Bertie Blackman

Beatrice "Bertie" Blackman is an Independent Australian singer, songwriter and guitarist. She rose to fame with her debut album in 2004, entitled Headway which came after years of prolific performances around Sydney's Inner city venues, where she developed a dedicated following.

Early life and influences

Bertie is the daughter of renowned Australian artist Charles Blackman and grew up in the eastern Sydney suburbs of Bondi and Paddington. She attended International Grammar School in Ultimo. International Grammar School. She began playing African percussion at the age of twelve and guitar at the age of fifteen.

Career achievements

Blackman playing at the Parklife Festival (2009) Bertie appeared on the Australian music scene in 2004 with the single "Favourite Jeans" taken from her debut album, Headway (2004) a folk-inspired acoustic album featuring musicians Cameron Deyell, Laurence Pike and Cameron Undy and was co-produced by Richard Belkner. This album established her as an Australian headline alongside contemporaries Something for Kate, Ben Lee and Alex Lloyd. She wrote music for Australian films including the title track to the 2008 production Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger which saw her collaborate with prodigious Australian producer Paul Mac.

After forming a new band with Neal Sutherland, Evan Mannell and Cameron Deyell, she made her second album Black (2006) and received positive reviews and high rotation on Triple J[5] and demonstrated Blackman's move away from folk music to a focus on rock. This album was produced by well-known Australian producer, Paul McKercher (Augie March, Little Birdy).

In 2008, Bertie signed with newly formed Australian management company Forum 5 and began working on her third studio album, entitled Secrets and Lies which was recorded between Sydney and Melbourne. Musicians involved included Neal Sutherland, Evan Mannell and Ben Hauptmann with producers Lee Groves (Goldfrapp, Gwen Stefani) and Francois Tetaz (Architecture in Helsinki, Gotye).

Her first single from the album, "Heart" was released on 10 April 2009.[8] The song was added on high rotation on Australian radio station Triple J and nationwide on commercial radio network Nova as well as on regional and community stations across the country.[9] Altogether "Heart" was the 4th most added song on radio in the week of its release and entered the Australian radio airplay charts at #67.

The album Secrets and Lies was the Triple J Feature Album for the week commencing Monday 27 April 2009[11] and was officially released on 8 May 2009 on Forum 5 Recordings with distribution through MGM Distribution.

Secrets and Lies entered the ARIA album charts at No. 72 and peaked at No. 49.

At the fourth annual AIR Awards, held on 22 November 2009, Bertie Blackman received four nominations for 'Best Independent Single or EP', 'Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year', 'Best Independent Album' and 'Best Independent Artist', winning 'Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year'.

At the 2009 ARIA Music Awards, she was nominated for 'Best Independent Release', which she ended up winning. In 2010, she released as a single a cover version of "Peek-a-Boo" from Siouxsie and the Banshees