Barry Palmer (musician)
Encyclopedia
Barry Palmer is an Australian musician, songwriter and record producer based in Melbourne
, best known as a member of the band Hunters & Collectors
, from 1988-1998.
In 2005 he was the subject of a documentary
series The Hit Game on ABC
television, which showed him producing and developing four unsigned artists: Deepface
who were later signed to Fly Records (a division of JJJ); Belinda-Lee Reid (ex-Lash) who was later signed to a substantial deal; Vanessa Morefea who later signed to Instant Karma in the UK; and finally the Wolfgramm sisters, who have toured with Jet
and the Countdown
series.
Palmer toured the globe and Australia for many years with Hunters & Collectors, the band selling over one million albums in their home territory and along the way writing and performing songs that have become a part of the Australian musical and cultural landscape. In recognition of their status within the Australian music community and their contribution to Australian music, 2005 saw Hunters & Collectors inaugurated into the ARIA
Hall of Fame. Whilst still in Hunters & Collectors, Palmer formed Deadstar
with Caroline Kennedy — releasing three albums to critical acclaim and radio success. From their first indie hits, such as "Going Down" and "Don't It Get You Down", to later pop songs like "Deeperwater" and "Run Baby Run", the band toured Australia and the UK until disbanding in 2001.
(gold sales and APRA
most performed song of the year), "Rip It Up" with 28 Days
(gold), "Take Me Away" with Lash (lead track for U.S. movie Freaky Friday
with the soundtrack selling in excess of 500,000), "Love Comes Easy" with Vika and Linda
(first single from Princess Tabu), "Home Again" and many others with old songwriting partner Mark Seymour
(produced first solo album, King Without A Clue) and a swag of other songs with artists as diverse as Michael Spiby of The Badloves
, Dan Brodie
(producer, Beautiful Crimes, EMI), Tim Henwood of The Androids
(producer/writer), Shihad
, The Fauves
, Amiel
("Tonight"), Lisa Miller
, The D4
(writing and producing), Carly Binding
(Mushroom/Warner), Luger Boa
and Dash and Will
.
Palmer continues to write and record, concentrating particularly on the artists signed to his production company, Gigantically Small.
2006 saw the release of Dirty Days for Jaed (The Devil's Music/Instant Karma, produced and arranged by Palmer), garnering rave reviews from the UK press.
Deepface (Fly Music) placed the highest Australian dance song on the ARIA dance charts for four months with "Been Good" (co-written by Palmer, C. Kennedy and A. Klippel) and was nominated for an ARIA award for Best Dance Release. The release of their album Feel The Love saw the trio debuting in the Billboard U.S Dance Charts top 50.
Missing Hours (originally signed by Palmer, later to Sony) produced by Palmer. Emma Hewitt disbanded the act in 2009 and headed to London to forge an incredibly successful trance career. In 2010 she won best trance vocalist at the Miami International Dance Music Awards.
The Coalition Of The Young, produced by Palmer and signed to Gigantically Small. Declan has since moved on to form Declan And The Antics. 2011 sees Declan going solo and releasing his debut e.p in September.
Gigantically Small signed the wonderful Dash and Will in 2007 and then inked a deal with Universal. D&W's second album is due in August 2011.
2008 also saw Palmer co-write and produce an album for Jimmy Christmas of The D4 with his new band Luger Boa (Warner Music).
Matt Walters released an EP in February 2009, and his debut album produced by Paul McKercher in May 2011.
Palmer has most recently signed Boy In A Box and then licensed the band to Warner in May 2011.
Palmer's Gigantic Studios opened in 2011.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, best known as a member of the band Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors
Hunters & Collectors were an Australian rock music band formed in Melbourne in 1981, fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Seymour, they developed a blend of pub rock and art-funk...
, from 1988-1998.
History
He began playing alongside his brother Craig Palmer and bluesman Chris Wilson in popular R&B band The Sole Twisters. He came to prominence as guitarist and songwriter for indie darlings, Harem Scarem and Crown of Thorns, later joining one of Australia's truly iconic bands Hunters & Collectors in 1989.In 2005 he was the subject of a documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
series The Hit Game on ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
television, which showed him producing and developing four unsigned artists: Deepface
Deepface
Deepface is a Dance/House/Electronica outfit based out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trio consists of producer/songwriter Chris Corby, composer Fran Power and vocalist Shirley Davis...
who were later signed to Fly Records (a division of JJJ); Belinda-Lee Reid (ex-Lash) who was later signed to a substantial deal; Vanessa Morefea who later signed to Instant Karma in the UK; and finally the Wolfgramm sisters, who have toured with Jet
Jet (band)
Jet are an Australian rock band formed in 2001 while attending St Bede's College Mentone in Melbourne, . The band consists of lead guitarist Cameron Muncey, bassist Mark Wilson, and brothers Nic and Chris Cester on vocals/rhythm guitar and drums respectively...
and the Countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
series.
Palmer toured the globe and Australia for many years with Hunters & Collectors, the band selling over one million albums in their home territory and along the way writing and performing songs that have become a part of the Australian musical and cultural landscape. In recognition of their status within the Australian music community and their contribution to Australian music, 2005 saw Hunters & Collectors inaugurated into the ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
Hall of Fame. Whilst still in Hunters & Collectors, Palmer formed Deadstar
Deadstar
Deadstar was an Australian band from Melbourne based around the songs of singer Caroline Kennedy and guitarist Barry Palmer ....
with Caroline Kennedy — releasing three albums to critical acclaim and radio success. From their first indie hits, such as "Going Down" and "Don't It Get You Down", to later pop songs like "Deeperwater" and "Run Baby Run", the band toured Australia and the UK until disbanding in 2001.
Production
During this time Palmer wrote and sometimes produced songs with many other artists — "Cry" with The Mavis'sThe Mavis's
The Mavis's were an Australian pop band from Ballarat, Victoria. The band was composed of Matt Thomas , his sister Becky Thomas , Nick Gill , Andrea Vendy , and Josh Alexander . They are best known for their 1998 synth-driven single "Cry", which appeared on the Triple J Hottest 100 for 1998...
(gold sales and APRA
Australasian Performing Right Association
The Australasian Performing Right Association is a copyright collective representing New Zealand and Australian composers, lyricists and music publishers. The association's head offices located in Sydney Australia, and it has branch offices in Auckland, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth...
most performed song of the year), "Rip It Up" with 28 Days
28 Days
28 Days are a punk rock band formed in Bacchus Marsh, Australia during 1997. At their career peak, they had a #1 album on the Australian ARIAnet Albums Chart and also a #12 single on the ARIAnet Singles Chart....
(gold), "Take Me Away" with Lash (lead track for U.S. movie Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday
Freaky Friday is a classic comedic children’s novel written by Mary Rodgers first published in the USA in 1972, and adapted for film several times.-Plot:...
with the soundtrack selling in excess of 500,000), "Love Comes Easy" with Vika and Linda
Vika and Linda
Vika and Linda Bull are a sister vocal duo who came to prominence after being asked to sing backing vocals in Joe Camilleri's band The Black Sorrows.-Biography:...
(first single from Princess Tabu), "Home Again" and many others with old songwriting partner Mark Seymour
Mark Seymour
Mark Seymour is an Australian musician and vocalist best known for his work as the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters & Collectors...
(produced first solo album, King Without A Clue) and a swag of other songs with artists as diverse as Michael Spiby of The Badloves
The Badloves
The Badloves is an Australian band that formed in 1990, dissolved in 1997 and reformed in 2008.-1990:The Badloves were formed by frontman Michael Spiby in Melbourne during January 1990 under the name DC3. The band consisted of Spiby , his brother John Spiby , John Housden , Stephen O'Prey and...
, Dan Brodie
Dan Brodie
Dan Brodie is an ARIA Award nominated singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia.His debut EP, I'm Floatin' Mama was independently released in 1998; followed by his debut album, Big Black Guitar. Backed by The Broken Arrows , Brodie signed to EMI who re-released his debut album...
(producer, Beautiful Crimes, EMI), Tim Henwood of The Androids
The Androids
The Androids are a rock band from Australia. Fronted by guitarist Tim Henwood . While their 2002 single, "Do It With Madonna", was commercially their most successful release - peaking at #4 in the Australia ARIA Singles Chart and #15 in the UK Singles Chart; their second and third singles, "Here...
(producer/writer), Shihad
Shihad
Shihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
, The Fauves
The Fauves
The Fauves are an Australian rock band. Their album Future Spa was nominated for Best Alternative Album in the 1997 ARIA awards but lost to Spiderbait's Ivy and the Big Apples....
, Amiel
Amiel
Amiel can refer to:*Amiel Daemion, Australian pop singer.*Amiel Flippo, American philosopher, writer, and critic.Amiel as a surname can refer to:*Barbara Amiel, writer and wife of Conrad Black.*Gausbert Amiel, troubadour...
("Tonight"), Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller is an Australian singer/songwriter known for her clear, bitter-sweet voice and poignant semi-biographical songs.-Biography:Miller grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Chadstone, the daughter of social realist painter Peter Miller...
, The D4
The D4
The D4 was a rock band from Auckland, New Zealand. Their music was released by Hollywood Records in the U.S., Flying Nun Records in New Zealand and by Infectious Records in the UK....
(writing and producing), Carly Binding
Carly Binding
Carly Binding is a New Zealand pop singer-songwriter, and former member of the girl group TrueBliss. In 2000 she left the group, citing personal differences, and decided to pursue a solo career. Her debut solo album Passenger peaked at #6 on the New Zealand album charts and went gold. It was also...
(Mushroom/Warner), Luger Boa
Luger Boa
Luger Boa is a New Zealand rock band led by Jimmy Christmas, formerly of The D4. Christmas formed Luger Boa after The D4 decided to take an indefinite break. Christmas describes the band as "pop-oriented", but with the "intensity of The D4"...
and Dash and Will
Dash and Will
Dash & Will are an Australian indie pop/pop rock duo formed in 2006, from Melbourne.-Career history:Dash and Will first met in early 1999, at age nine. The pair both started grade four on the same day at the same new school, Preshil: The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School...
.
Palmer continues to write and record, concentrating particularly on the artists signed to his production company, Gigantically Small.
2006 saw the release of Dirty Days for Jaed (The Devil's Music/Instant Karma, produced and arranged by Palmer), garnering rave reviews from the UK press.
Deepface (Fly Music) placed the highest Australian dance song on the ARIA dance charts for four months with "Been Good" (co-written by Palmer, C. Kennedy and A. Klippel) and was nominated for an ARIA award for Best Dance Release. The release of their album Feel The Love saw the trio debuting in the Billboard U.S Dance Charts top 50.
Missing Hours (originally signed by Palmer, later to Sony) produced by Palmer. Emma Hewitt disbanded the act in 2009 and headed to London to forge an incredibly successful trance career. In 2010 she won best trance vocalist at the Miami International Dance Music Awards.
The Coalition Of The Young, produced by Palmer and signed to Gigantically Small. Declan has since moved on to form Declan And The Antics. 2011 sees Declan going solo and releasing his debut e.p in September.
Gigantically Small signed the wonderful Dash and Will in 2007 and then inked a deal with Universal. D&W's second album is due in August 2011.
2008 also saw Palmer co-write and produce an album for Jimmy Christmas of The D4 with his new band Luger Boa (Warner Music).
Matt Walters released an EP in February 2009, and his debut album produced by Paul McKercher in May 2011.
Palmer has most recently signed Boy In A Box and then licensed the band to Warner in May 2011.
Palmer's Gigantic Studios opened in 2011.
List of bands
- Sole Twisters (1983-1985)
- Harem Scarem (1985-1989)
- Crown Of ThornsCrown of ThornsIn Christianity, the Crown of Thorns, one of the instruments of the Passion, was woven of thorn branches and placed on Jesus Christ before his crucifixion...
(1987-89) - Hunters and Collectors (1988-1998)
- DeadstarDeadstarDeadstar was an Australian band from Melbourne based around the songs of singer Caroline Kennedy and guitarist Barry Palmer ....
(1995-2001)
Selected list of production credits
- DeadstarDeadstarDeadstar was an Australian band from Melbourne based around the songs of singer Caroline Kennedy and guitarist Barry Palmer ....
- Mark SeymourMark SeymourMark Seymour is an Australian musician and vocalist best known for his work as the frontman and songwriter of rock band Hunters & Collectors...
(ex-Hunters and Collectors) - Christopher MarshallChristopher MarshallChristopher Marshall was a leader in the American Revolution. Born in Dublin, Ireland, he went to America in 1727, settled in Philadelphia and worked as a chemist and pharmacist...
(ex-Harem Scarem) - Lisa MillerLisa MillerLisa Miller is an Australian singer/songwriter known for her clear, bitter-sweet voice and poignant semi-biographical songs.-Biography:Miller grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Chadstone, the daughter of social realist painter Peter Miller...
- Michael Spiby
- Lash
- The FauvesThe FauvesThe Fauves are an Australian rock band. Their album Future Spa was nominated for Best Alternative Album in the 1997 ARIA awards but lost to Spiderbait's Ivy and the Big Apples....
- Dan BrodieDan BrodieDan Brodie is an ARIA Award nominated singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia.His debut EP, I'm Floatin' Mama was independently released in 1998; followed by his debut album, Big Black Guitar. Backed by The Broken Arrows , Brodie signed to EMI who re-released his debut album...
- Jaed
- ShihadShihadShihad is a New Zealand hard/alternative rock band, currently based in Melbourne, Australia. During Shihad's recording career, they have produced four number-one studio albums and three top-ten singles in their home country of New Zealand....
- DeepfaceDeepfaceDeepface is a Dance/House/Electronica outfit based out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The trio consists of producer/songwriter Chris Corby, composer Fran Power and vocalist Shirley Davis...
(Executive Producer) - The Coalition Of The Young
- The SilverScene
- Dash and WillDash and WillDash & Will are an Australian indie pop/pop rock duo formed in 2006, from Melbourne.-Career history:Dash and Will first met in early 1999, at age nine. The pair both started grade four on the same day at the same new school, Preshil: The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School...
- The Missing Hours
- Jimmy Christmas' LUGER BOA
- Valentiine
External links
- Barry Palmer listing at the Australian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock Database is a website with a searchable online database that lists details of Australian rock music artists, albums, bands, producers and record labels. It was established in 2000 by Swedish national, Magnus Holmgren, who had developed an interest in Australian music when visiting...
by Magnus Holmgren.