Misplaced Pages

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Clare Bowditch" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Clare Bowditch
Bowditch at the Great Escape music festival in 2006
Background information
Born	1975 (age 48–49) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres	Folk, rock, pop
Occupations	Musician actress author Allen & Unwin
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, pianist, drummer
Years active	1999–present
Website	www.clarebowditch.com

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

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

1975-1997: Early life

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.

1998-2002: Red Raku

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.

2003-2008: The Feeding Set

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.

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. With Bowditch and Conway were Sara Storer, Katie Noonan and Ruby Hunter.

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.

2009-2010: The New Slang

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. 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. 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."

2011-present: solo work

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.

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. Bowditch plays Rosanna Harding in the series; a musician who does some work with Billie's husband Mick, played by Eddie Perfect.

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).

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

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.

In 2020, Bowditch released the Audible Original podcast series 'Tame Your Inner Critic'.

Personal life

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

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. 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’.

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

Singles

Other appearances

Awards and nominations

APRA Awards

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

ARIA Music Awards

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.

EG Awards / Music Victoria Awards

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

J Award

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.

Logie Awards

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.

References

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.

External links

• Clare Bowditch at IMDb 

• 1975 births
• Living people
• ARIA Award winners
• Australian indie pop musicians
• Actresses from Melbourne
• Singers from Melbourne
• Australian indie rock musicians
• Australian television actresses
• 21st-century Australian actresses
• 21st-century Australian singers
• 21st-century Australian women singers
• People from Sandringham, Victoria