Grace Barbé is a

Seychellois Demographic features of the population of Seychelles include population density, ethnicity, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Seychelles has no indigenous population and was first permanently settled by a small group ...

born, Australian singer-songwriter from Western Australia who also performs with the Afrobeat and psychedelic band of the same name which includes Jamie Searle (guitar, music director and producer) and Hardy Perrine (drums). Barbé has released three studio albums and is the recipient of thirteen

West Australian Music Industry Awards The Western Australian Music Industry Awards (commonly known as WAMis) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). History WAM was originally fo ...

, including ten Best World Act Awards and three

WAM Song of the Year WAM was originally formed as the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia. WAM first recei ...

awards. Barbé's third album ''Fanm: Woman'' was nominated for Best World Album at the

2020 ARIA Music Awards The 2020 ARIA Music Awards are the 34th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as ARIA Music Awards or simply The ARIAs) and consist of a series of awards, including the 2020 ARIA Artisan Awards, ARIA Hal ...

. Barbé sings in Creole, English, French and Malagasy and her music fuses the tropical rhythms and dances of the slaves with psychedelic rock, afrobeat, reggae and pop. Since 2022, she is the current bassist of jazz/funk band

The Cat Empire The Cat Empire are an Australian jazz/funk band, formed in Melbourne, Victoria, in 1999. For most of the band's duration, the core members were Felix Riebl (lead vocals, percussion), Harry James Angus (trumpet, vocals), Will Hull-Brown (drums), ...

Early life

Grace Barbé was born in the Mahe, Seychelles Her first experience of Australia came at the age of six, when her mother received a scholarship to study at a university in Perth. The family returned to Seychelles at the end of her mother's studies, when Grace was 12. Grace moved permanently to Australia at 16 years of age with her mother, sister and twin brothers and she commenced performing for the Seychellois community living in Perth.

Career

2005–present: Solo albums

In 2006, Grace Barbe, James Searle won World/Folk Song for "Mon Ankor Anmourer" at the

. Grace Barbé released her debut single "Mon Arive" in 2007, which received significant airplay, reaching the number one spot on the

Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...

Unearthed Roots chart. In December 2008, Barbé released the debut studio album, ''Kreol Daughter''. The album was launched at ''Fly By'' nightclub in Fremantle and was supported by a tour where Barbé and band appeared at major events including the Australasian World Music Expo, Island Vibe, Queenscliff Blue Mountains Music Festival, Bellengen Global Carnival and Darwin and Perth International Arts Festivals. ''Welele!'' was released digitally in November 2013 and on CD in August 2014. In May 2019, Barbé released the third studio album, ''Fanm: Woman''. The album was nominated for Best World Album at the

Discography

Albums

Extended plays

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 o ...

. , - ,

2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...

, ''Fanm: Woman'' , Best World Music Album , , -

National Live Music Awards

The

National Live Music Awards The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are annual Australian music awards, established by Heath Media in 2016. They were preceded by the AU Live Music Awards in the previous two years. The awards are given in categories that recognise the best ...

are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse and successful live industry, celebrating the diversity and success of the Australian live scene. They commenced in 2016. , - ,

, Grace Barbé , Live Bassist of the Year , , -

WAM Song of the Year

The

was formed by the Western Australian Rock Music Industry Association Inc. (WARMIA) in 1985, with its main aim to develop and run annual awards recognising achievements within the music industry in Western Australia. , - , 2006 , "Mon Ankor Anmourer" by Grace Barbé and James Searle , World/Folk song of the Year , , - , 2014 , "Fatige" by Grace Barbé , World/Folk song of the Year , , - , 2020 , "Mardilo" by Grace Barbé , Global song of the Year , , -

West Australian Music Industry Awards

The

(WAMIs) are annual awards presented to the local contemporary music industry, put on annually by the Western Australian Music Industry Association Inc (WAM). Barbé has won thirteen awards. (wins only) , - , scope="row", 2009 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2010 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2011 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2012 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2013 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2015 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2016 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , scope="row", 2018 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , rowspan=2, 2019 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , Best Vocalist , Grace Barbé , , - , rowspan=3, 2020 , Best World Act , Grace Barbé , , - , Best Vocalist , Grace Barbé , , - , Best Bassist , Grace Barbé , , -

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbe, Grace 21st-century Australian women singers 21st-century Australian singers Australian women singer-songwriters Living people Year of birth missing (living people) The Cat Empire members 21st-century Australian singer-songwriters