Jen Cloher

Jen Cloher (born 9 October 1973) is an Australian singer-songwriter, currently based in Melbourne, Victoria.[1] Cloher's 2017 self-titled album peaked at number 5 on the ARIA Charts. From 2006 to 2010, Cloher recorded and toured with her band Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea and since 2013 has released with Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer music under the name Dyson, Stringer & Cloher.

Jen Cloher
April 2014
Background information
Born	(1973-10-09) 9 October 1973 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Genres	Folk rock
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	2001-present
Labels	Milk! Records, Marathon Artists
Associated acts	Courtney Barnett, Mia Dyson, Liz Stringer
Website	www.jencloher.com

Career

Originally from Adelaide, Cloher moved to Sydney and studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). Whilst studying, Cloher lived in a share house with several musicians which is when she bought her first second hand guitar and started to write songs. In 1994, Cloher graduated NIDA at the age of 21.[2]

After NINA, Cloher performed in Andrew Bovell's After Dinner and performed in it at the Edinburgh Festival. “I'd say the high point of my brief acting career after NIDA would have been taking Andrew Bavell's After Dinner – this really classic little play – myself and three other friends took it over to Edinburgh Festival. Cloher said "We got lucky and got a couple of five-star reviews and it sold out. It was awesome, we had this first time sold out show over at Edinburgh Festival."[3] Upon return to Australia, Cloher continued to pursue her music career. She said "The thing I love about music and songwriting and making albums is you get to be in control... whereas with acting it felt a little bit like I was waiting for someone to say 'Oh yep, we'll take you for this role'."[3]

In the late 1990s, Cloher colloboared with Sydney collective Bonepeople on the track "Looking for More".[4]

In 2001, Cloher relocated to Melbourne after she had heard the music scene was thriving.[3] Later that year, she released her debut EP titled, Movement Involves Danger on Regency Records. Cloher released the EP Permanent Marker, via Shiny Records in 2005. The single, "Rain" was played on Triple J.

In 2006, Dead Wood Falls was released credited to Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea, a collective of musicians that originally included drummer Jen Sholakis, bassist Geoffrey Dunbar, guitarist Michael Hubbard, pianist Ross Calia and violinist Andrea Summer. Cloher herself was nominated for ARIA Award for Best Female Artist at the ARIA Music Awards of 2006.

In 2009, Cloher's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and Cloher found songwriting a way of expressing herself. This lead to the album, Hidden Hands.[5] The album included the single "Eden With My Eve". Calia and Sumner were replaced by Laura Jean and Biddy Connor, respectively; while also adding guitarist Tom Healy (Tiny Ruins) to the line-up. Following a solo tour with Jordie Lane, Cloher took extended hiatus from music.

In 2012, Cloher re-emerged and signed with Milk! Records, a label created by Cloher's partner Courtney Barnett the same year.[5] Cloher releasing a duet with former Kid Sam frontman Kieran Ryan entitled "Call if You Need Me". It was included on the EP Baby We Were Born to Die.

Cloher recorded an album at Melbourne's Headgap Studios. In October 2012, Cloher released "Mount Beauty," the lead single from her then-yet-to-be-titled third studio album. It was released as a limited-edition split seven-inch, with the flipside containing Courtney Barnett's song "History Eraser". To support the album's release, Cloher began a crowdfunding campaign with a target of $15,000, which she exceeded. 'In Blood Memory was released in May 2013 and was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

In August 2013 Cloher collaborated with Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer and formed Dyson, Stringer & Cloher. The trio released an EP which featured an individual track from each musician. They then took on the road, playing over 40 shows around the country.[6]

In January 2014, Cloher won a Victorian Music Management Award.[7]

In June 2014, Cloher released "Stone Age Brain" featuring Tim Rogers. The B-side of the CD single was a cover of The Loved Ones' "Sad Dark Eyes".[8]

In September 2015, Cloher contributed two tracks for the Milk! Records compilation entitled Good for You, released in February 2016. The album featured songs from Cloher, Courtney Barnett, The Finks, Ouch My Face, East Brunswick All Girls Choir and Fraser A. Gorman. The EP was supported with a nation tour.

Later that year, Dead Wood Falls was released on vinyl for the very first time in celebration of its 10-year anniversary. The release was supported by a reunion show of the original line-up of Jen Cloher and The Endless Sea in October 2016.

In August 2017, Cloher released her self-titled album. The album was preceded by the singles "Forgot Myself" and "Regional Echo" and debuted at number 5 on the ARIA charts. The album received five star reviews from The Herald Sun, The Guardian and The Independent and was voted Double J's Album of the Year for 2017. The album was shortlisted for the Australian Music Prize.

In December 2017, it was announced that Cloher would be one of the guest judges for Happy Mag's 'Needle in the Hay' vinyl competition.[9]

In 2018, Cloher toured the United States, Europe and Australia.[10]

In 2019, Cloher reunited with Dyson and Stringer. The trio recorded an album in eight days at The Loft in Chicago in April 2019, which was released in October 2019 under the title Dyson Stringer Cloher and toured nationally.[11]

Personal life

Cloher was in a relationship with Courtney Barnett from 2012 to 2018.[12][13] Cloher's relationship with Barnett informed much of her 2017 self-titled album.[14] They have sung several songs together, including "Numbers", a song about their relationship and their age difference—Cloher is 14 years older.[15]

Discography

Studio albums

Title	Details	Peak chart positions
		AUS [16]
Dead Wood Falls (credited to Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea)	Released: 2006 Label: Shiny (1subjectogravity) Format: CD, digital download	—
Hidden Hands (credited to Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea)	Released: 2009 Label: Sandcastle Music (SMCD0001) Format: CD, digital download	—
In Blood Memory	Released: May 2012 Label: Milk! Records (MILK006) Format: CD, digital download, LP	—
Jen Cloher	Released: August 2017 Label: Milk! Records (MILK025) Format: CD, digital download, LP, streaming	5
Dyson, Stringer Cloher (credited to Dyson, Stringer & Cloher)	Released: October 2019 Label: Milk! Records (MILK045) Format: CD, digital download, LP, streaming	—

Compilations

Title	Details
B Sides and Rarities	Released: March 2018 Label: Milk! Records Format: digital download, streaming

Extended Plays

Title	Details
Movement Involves Danger	Released: September 2001 Label: Regency Records (48616) Format: CD
Permanent Marker	Released: 2005 Label: Shiny (indelible1) Format: CD, digital download
Limited Edition Tour EP 2009	Released: May 2009 Label: self-released Format: digital download
Baby We Were Born to Die	Released: 2012 Label: Milk! Records Format: digital download
Dyson, Stringer & Cloher (credited to Dyson, Stringer & Cloher)	Released: September 2013[17] Label: Milk! Records Format: CD, digital download
Live at the Loft and Loews[18]	Released: 28 July 2018 Label: Milk! Records Format: digital download, streaming
Jen Cloher on Audiotree Live[19]	Released: 22 August 2018 Label: Audiotree Music Format: digital download, streaming

Singles

Year	Title	Album
2005	"Rain"	Permanent Marker
2009	"Eden With My Eve" (credited to Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea)	Hidden Hands
2012	"Call If You Need Me" (with Kieran Ryan)[20]	Baby We Were Born to Die
	"Mount Beauty"[21]	In Blood Memory
2013	"Toothless Tiger"
	"Hold My Hand"[22]
2014	"Stone Age Brain" (featuring Tim Rogers)[23][8]	non album single
2015	"Needle in the Hay"	Permanent Marker
2017	"Forgot Myself"[24]	Jen Cloher
	"Regional Echo"[25]
	"Strong Woman"[26]
2019	"Falling Clouds" (as Dyson Stringer Cloher) [27]	Dyson Stringer Cloher
	"Believer" (as Dyson Stringer Cloher) [11]

Awards

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Cloher has been nominated once.[28]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2006	Dead Wood Falls	ARIA Award for Best Female Artist	Nominated

Music Victoria Awards

The Music Victoria Awards is an annual awards ceremony celebrating Victorian music. Cloher has won one award form four nominations.[29][30]

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2013	herself	Best Female Artist	Nominated
2014	herself	Best Female Artist	Nominated
2017	Jen Cloher	Best Album	Nominated
	herself	Best Female Artist	Won

Backing band members

The Endless Sea

• Jen Sholakis – drums (2006–2010, 2016)
• Michael Hubbard – lead guitar (2006–2010, 2016)
• "Lord" Geoffrey Dunbar – bass (2006–2010, 2016)
• Ross Calia – piano (2006–2008, 2016)
• Andrea Summer – violin, backing vocals (2006–2008, 2016)
• Laura Jean – piano, backing vocals (2008–2010)
• Biddy Connor – violin, musical saw, backing vocals (2008–2010)
• Tom Healy – guitar (2008–2010)

Jen Cloher Band

• Jen Sholakis – drums, backing vocals (2012–present)
• Courtney Barnett – lead guitar, backing vocals (2012–2018)
• Bones Sloane – bass, backing vocals (2012–2018)
• Robert Wrigley – lead guitar (2018–present)
• Ricky Bradbeer – bass, backing vocals (2018–present)

References

1. Gillespie, Katherine (9 March 2018). "Jen Cloher's Got Famous the Slow Way". Noisey. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
2. "Interview with Jen Cloher". Granzine. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
3. "Jen Cloher The Files". ABC. 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
4. "Bonepeople feat. Jen Cloher Looking for More". YouTube. 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
5. "Jen Cloher, musician". The Weekend Edition. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
6. "Dyson, Stringer & Cloher". Milk Records. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
7. "Jen Cloher Wins Victorian Music Management Award ♫ Latest news at". Themusic.com.au. January 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
8. "Stone Age Brain". BandCamp. June 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
9. "Happy Presents: Needle in the Hay The 7" Singles Edition". Happy Mag. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
10. "Get to know Jen Cloher, Courtney Barnett's jealous better half". The Star. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
11. "Dyson Stringer Cloher". Milk! Records. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
12. "Listen Music, Death and Memory Jen Cloher and Jo Syme in Conversation Control". Retrieved 28 February 2019.
13. "Jen Cloher Happy wife X-Press". www.xpressmag.com.au. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
14. Salmon, Ben (24 January 2017). "Jen Cloher Doesn't Mince Words". The Stranger. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
15. Vincent, Peter (30 January 2015). "Indie singer Courtney Barnett's reluctant date with global domination". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
16. Peak positions for albums in Australia:
    • All except noted: "australian-charts.com – Discography Jen Cloher". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
17. "Dyson, Stringer & Cloher". Apple Music. September 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
18. "Live at the Loft and Loews (EP)". Apple Music. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
19. "Jen Cloher on Audiotree Live (EP)". Apple Music. 22 August 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
20. "Call If You Need Me - single". Apple Music. May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
21. "Mount Beauty - single". Apple Music. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
22. "Jen Cloher Hold My Hand (Official Video)". YouTube. November 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
23. "Stone Age Brain - single". Apple Music. August 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
24. "Jen Cloher - Forgot Myself". YouTube. June 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
25. "Jen Cloher - Regional Echo". YouTube. July 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
26. "Jen Cloher - Strong Woman". YouTube. October 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
27. "Falling Clouds- single". Apple Music. July 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
28. "ARIA Awards Search Results - Jen Cloher". ARIA Awards. ARIA Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
29. "Previous Nominees". Music Victoria Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
30. "Previous Winners". Music Victoria Awards. Retrieved 15 May 2020.