Bertie Blackman is the midst of ‘a secret project.’
“I can’t tell you what I’m doing right now,” she chuckles, “but I can tell you that I fly out of the country on Australia Day.”
Secrets aside, 2009 has been a whopping year for this ‘underground goddess,’ who after 5 years of making records was only last year embraced by the commercial world, taking out the 2009 Aria for Best Independent Release.
“My New Years resolution is to sleep more.” But with no sign of slowing down, Bertie will be spending most of this year abroad, with a UK promo tour, the making of her next record and a supporting spot on La Roux’s forthcoming Australian tour scheduled to chew up precious sleeping hours.
Giving Australian audiences ‘what they want’ before she jumps ship, Bertie will be performing alongside Bob Evans, Evermore, Hayley Warner, Cassie Davis and Ian Moss on the lawns of Parliament House at this year’s Australia Day Live.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing Bob Evans again, yeah I’m a fan.”
Currently residing in Melbourne, Bertie felt the great Australian heat when temperatures soared to 44 degrees earlier this week.
“I bought a blow up row boat and I filled it up with water and ice, and sat in it on my balcony.”
Not just resourceful, Bertie’s also a creative soul, the daughter of iconic Australian artist Charles Blackman.
“I love drawing and making things, If I wasn’t a musician I think maybe I’d make puppet shows, yeah…I’d do that for a living.”
Bertie first stepped onto the scene with ‘Headway’ (2004), her folk-inspired debut album powered by acoustic guitar and has since released 2 records, including her 2009 release ‘Secrets and Lies.’ The album blends electronic influences with her signature vocal style, “It’s dark, but it’s also a pop record”.
Having performed twice in Canberra last year, Bertie can’t get past our city’s frequent roundabouts. “That’s all I think about, the roundabouts.” But it’s Tasmania that has her heart, “I love Bay of Fires, it’s my favourite place in the country.”
Bertie announces her excitement for the upcoming Australia Day Live concert in our national capital, but refrains from giving any detail as to what we can expect. Does Bertie have a secret?
“Of course, you’ll just have to come along to the show to find out.”
You can catch Bertie Blackman on stage at Australia Day Live, Monday 25 January 2010 on the lawns of Parliament House.
