Bridgetown is Western Australia's spiritual home of blues and roots, so it is no surprise that resident singer-songwriter Tracey Barnett has that music in her soul. Fusing traditional blues and country elements with modern rock rhythms, Barnett's music has taken her across Australia, earning her a WAM Award, chart success, and airtime on Triple J, ABC and community radio. Ready to hit the road in September, Barnett is kicking off spring with a brand new album, a swag of regional shows and a sizzling new track serendipitously named Freedom.
First making her presence felt in 2010, Barnett debuted with The First Of Many – a promising EP that introduced her authentic, heartfelt style. By 2013 her work was becoming more eclectic, and she captured a darker shade of her songwriting on the Blooming EP. Then, in 2017, Barnett reached the artistic milestone of a full-length album with the triumphant Heart, Soul, Feeling. Displaying more grit – lyrically and sonically – the album proved that Barnett's songwriting was maturing and had reached a place unrestrained by convention.
Its follow-up (Barnett's forthcoming second album Eyes Forward) has already spawned three successful singles – Gotta Get Out, Eyes Forward and Darkness In The Light – each nominated for
a WAM Song Of The Year Award. Produced by James Newhouse, the album shows off
Barnett's ever-evolving songwriting, singing and guitar playing... not to mention the
staggering arsenal she wields as a player (guitar, lap steel, resonator, banjo,
harmonica, Hammond organ and percussion, thank you very much).
Out on August 20th 2021, Eyes Forward's fourth single – Freedom – is what
Barnett half-jokingly refers to as a 'therapy song'... something that she
created to exorcise a demon within herself. She explains, “I wrote Freedom
as a message to a part of myself I was trying to let go of. I needed to find a
sense of freedom and stop being held back.” This honesty and catharsis is
only part of what gives the song its power... with its stomping unleashed
on a live audience.
And it will be given its chance to shine during the Eyes Forward Album Launch Tour, where Barnett will visit nearly a dozen WA towns throughout September and October. A multi-instrumentalist with powerful stage presence, Barnett is best witnessed in concert. Throughout her career she has made the conscious decision to remain solo, and as a result has created a closeness between her and her audience. This connection, along with her sheer instinct for songwriting, is what makes Tracey Barnett one the most exciting modern blues artists in Australia.