Neu Get To Know… Ali Barter

Hello and welcome to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… getting you a little bit closer to the buzziest new acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.

Recently London-via-Bologna trio Husky Loops, LA indie dreamboats Wallows, Irish newbies The Wha, London experimental duo San Scout, and now we’re introducing you to Australian superstar-in-the-making Ali Barter.

Born in Melbourne, she crafts pop-rock gems driven by her crystalline vocals, crafting a sound that would slip effortlessly into an American teen coming-of-age movie.

With her sophomore album (and quite strong mood) ‘Hello, I’m Doing My Best’ out this Friday (18th October), we grabbed her for five mins to find out more.

Describe your music to us in the form of a Tinder bio.

Piece of shit seeks piece of shit to hang out in the back seat of my car

What’s your earliest musical memory?

Playing tambourine and singing in music class in grade two. I lived in far north QLD when I was a kid and my school was in the rain forest, so I remember being amongst trees as we sang and banged on instruments in our class room.

Who were some artists that inspired you when you were just starting out (and why)?

I loved Cat Power for her vocal vulnerability. I loved Liz Phair for the honesty of her lyrics. I loved Johnny Cash for the simplicity of his songs and chords.

You’re from Melbourne! What do you think of the music scene there at the moment?

It’s great! There are lots of awesome venues to play in, lots of keen, talented musicians to play with and so many scenes to get involved in.

Are there any other artists breaking through at the same time that you take inspiration from?

I really love Mallrat. She’s got such a great vibe and her lyrics are super sweet.

Who would be your dream collaborator?

I’d love to collaborate with Rivers Cuomo from Weezer. He’s such a brilliant and interesting songwriter. I love his lyrics especially. I would pick his brain about his processes too!

Musically or otherwise, what are you most looking forward to for the rest of the year?

I’m looking forward to working on my live show and getting it out on the road mainly. I have also started writing my next album so working on developing that will be fun.

If people could take away one thing from your music, what would it be?

I hope they feel joy! When people come to my shows or listen to my music, my aim is to make people feel like everything is going to be ok. It’s fun music where I talk about real stuff so I hope people identify and then jump around and let their worries go.