthed winner, earning a spot on the line-up at St Jerome's Laneway Festival in that year. She followed with support slots for Vance Joy, Cloud Control and the Rubens. Late in 2013 her second EP, ''Community'', was released, which was produced by Oscar Dawson (of Holy Holy). She toured with the War on Drugs. Barter's third EP, ''AB EP'', was released on 4 September 2015. It was recorded at the Aviary, Abbotsford with Dawson producing and co-writing. It provided the single "Hypercolour", with its music video, directed by Rhys Mitchell, being premiered on NPR. Barter appeared in ABC1's TV mini-series '' The Beautiful Lie'' (2015), a modern adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's '' Anna Karenina''. In April 2016 Barter performed on triple j's weekly ''
Like a Version ''Like a Version'' is a long-running weekly segment on Australian youth radio station Triple J. It involves musicians playing two songs live in the Triple J studio, one of their own songs and then a cover version. The series was created by pres ...
'' segment, where she covered
Tame Impala Tame Impala is the psychedelic music project of Australian singer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker (musician), Kevin Parker. In the recording studio, Parker writes, records, performs, and produces all of the project's music. As a touring a ...
's track " 'Cause I'm a Man". She released two singles in that year — "Far Away" in January and "Girlie Bits" in August. Both were quickly added to high rotation on national youth broadcaster triple j. She was also invited by triple j to perform at the Unearthed 10-year anniversary show in November, where she was joined onstage by Melbourne musician Ecca Vandal for a special performance of "Girlie Bits". In 2016, Barter also toured in support of the Rubens, City Calm Down and the Jezabels and held her single launches in Sydney and Brisbane. In mid-2016 inspired by her experiences while studying 20th century music history at a university in Melbourne, she posted on her Facebook page "about how under-represented women were in the course material." She was called to a meeting: "We had a horrendous chat and they hounded me to take down the post. I had so much anxiety going to class that I stopped going." In December of that year Barter penned an op-ed, "It's About Fucking Time We Gave Female Musicians the Credit They Deserve" for Australian media website '' Junkee''. She discussed the importance of including women in music history. The piece garnered a number of responses, including one from
Yoko Ono Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...
, who re-tweeted the article. Barter released her debut album, ''A Suitable Girl'', in March 2017, independently on Ronnie Records via Inertia Music. It peaked at No. 17 on the ARIA Albums Chart. In February of the following year she performed at the
Melbourne Zoo Melbourne Zoo is a zoo in Melbourne, Australia. It is located within Royal Park, Melbourne, Royal Park in Parkville, Victoria, Parkville, approximately north of the centre of Melbourne. It is the primary zoo serving Melbourne. As of 2021, the ...
, for its ''Twilights Season'', which Giselle Bueti of '' The AU Review'' praised: "There is something compelling about her stage presence, a certain awkward charm. The powerful chords mixed with delicate harmonies make for sweet listening. It's like biting into a sour lolly – that initial punch is quickly followed by sugary bliss, making your mouth water and plead for more." In 2019 Barter announced her second full length album, ''Hello I'm Doing My Best''. Released in October, it was generally well received. It yielded the singles "UR a Piece of Shit", "Backseat" and "Big Ones". The release was followed by a tour of Australian cities. In March 2020, Australian radio station
Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
premiered a new song by Barter in collaboration with Oscar Dawson (from Holy Holy) titled "Four Days", as part of a
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
self-isolation musical challenge nicknamed Quarantune.


Personal life

In 2013 Barter began working with fellow Australian musician Oscar Dawson (ex-
Dukes of Windsor Dukes of Windsor were an Australian electronic rock group formed in 2004. They relocated to Berlin in 2009, where they disbanded in the following year. They are notable for their single "It's a War", released in Australia in 2008 and in Europe ...
, member of Holy Holy), as a songwriting and musical collaboration. Dawson produced Barter's latter two EPs and debut album. Barter and Dawson married in early 2016. The couple run a small independent label, Ronnie Records, which issued Barter's material, as well as work by fellow musicians Ben Wright Smith and Miles de Carteret. She has often visited India and has expressed a desire to live there.


Discography


Studio albums


Live albums


Extended plays


Singles


Awards and nominations


AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as
AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. History The inaugural 2006 awards were held at Blacket Hot ...
) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. , - ,
2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
, herself , Best Independent Artist , , -


J Awards

The
J Awards The J Awards are an annual series of Australian music awards, established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J, and which also extend to sister stations, Triple J Unearthed and Double J. The awar ...
are an annual series of Australian music awards that were established by the
Australian Broadcasting Corporation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is Australia’s principal public service broadcaster. It is funded primarily by grants from the federal government and is administered by a government-appointed board of directors. The ABC is ...
's youth-focused radio station
Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
. They commenced in 2005. , - ,
2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
, ''A Suitable Girl'' , Australian Album of the Year , , -


Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006. ! , - ,
2017 2017 was designated as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations General Assembly. Events January * January 1 – Istanbul nightclub shooting: A gunman dressed as Santa Claus opens fire at the ...
, Ali Barter , Best Female Artist , , , -


National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016. , - ,
2018 Events January * January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency. * January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
, Ali Barter , Live Pop Act of the Year , , -


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barter, Ali Living people 1986 births 21st-century Australian singers 21st-century Australian women singers