Rebecca Barnard

Who is Rebecca Barnard?

Rebecca Barnard is a Melbourne-based Australian singer, songwriter and musician. She was the lead singer of Rebecca's Empire from 1994 to 2000, and has forged a solo career since her debut album was released in 2006.

Barnard grew up listening to Gladys Moncrieff, Fats Waller, Pinetop Smith, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. At 14, she became acquainted with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. Rebecca Barnard is the daughter of Australian jazz drummer Len Barnard.

Barnard featured in the following Australian bands The Escalators, Black Coffee, Wayback 5, Romance Without Finance, Peaceful Anticipation Social Aid and Pleasure Club, Stephen Cummings Band, Triple Peaks, and the Rebecca Barnard Band.

When songwriting became a focus, she founded the band Rebecca’s Empire. The band toured extensively, releasing three EPs and two albums and appeared on the Triple J Hottest 100 albums three years in a row. At this height of popularity, Barnard had her own cooking segment on Triple J called Pot of Rock.

Rebecca’s Empire disbanded in 2000 when the duties of being a mother took priority. During this time, Barnard appeared on recordings by Paul Kelly, Tim Rogers, Renée Geyer, Deborah Conway, The Meanies, Warped and The Audreys.