Alana Wilkinson Explained

Alana Wilkinson
Birth Name:Alana Joy Wilkinson
Origin:Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genre:Folk
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:2016–present
Label:Independent

Alana Joy Wilkinson (born 1991) is an Australian folk music singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She released her first single in late 2018. She has released two extended plays and four singles. Wilkinson has supported national tours by fellow Australian artists Tim Freedman, Clare Bowditch and Kate Ceberano.

Biography

Early life

Wilkinson was born in 1991 in Malvern, Victoria, to Jenny (a singer) and Stewart Wilkinson (a keyboardist) and grew up in "the most musical family" in Seaford.[1] In September 2008, as a secondary student of Sandringham College, she took part in a musical play, Return to the Forbidden Planet.[2] She was providing solo and group singing lessons and song writing workshops by April 2014.[3] The singer described the live performances that inspired her to start her music career include Kimbra's "Settle Down", Sia's "Soon We'll Be Found" and Queen's "Somebody to Love".[4]

Music career

Wilkinson uploaded a track, "Show You Mine", to her YouTube channel in December 2016.[5] She was the support act for a five-piece folk band, Davies West, in early January 2017.[6] The artist supported Eddi Reader (of Fairground Attraction) at her shows in Melbourne and Sydney in March.[7] She sold a four-track extended play at her shows in the following month.[8] She described the EP as "a little collection of oldies... They're really simple."[8] She has performed at festivals in Blue Mountains, Queenscliff,[1] Woodford, and Nannup. While singing she accompanies herself with acoustic guitar (made by George Lowden), piano or ukulele.

Her debut single, "Closer", appeared in late 2018, which was produced by Hayden Calnin. It was added to play lists at Triple J and on ABC Radio.[9] [10] The Partaes writer observed, "A fragile yet fulsome narrative matches the poppier side to an folk groove."[9] She followed with a second single, "Partner in Crime", in April 2019.[10] [11] Pilerats Craig Corrigan felt it was "bittersweet" detailing "a one-sided conversation she is having with her childhood best friend who unfortunately passed away."[12] It was recorded with Calnin producing at an old church in the small community of Lauriston.[12] For the session Wilkinson was joined by Justin Lewis on electric guitar, Angus Robb on whistles and background vocals and Xander Theofanis on bass guitar.[12]

The musician took part in the Festival of Small Halls including an appearance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in late 2019 alongside Scottish folk group, Paul McKenna Band.[13] Wilkinson launched her third single, "Good for You", in February 2020, at a Fitzroy apartment building. A staff writer for write, sing, repeat found the set list was, "a delicate balance of honesty, story-telling, and hard life lessons learned – paired with comedy, wit, and just plain having a boogie."[14] She issued her fourth single, "Rib Cage", in May 2020 ahead of her proposed album, Half Time Oranges.[15] The track was produced by Calnin, again.[16] She has supported national tours by fellow Australian artists Tim Freedman, Clare Bowditch,[1] and Kate Ceberano.[15]

In November 2023 Wilkinson won the Roddy Read Songwriting Award at the Maldon Folk Festival taking home a Maton guitar as the prize.

Discography

Extended plays

Singles

Year Title Album
2018 "Closer"[18]
  • Released: November 2018
  • Format: Digital download
Self-titled EP
2019 "Partner in Crime"[19]
  • Released: May 2019
  • Format: Digital download
Self-titled EP
2020 "Good for You"[20]
  • Released: January 2020
  • Format: Digital download
Self-titled EP
2020 "Rib Cage"[21]
  • Released: June 2020
  • Format: Digital download
Half Time Oranges

References

  1. Web site: Alana Wilkinson Returns to Queenscliff . Taylor . James . Bellarine Times . 5 June 2019 . 27 November 2020 .
  2. Web site: Parody of the bard staged in Sandringham . Awadalla, Andre . Bayside Leader . 16 September 2008 . National Library of Australia . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20091004205540/http://bayside-leader.whereilive.com.au/lifestyle/story/parody-of-the-bard-staged-in-sandringham/ . 4 October 2009 . 27 November 2020 .
  3. Industry: Fun Key Music . Pearl Magazine . 26 . April 2014 . 27 November 2020 .
  4. Web site: Emerging Artists Share the Live Performances That Inspired Them . staff writer . Tone Deaf . 17 August 2016 . 27 November 2020 .
  5. Web site: Alana Wilkinson – 'Show You Mine' . Wilkinson . Alana . YouTube . 1 December 2016 . 28 November 2020 .
  6. Web site: Davies West + Alana Wilkinson . Some Velvet Morning . 5 January 2017 . National Library of Australia . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20170219132432/http://www.velmo.com.au/gigs/2017/1/5/davies-west-alana-wilkinson . 19 February 2017 . 27 November 2020 .
  7. Web site: Scene News: Melbourne's Alana Wilkinson to tour with Eddi Reader and Bob Evans . Boukouvalas . What's My Scene . 8 March 2017. 28 November 2020 .
  8. Web site: Alana Wilkinson talks songwriting, polar bears and her new EP . Heath . Larry . The AU Review . 7 April 2017 . 27 November 2020 .
  9. Web site: Alana Wilkinson to put a smile on a face with single 'Closer' . staff writer . The Partae . 8 November 2018 . 28 November 2020 .
  10. Web site: Alana Wilkinson tugs at heartstrings with new single 'Partner in Crime' . staff writer . The Parta . 6 April 2019 . 27 November 2020 .
  11. Web site: Folk :: Alana Wilkinson – 'Partner in Crime' . Australian Music Radio Airplay Project . 4 April 2019 . National Library of Australia . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20190608001347/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/163090/20190608-0041/airit.org.au/Alana-Wilkinson-Partner-In-Crime.html . 8 June 2019 . 27 November 2020 .
  12. Web site: Meet Alana Wilkinson and her touching new single, 'Partner in Crime' . Corrigan . Craig . Pilerats . 27 November 2020 .
  13. Web site: News, views, reviews from Moyne Shire . . Brady . Anthony . . 5 December 2019 . 28 November 2020 .
  14. Web site: Alana Wilkinson Truly Is 'Good for You' . write, sing, repeat . staff writer . 1 February 2020 . 27 November 2020 . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210122103748/http://writesingrepeat.com/index.php/2020/02/01/alana-wilkinson-truly-is-good-for-you/ . dead .
  15. Web site: Alana Wilkinson shares new single 'Rib Cage' . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20200522012100/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/182588/20200522-1121/www.nme.com/en_au/news/music/alana-wilkinson-shares-new-single-rib-cage-2672765.html . 2020-05-22 . Lim, Eddy . . 21 May 2020 . . 27 November 2020 . live .
  16. Web site: Alana Wilkinson Releases New Single 'Rib Cage' . staff writer . Good Call Live . 22 May 2020 . 27 November 2020 .
  17. Web site: Music Archives - Page 2 of 6 . Mullan, Luke . Luke Mullan Official Website . National Library of Australia . https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20190309130934/http://lukemullan.com.au/gallery_category/music/page/2/ . 9 March 2019 . 28 November 2020 .
  18. Web site: Single – 'Closer' by Alana Wilkinson . Spotify . 27 November 2020 .
  19. Web site: Single – 'Partner in Crime' by Alana Wilkinson . Spotify . 27 November 2020 .
  20. Web site: Single – 'Good for You' by Alana Wilkinson . Spotify . 27 November 2020 .
  21. Web site: Single – 'Rib Cage' by Alana Wilkinson . Spotify . 27 November 2020 .

External links

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