Bio

Charlotte Le Lievre

With her lilting voice and timeless sensibilities, Charlotte Le Lievre makes music that hits the heart in the unique tradition of classic country songwriters. Her songs strive to connect with the authenticity of human experience, navigating grief, joy and collective struggle. Drawing upon an array of early country and folk styles, Charlotte and band wholeheartedly pay homage to the origins of this music, whilst offering up insightful commentary on contemporary dilemmas. 

Le Lievre's debut album ‘Songs from the Barrier Line’ was released on vinyl, CD and digitally on 10 March 2023 to widespread acclaim. It debuted at #4 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Charts and #30 on the ARIA Country Album Charts. It also debuted at #3 of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association 100% Independent Album Charts and at #5 on the Independent Label Album Charts. The record further received a coveted spot on the Best Country Music on Bandcamp for March 2023 and was nominated for Contemporary Folk Music Album of the Year at the 2023 Australian Folk Music Awards and Best Country Work at the 2023 Music Victoria Awards.

Le Lievre is reknown for her emotive and captivating live performances. She has supported acts such as, Jimbo Mathus (USA), C.W. Stoneking, Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits, Patrick Wilson, Norwood and Small Town Romance. She has also performed at flagship festivals and music events across Australia, including Out on the Weekend, Woodford Folk Festival, Town Folk Festival, and more. She was a finalist in both the 2021 Darebin Songwriters Award and the 2022 Upstart Award for Victorian songwriters and semi-finalist in the Americana category of the 2022 International Songwriting Competition.

STREAM CHARLOTTE LE LIEVRE HERE

RELEASE details - SONGS FROM THE BARRIER LINE

Charlotte Le Lievre hits hard with the release of her immensely personal and deeply moving debut album Songs from the Barrier Line, released on Friday 10 March 2023. The body of 10 original songs take listeners on a journey, as Le Lievre grapples with the existential nature of death and dying and the healing nature of connection to the unique outback town of Broken Hill, where Le Lievre spent significant time living and creating. 

The record gives a powerful nod to both classic country and folk traditions, showcasing Le Lievre’s genre-defiant style. The arrangements of the songs draw upon the diverse currents of country music to create sonic mountains and valleys that mirror the outback landscapes of Le Lievre’s mind. 

The opening track Barrier line drips with honky tonk spirit. Written on a verandah in Broken Hill, the song uses the allegory of a railway worker to chronicle the initial isolation Le Lievre experienced after moving to the mining town in 2015. Then there’s the driving bluegrass union ballad We'll hold the line, which is an ode to the rebel women of Broken Hill and their significant contribution to the union movement. Side A closes out with the lilting and ethereal Creekbed. Based upon a poem by Willa Cather, the track digs deep into Le Lievre’s personal philosophy on death and the wholeness of life. Flip the record over to Side B and listeners are met with the uplifting 6/8 country-soul track If I'd looked with my heart, which speaks of nurturing love amidst grief. Finally, the record closes out with the Carter family inspired gospel song Vigil by your bed and the atmospheric and heart wrenching Ridin free til’ the end of time, which Le Lievre wrote in tribute to her mum Julie who passed away in 2019.

The record was recorded live to tape by engineer Alex Bennett at the analogue studio Sounds Recordings near Castlemaine in the depths of winter 2022. This format was chosen in order to capture both an authentic and raw country sound and the emotional vulnerability Le Lievre has invested in these songs. The record was produced by Le Lievre in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and old-time player Jas Bell and old-time fiddler Grace Bigby, who both also played on the record. The album also features Patrick Wilson on drums, Patrick Pheasant on double Bass and backing vocals, Luke Byrnes on electric guitar, Grace Turner on backing vocals and Elwood Sze on banjo. The record was mixed by Alex Bennett, Jas Bell and Le Lievre and mastered by Adam Dempsey. Le Lievre received a grant from Creative Victoria to record, mix and master the record. 

Songs from the Barrier line was released on Friday 10 March 2023 and is available for on Vinyl, CD and digital download at: https://charlottelelievre.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-the-barrier-line 

It is also available on streaming platforms at: 
https://gyro.to/SongsfromtheBarrierLine

To celebrate the release of the record, you can catch Charlotte and her band at one of the following shows:

+ Melbourne Vinyl Launch Show - Thursday 11 May @ Shotkickers, Naarm w/ support from Hana & Jessie-Lee (duo) and the Brakes

 https://events.humanitix.com/charlotte-le-lievre-vinyl-launch-show

+ Castlemaine Vinyl Launch Show - Saturday 13 May 2023 @ the Diggers Store in Campbell's Creek w/ support from Jess Parker

https://www.trybooking.com/CGWHO
 

Reviews

"Authentic and tear-soaked alt-country stuff"

        - Dave Ruby Howe, Triple J

“The debut release from Charlotte Le Lievre, has an immediate air of authenticity”        

-  David Jarman, Americana UK

Press photos

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