Rebecca Barnard is a Melbourne-based Australian singer, songwriter, producer and musician who has been playing music since 1984. Rebecca has a versatile musical range, delving into rock, and pop, but is mainly a jazz singer.
Rebecca founded the band Rebecca’s Empire 1993 to 2000. Their mainstay members were Rebecca Barnard on lead vocals and her then-domestic partner, Shane O'Mara on lead guitar. The band toured extensively, supported Billy Bragg on his Australian tour, released three EPs and two albums (Way of All Things in 1996, and Welcome in 1999) and appeared on the Triple J Hottest 100 albums three years in a row. Rebecca’s Empire disbanded in 2000 when the duties of being a mother took priority (Barnard gave birth to a son, Harry, in 1996). During this time, Barnard appeared on recordings by Paul Kelly, Tim Rogers, Renée Geyer, Deborah Conway, The Meanies, Warped and The Audreys.
In 2006 Rebecca released her first solo album Fortified to critical acclaim. It was released on Rebecca’s own label Ladybird. In 2009 Rebecca received a grant from Vic Art’s and headed off to New York to record her album Everlasting with Jazz musician Barney McAll, an Australian and very close friend who lived and worked in NY for 15 years as Sia’s MD among many other great artists. The album was well received and one of which she is very proud.
In 2011 Rebecca started writing songs for a new album which proved to be long process whilst trying to make a living! For this album she has collaborated with Michael den Elzen, (who played bass in Rebecca’s Empire for a number of years), to create the album Music for Listening and Relaxation.
Rebecca release her first Jazz album in 2023, The Night We Called it a Day. The album is a culmination of years of Rebecca’s life in music – a resplendent arrival in sunny pastures by one of Australia’s cultural treasures.
Rebecca has played gigs at St Kilda music venues including: The Espy, The Palace, The Venue, Claypots, The George Hotel.