Clare Bowditch[1] (born 1975) is an Australian musician, author, and occasional actress.

Clare Bowditch
Bowditch at the Great Escape music festival in 2006
Bowditch at the Great Escape music festival in 2006
Background information
Born1975 (age 48–49)
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresFolk, rock, pop
Occupations
  • Musician
  • actress
  • author
Allen & Unwin
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, pianist, drummer
Years active1999–present
Websitewww.clarebowditch.com

At the 2020 ABIA (Australian Book Industry Awards) she won ‘Best New Australian Author’ for her best-selling 2019 memoir Your Own Kind of Girl.

At the ARIA Music Awards of 2006, Bowditch won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist and was nominated for a Logie Award for her work on the TV series Offspring in 2012. She has toured with Gotye and Leonard Cohen, written for Harpers Bazaar, Rolling Stone and Drum.

Life and career

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1975-1997: Early life

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Bowditch was born in Melbourne and raised in the suburb of Sandringham.

She graduated from the University of Melbourne's School of Creative Arts with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (BCA), a now-defunct degree.[2][better source needed]

1998-2002: Red Raku

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Bowditch began writing songs at the age of three and continued writing them in private until 1998 when she met John Hedigan and formed a band called Red Raku. Red Raku self-released two albums, Sweetly Sedated (1998) and Roda Leisis May (2002). Producer and drummer Marty Brown collaborated with the band and in 2002 Bowditch and Brown had a daughter.[3]

2003-2008: The Feeding Set

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In 2003, Libby Chow and Warren Bloomer joined and the band changed their name to Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set. The band released Autumn Bone. Later in 2003, they signed with Capitol Records which rereleased the album.[citation needed]

In 2005, Bowditch was invited by Deborah Conway to take part in the Broad Festival project with three other Australian female artists at which they performed their own and each other's songs.[4] With Bowditch and Conway were Sara Storer, Katie Noonan and Ruby Hunter.[5]

In October 2005, Bowditch and The Feeding Set released their second album, What Was Left, on EMI. The album peaked at number 35 on the ARIA Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2006, Bowditch won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist.

In October 2007, Melbourne guitarist Tim Harvey (Jade Imagine) joined the band and Bowditch and the Feeding Set released their third album, The Moon Looked On. The album peaked at number 29 on the ARIA Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2008, the album was nominated for two awards.

In late 2008, Bowditch completed a twenty-five date sold out solo tour through major and regional venues in Australia, during which time she was supported by Australian band Hot Little Hands.[6]

2009-2010: The New Slang

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In 2009, Bowditch and her family temporarily relocated to Berlin, Germany, where she wrote the album Modern Day Addiction. The album was partly recorded with producer Mocky (who has also worked with Feist, Gonzales, Jamie Lidell and Peaches) at the Hansa studios in Berlin and completed in Australia with her expanded eight-piece band the New Slang. The album marked a change in direction for Bowditch, having been written on a Casio keyboard and piano.

In October 2009, she released her first single, "The Start of War". The song also features Bowditch's partner, Marty Brown, and Mick Harvey, formerly of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.[7] The album became both 3RRR's and ABC Radio National's Album of the Week. The album peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2010, the album was nominated for three awards.

Bowditch supported Leonard Cohen on his 2010 Australian tour. Bowditch was joined by fellow Australian musician Deborah Conway, who was the support act for the second show of the Melbourne stop of the tour.[8] Bowditch said in a 2012 interview that she received a marriage proposal from Cohen during the tour. Bowditch turned down the proposal and explained, "I got to spend all that time with him. Most of the time I just sat there watching and smiling and being amazed at the theatre of it all. He was absolutely charming."[9]

2011-present: solo work

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In 2011, Bowditch co-wrote and performed a musical stage show based on the life and music of Eva Cassidy. The show, Tales from the Life of Eva Cassidy, featured Bowditch singing Cassidy's songs in the style of Cassidy, in addition to telling stories behind the songs and life of the late singer. The sold-out show was performed consecutively over two weeks at the Atheneum Theatre in Melbourne.[10]

In July 2011, Bowditch released the EP Are You Ready Yet?, which included the single "Now That You're Here" (with Lanie Lane).

In May 2012, Bowditch released the single, "You Make Me Happy", which was featured in the TV series Offspring.[11][12] Bowditch plays Rosanna Harding in the series; a musician who does some work with Billie's husband Mick, played by Eddie Perfect.[13]

Bowditch's fifth studio album, The Winter I Chose Happiness, was released on 14 September 2012. The album peaked at number 11 on the ARIA Charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, the album was nominated for an award.

In 2013, Bowditch set up a creative social enterprise, Big Hearted Business (BHB).[14]

The first Big Hearted Business conference was held in 2013 at the Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, Australia.[15] The speakers list of the event included comedian Catherine Deveny, writer Rachel Power and designer Lucy Feagins.[16]

In October 2019, Bowditch released her first book, Your Own Kind of Girl, a partial memoir from her early life, published in Australian and New Zealand by Allen & Unwin, who acquired the rights after an auction between eight publishers.[17]

In 2020, Bowditch released the Audible Original podcast series 'Tame Your Inner Critic'.[18][better source needed]

Personal life

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Bowditch and husband Marty Brown were introduced to each other via their bandmate John Hedigan in 1997. They have three children.[19]

In December 2015, it was announced that Bowditch would be undertaking the role of program host for the afternoon radio program of ABC Radio Melbourne, starting on 25 January 2016.[20] She presented her last programme on 29 November 2017, leaving to write what would go on to be her award-winning debut memoir ‘Your Own Kind of Girl’.[21]

Discography

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Albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS[22][23]
Autumn Bone
(credited to Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set)
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Storey Baker (CLABOW003)
-
What Was Left
(credited to Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set)
  • Released: October 2005
  • Label: Capitol, EMI (094634071826)
  • Format: CD, DD
35
The Moon Looked On
(credited to Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set)
  • Released: October 2007
  • Label: Capitol, EMI (5093552)
  • Format: CD, DD
29
Modern Day Addiction
(credited to Clare Bowditch & The New Slang)
  • Released: August 2010
  • Label: Island Records (2745028)
  • Format: CD, DD
10
The Winter I Choose Happiness
  • Released: 14 September 2012
  • Label: Story Baker, Island Records (3712256)
  • Format: CD, DD
11

Extended plays

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Title Details
Are You Ready Yet?
  • Released: July 2011[24]
  • Label: Island Records Australia (2776020)
  • Format: CD, DD

Singles

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Title Year Chart Positions Album
AUS
"Human Being" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2003 Autumn Bone
"Monday Comes" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set)
"Which Way to Go" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2004 What Was Left
"Divorcee by 23" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2005
"On This Side" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 84
"Little Self Centred Queen" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2006
"When The Lights Went Down" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2007 The Moon Looked On
"You Look So Good" (Clare Bowditch & The Feeding Set) 2008
"The Start of War"[25] 2009
"Bigger Than Money"(Clare Bowditch and the New Slang)[26] 2010 Modern Day Addiction
"Now That You're Here" (with Lanie Lane)[27] 2011 Are You Ready Yet?
"You Make Me Happy"[28] 2012 61 The Winter I Choose Happiness
"Sailing Alone" (with Charity Turner)[29] 2013 non album single
"Woman"[30] 2019 to be confirmed
"If I Could Give You"[31]

Other appearances

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List of other non-single song appearances
Title Year Album
"Hallelujah" 2005 Triple J Like a Version[32]
"Fall at Your Feet" 2005 She Will Have Her Way[33]
"Blood Red Rose" 2007 Cannot Buy My Soul: A Kev Carmody Tribute[34]
"Georgia's Song" 2011 ReWiggled - A Tribute to the Wiggles[35]
"Black Smoke" (with Amanda Palmer and Jherek Bischoff) 2020 Amanda Palmer & Friends Present Forty-Five Degrees: Bushfire Flash Record

Awards and nominations

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APRA Awards

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The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982.[36]

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
2013 "You Make Me Happy" (Clare Bowditch and Eddie Perfect) Song of the Year Shortlisted [37]

ARIA Music Awards

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The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Bowditch has won one award from eight nominations.[38]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2006 What Was Left Best Female Artist Won
2008 The Moon Looked On Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated
2010 Modern Day Addiction Best Female Artist Nominated
Best Adult Alternative Album Nominated
Victor Van Vugt for Clare Bowditch - Modern Day Addiction Engineer of the Year Nominated
2011 Are You Ready Yet? Best Female Artist Nominated
2013 The Winter I Choose Happiness Best Adult Contemporary Album Nominated

EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards

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The EG Awards (known as Music Victoria Awards since 2013) are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009[39] Clare Bowditch Best Female Un­known
2011[40][41] Clare Bowditch Best Female Won
2012[42][43] The Winter I Chose Happiness Best Album Nominated
Clare Bowditch Best Female Nominated

J Award

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The J Award is an award given by Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by the music and on-air teams at triple j, Unearthed and Double J.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2005 What Was Left Australian Album of the Year Nominated

Logie Awards

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The Logie Awards (officially the TV Week Logie Awards) is an annual gathering to celebrate Australian television. Awards are presented in 20 categories representing both public and industry voted awards.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2013 Clare Bowditch in Offspring (Network Ten) Most Popular New Female Talent Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "AMAZING LIFE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Bachelor of Creative Arts". archive.handbook.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  3. ^ Kembrey, Melanie (1 November 2019). "How Clare Bowditch turned her breakdown into a breakthrough". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ^ Elliott, Tim (19 August 2008). "Lady's Night at the Beckoning Microphone". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
  5. ^ "Broad 2005". Broad Festival. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ "Clare Bowditch goes solo for a very special 'Winter Secrets Tour'". 23 April 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  7. ^ Tom Mann (10 August 2009). "Clare Bowditch starts a war". fasterlouder. FasterLouder Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  8. ^ "Clare Bowditch and Deborah Conway to support Leonard Cohen's Australian shows!". Frontier Touring Company. Frontier Touring. 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  9. ^ Iain Sheddon (8 September 2012). "Happiness begins at home for Clare Bowditch". The Australian. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  10. ^ Erin James (3 June 2011). "Bowditch brings Eva Cassidy to life in Brand New Production". aussie theatre. AussieTheatre.com. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  11. ^ Michael Lallo (6 May 2012). "Happy days". The Age. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
  12. ^ "Clare Bowditch You Make Me Happy". auspOp. July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  13. ^ Seanna Cronin (13 May 2012). "Clare enjoying new Offspring role". My Daily News. The Tweed Newspaper Company Pty Ltd. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  14. ^ Clare Bowditch (2012). "Work With Me". Clare Bowditch Land. Clare Bowditch. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  15. ^ Pip (25 March 2013). "Clare Bowditch's Big Hearted Business Conference". Meet Me at Mikes. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  16. ^ Julia (26 March 2013). "The power of showing up: Big Hearted Business Conference with Clare Bowditch". The Bulb. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  17. ^ "A&U acquires Bowditch memoir". Books+Publishing. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Tame Your Inner Critic". Audible. 2020.
  19. ^ Rule, Dan (26 October 2007). "Gig reviews: Clare Bowditch". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 March 2008.
  20. ^ "Clare Bowditch to join 774 ABC Melbourne in 2016 - ABC Melbourne - Australian Broadcasting Corporation". ABC Online. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Clare Bowditch to depart ABC Radio". Mediaweek. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
  22. ^ "CLARE BOWDITCH AND THE FEEDING SET - WHAT WAS LEFT (ALBUM)". Australian Charts. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  23. ^ "CLARE BOWDITCH & THE NEW SLANG - MODERN DAY ADDICTION". Australian Charts. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  24. ^ "Are You Ready Yet?". Apple Music. July 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  25. ^ "The Start of the War - single". Apple Music. 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  26. ^ "Bigger Than Money - single". Apple Music. 2010. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  27. ^ "Now That You're Here - single". Apple Music. 2011. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  28. ^ "You Make Me Happy - single". Apple Music. 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  29. ^ "Sailing Alone - single". Apple Music. September 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  30. ^ "Woman - single". Apple Music. February 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  31. ^ "If I Could Give You - single". Apple Music. October 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  32. ^ "triple j - Like a Version: Vol. 1". triple j. ABC. 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  33. ^ "She Will Have Her Way -- Fall at your Feet (Clare Bowditch) video" (Video upload). NME. IPC Media Entertainment Network. 1996–2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  34. ^ "Cannot Buy My Soul (A Kev Carmody Tribute) Various Artists". iTunes Preview. Apple, Inc. 24 February 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  35. ^ "Rewiggled - A Tribute to the Wiggles". ABC Music. ABC. 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  36. ^ "APRA History". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  37. ^ "APRA Song Of The Year 2013 Shortlist Revealed". Tone Deaf. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  38. ^ "The Grates ARIA Awards". ARIA Awards. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  39. ^ "EG Awards last days to vote". The Age. 13 November 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  40. ^ "Gotye And Wagons Score At the EG Awards". Noise11. 25 November 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  41. ^ "Gotye and Wagons Dominate". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  42. ^ "EG Awards 2012 Announce Nominations, Induct Weddings, Parties, Anything". Tone Deaf. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  43. ^ "The Temper Trap, Oh Mercy Win EG Awards". noise11. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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