Courtney Barnett, slacker rocker, eyes heavier sound

Barnett has often been described as a “slacker rocker,” taking inspiration from Nirvana and other artists from the ‘90s Seattle grunge scene — even if her attitude is more ironic than gloomy.

Courtney Barnett quit her job as a bartender in Melbourne in February. With a schedule that includes performances at some of the world’s leading music festivals, it became increasingly difficult to put in hours at the pub. In a matter of months, the singer and guitarist has won a growing audience for her songs — droll observations on daily life delivered with rapid-fire but unaffected wit - before she has had time to release a full album.

“It’s amazing how things work — you get in a few magazines and then people like you,” Barnett deadpanned before a show at New York’s 1,500-capacity Webster Hall ballroom.

“But on a positive note, it’s nice that so many people feel something they connect with,” she said.

Barnett, who had been playing small shows in Australia, emerged as a favourite on US college radio stations and at last year’s CMJ Music Marathon, the annual New York event where hundreds of emerging artists vie for recognition.

Barnett has often been described as a “slacker rocker,” taking inspiration from Nirvana and other artists from the ‘90s Seattle grunge scene — even if her attitude is more ironic than gloomy.

But Barnett said that the material on her upcoming album will take a somewhat darker direction. Barnett finished recording the album, which will come out in 2015, before returning to the road in October.

“Some of it is more, kind of, heavy as we’ve grown as a band a bit more,” said Barnett, who speaks much in the same way as she sings, conversationally but with a certain monotone.

“There were songs I wrote in a room and then taught people who to play them. These ones, I kind of wrote and took to the band,” she said.

As for the lyrics, “It’s pretty similar, that kind of talking about stuff that happens,” she said with a laugh. “Some of it may be a tiny bit darker in some parts.”

She hinted that the work may also be more political. In March, she toured Australia with leftist English singer and guitarist Billy Bragg.

As crowd sizes shot up at her performances and she played major festivals including Coachella and Primavera, Barnett put her two EPs together and sold them under the title, A Sea of Split Peas. Her upcoming release will technically be her debut album.

Barnett, who had never left Australia until last year, is on her first extensive tour of Europe after dates across North America.

“I’ve worked a lot and I’ve been unemployed a lot in my life. I hate working for other people; I like working for myself.

“I don’t know how long it will last for, but it’s cool being able to be a full-time artist,” she said.