Amanda Gabrielle Brown (born 17 November 1965) is an Australian composer, classically trained musician, singer and songwriter known for her role as the violinist of the band

The Go-Betweens The Go-Betweens were an Australian indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Queensland, in 1977. The band was co-founded and led by singer-songwriters and guitarists Robert Forster and Grant McLennan, who were its only constant members throughout it ...

and more recently a session musician and soundtrack composer.

Career

1980s

Brown's early bands during the early 1980s were Climbing Frame, Tender Mercies (with John Willsteed, also later with The Go-Betweens) and Blood Brothers, in which she played violin, oboe, guitar and keyboards. In 1986,

– soon after signing a new contract (this time with Beggars Banquet) – discovered Amanda Brown playing live in a café. She later joined the band in London, her addition expanding the line-up to a five-piece, for which she provided backing vocals, violin, oboe, guitar and keyboards and arrangements.Strong, Martin C. (1999) ''The Great Alternative & Indie Discography'', Canongate, Brown played on two studio albums, '' Tallulah'' (1987) and '' 16 Lovers Lane'' (1988). The Go-Betweens toured for 18 months following the release of ''16 Lovers Lane'', ending in Munich, Germany. They broke up in December 1989, after a farewell tour of England.

1990s

Following the break-up of The Go-Betweens, Brown formed the band Cleopatra Wong (1991–1992), with Go-Betweens drummer

Lindy Morrison Belinda "Lindy" Morrison (born 2 November 1951) is an Australian musician originally from Brisbane, Queensland. She was the drummer in indie rock group the Go-Betweens from 1980 to 1989, appearing on all of the band's releases from their first L ...

, resulting in two marginally successful mini-CDs on the

rooArt rooArt was an Australian independent record label, founded in 1988 by INXS's then-manager, Chris Murphy. The label's roster included several well-known Australian bands and artists such as Crow, Ratcat, Screaming Jets, You Am I, Wendy Matthews ...

label, ''Egg'' and ''Cleopatra's Lament'', including the single (and video) "Thank You". During this period, she also undertook session work with

Tactics Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to: * Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks ** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield ** Chess tactics ** Political tact ...

, the Shane Howard Band
Wayne Gillespie
and

Wendy Matthews Wendy Joan Matthews (born 13 January 1960) is a Canadian-born Australian singer-songwriter who has been a member of Models and Absent Friends and is a solo artist. She released Top 20 hit singles in the 1990s including "Token Angels", "Le ...

’s band and sang back-up vocals on former Go-Betweens member

Grant McLennan Grant William McLennan (12 February 19586 May 2006) was an Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter-guitarist. He co-founded the Go-Betweens with Robert Forster in Brisbane in 1977. In addition to his work with the Go-Betweens (1977–89, ...

's 1991 debut album '' Watershed''. Later work included playing with Sydney band Love Me (1997–1998) and diverse session appearances with artists including

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...

The Reels The Reels was an Australian rock band which formed in Dubbo, New South Wales in 1976. It disbanded in 1991, and reformed in 2007. Its 1981 song " Quasimodo's Dream" was voted one of the top 10 Australian songs of all time by a 100-member panel ...

Died Pretty Died Pretty, sometimes The Died Pretty, is an Australian alternative rock band founded by mainstays Ron Peno (lead singer) and Brett Myers (lead guitarist and backing vocalist) in Sydney in 1983. The band was briefly called Final Solution. The ...

Silverchair Silverchair were an Australian Rock music, rock band, which formed in 1992 as Innocent Criminals in Newcastle, New South Wales, with Ben Gillies on drums, Daniel Johns on vocals and guitars, and Chris Joannou on bass guitar. The group got thei ...

David Bridie David Ross Hope Bridie is an Australian contemporary musician and songwriter. He was a founding mainstay member of World music band Not Drowning, Waving which released six studio albums to critical acclaim. He also formed a chamber pop group, ...

, David Lane, The Cruel Sea,

The Apartments The Apartments are an Australian indie band formed in 1978 in Brisbane, Queensland. The band split up in 1979 but reformed in 1984 and continued until 1997, with a new version of the band forming in 2007. Based in Sydney, New South Wales, the ...

, and

Boxcar A boxcar is the North American ( AAR) term for a railroad car that is enclosed and generally used to carry freight. The boxcar, while not the simplest freight car design, is considered one of the most versatile since it can carry most ...

(on the album '' Algorhythm'').Amanda Brown/Discography http://www.go-betweens.org.uk/discography/amandabrowndiscog.htm Brown was the first ever musician to guest host the music video programme '' RAGE'', on ABC TV, in February 1990.

2000s

A graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School, Brown has established a career as a screen composer, writing for television and film soundtracks. In 2003 she released the ''Incognita'' soundtrack CD, a mixture of songs and instrumentals accompanying a performance by the Stalker Theatre Company. The performance of Incognita toured Australia and Europe, commencing at the

Sydney Festival Sydney Festival is a major arts festival in Australia's largest city, Sydney that runs for three weeks every January, since it was established in 1977. The festival program features in excess of 100 events from local and international artists an ...

2003, and the show explored issues of Australia's past and present. Brown has composed scores for feature films, including ''

Preservation Preservation may refer to: Heritage and conservation * Preservation (library and archival science), activities aimed at prolonging the life of a record while making as few changes as possible * ''Preservation'' (magazine), published by the Nat ...

'' (2003), '' Floodhouse'' (2003), '' Look Both Ways'' (2005)'' Monkey Puzzle '' (2007) and ''

Son of a Lion ''Son of a Lion'' is a 2007 Australian-Pakistani drama film set in Darra Adam Khel, in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The film tells the story of Niaz Afridi (Niaz Khan Shinwari), a Pashtun boy who wants to go to school instead of carryi ...

'' (2008).Internet Movie Database/Amanda Brown/Composer https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1265348/ Documentaries she has composed the music for include ''Suburb For Sale'' (2006) and ''A Well Founded Fear'' (2008). Brown is also the occasional 'sixth' member of

Toni Collette Toni Collette Galafassi (born Toni Collett; 1 November 1972) is an Australian actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. Known for her work in television and independent films, she has received various accolades throughout her career, includ ...

's live band, The Finish, and has continued to record and perform with various artists including The Vines,

Youth Group Youth Group is an Australian rock band based in Newtown, New South Wales. Built around the vocals of singer Toby Martin and production of Wayne Connolly, the sound of Youth Group is reminiscent of indie rock artists such as Teenage Fanclub, Pa ...

and

Josh Pyke Joshua Jon Pyke (born 18 December 1977) is an Australian singer-songwriter, producer, musician and children's book author. Biography Josh Pyke is a prolific songwriter, with a successful and critically acclaimed career both domestically and ove ...

. In the winter 2007–08 she duetted with the Danish singer Michael Møller on the song "A Sunday Routine" from his debut solo outing from his band Moi Caprice. In 2008 Brown won the IF Inside Film Award for Best Music for her score of ''Son of a Lion''. A soundtrack album was released in late 2008. In

2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...

she won the APRA/Australian Guild of Screen Composers Award for Best Music in a Documentary for the score of ''Sidney Nolan: Mask and Memory''. Brown continues to diversify; in 2009 she mixed David Lane's album ''Head in the Clouds''. On her 50th birthday in 2015, Brown was elected to the APRA Board as a Writer Director. In 2020 Brown composed the soundtrack for the documentary, ''

Brazen Hussies ''Brazen Hussies'' is a 2020 Australian documentary recording the history of the Women's Liberation Movement in Australia from 1965 to 1975. Following screenings at both the Brisbane International Film Festival and the Adelaide Film Festival ...

.'' She is currently recording her first-ever solo album of original material.

Persona life

Brown resides in the Sydney suburb of Maroubra with partner

Simon Marnie Simon Marnie is an Australian radio and television presenter. Career Radio Marnie was a student of the inaugural radio course at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Prior to joining ABC Radio Sydney, he worked at Triple J st ...

Discography

Albums

Awards and nominations

ARIA Music Awards

The

ARIA Music Awards The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (commonly known informally as ARIA Music Awards, ARIA Awards, or simply the ARIAs) is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Austr ...

is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of

Australian music The music of Australia has an extensive history made of music societies. Indigenous Australian music forms a significant part of the unique heritage of a 40,000- to 60,000-year history which produced the iconic didgeridoo. Contemporary fusions of ...

. They commenced in 1987. ! , - ,

, ''Son of a Lion'' , Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album , , rowspan="2" , ARIA Award previous winners. , -

References

External links

Amanda Brown discography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Amanda 1965 births Living people APRA Award winners Australian women composers Australian women singer-songwriters Australian Film Television and Radio School alumni Australian violinists Rock violinists 21st-century violinists The Go-Betweens members Australian autoharp players Australian oboists Australian mandolinists Australian keyboardists