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I am from Perth, Australia but now living in Melbourne, Australia where I have been for three years. Three years that have flashed by :) Three years full of happiness, struggles, highs and lows, travelling, music, music and more music. I might almost be at a tipping point. Maybe. Or maybe I'm just excited because I read that book. But...nonetheless...the last 6 months have been particularly encouraging. At the end of last year, I had in my hands my very first professionally recorded EP. I had recently returned from a stint in the USA where I wrote and recorded with some amazing people which is where the journey started. Peter Malick (who has worked with Norah Jones) and Anthony J Resta (Collective Soul, Elton John, Duran Duran, Shawn Mullins) produced two songs each on my new EP. I am really proud of myself and what I have done- I don't think that's being up myself, it's just the simple truth. I then recorded a video clip to the first track, "A Song About Me" with the most amazing and talented Tony Ferrieri, who by chance (and myspace) came into my life and helped me to add a dimension to my music that I hadn’t been able to achieve in the past because video clips are too freakin' expensive for independent artists like moi. I thank him with all of my heart for his pro bono work and as with other people who have helped me along the way, I will not forget your kindness! Anyway, now I was (and still am) ready to attack :)

I spent three and a half months on the road from Feb till May gigging relentlessly to promote the new EP. First was my “Full Colour” national tour. This one I organized completely by myself and it was a HUGE learning curve (as in maybe don’t try to be the booking agent, manager, logistics director, travel agent, gear hiring person, administration lady AND artist all at the same time), but I did have a HUGE amount of fun. The tour was so successful with sold out shows in Melbourne and Sydney and a very close to sold out show in my hometown of Perth. Thankyou to all who helped me along the way (particularly my publicist Amanda and my family). I then embarked on my second national tour which was completely different. A very interesting concept, there were five singer songwriters from four different states all collaborating and jamming on each other’s music, onstage together. I had fun and learnt a lot from that one too!

I am doing it all independently. I have had to work hard...gigging a lot and when I need to save extra money, a day job (eekkkk), but I don't lose sight of the bigger picture. I am mostly self-managed in this country of mine, but i do have a "background man" in Alan Griffith, who believes in me and my music and is actively pursuing opportunities within Australia and around the globe. I also have Alicia Dunham who has recently come on board as a manager/PA to help me with every little thing (i wish she was with me for that first national tour!!). There is my wonderful publicist Amanda Harcourt of Scarlet Fever Publicity who has been with me for about two and a half years now. And recently, after the two national tours, i got a surprise and most welcome call from Premier Artists, Australia's largest and most respected booking agency. So instead of having to book all my own original gigs i now have Agent Nick Yates (sounds like he belongs in 007) looking after my bookings which is a huge load of my shoulders and leaves more time for me to be creative! Nick and Premier have been amazing and already i have supported Newton Faulkner and Lisa Mitchell, plus i am performing at some wonderful festivals over summer. This team of mine has been acquired through my hard work and together we are striving for the elusive "next level", which i think one gets to through even more hard work, determination and a little but of luck.

It is a hard slog this independent thing- co ordinating my bookings, flights, tour and show logistics, as well as paying the wonderful musicians who play with me, looking after my website, myspace, facebook, twitter (oh god let them stop creating social networks!!), keep being creative and writing new songs and then trying to be a normal person with friends and a social life and a day off every now and then. Let me tell you it's a balancing act that sometimes goes pear shaped. I work hard and will keep working hard to get to the point where I can live solely off my original music, where I can reach a bigger audience.

I am recording in the states again later this year. I’ll be back in Boston doing a four track EP with Anthony J Resta and Karyadi Sutedja at Studio Bopnique Musique. I am SO excited about this as these two guys are extremely talented and what they did with “A Song About Me” knocked my socks off. I have so many new tracks to pick from so I will be releasing that EP early 2010 and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I have a quote from the Dalai Lama above my computer that says "judge your success by what you had to give up in order to achieve it". I have given up a lot...in my personal life. But in the same breath I am doing something I love- how many people can say that? I love it so much that I might burst if I think too hard. I guess I am lucky to have the support of my family, friends and of course, you reading this blurb. It is worth it.

My name is Coby Grant and I am a musician.singer.songwriter.human being. But those aren't the only things that define me. I am more than that...a good daughter, friend, sister. I am independent, strong minded, not afraid to speak up for what I believe in and when i think something is wrong...or right. I'm affectionate...a definite hugger and kisser. I have never lost anyone close to me and I am blessed for that. I have started to pray a lot...when I was in Adelaide playing some gigs I was walking down a street and carrying my suitcase, guitar, laptop, cd's, la la la and I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Then this middle aged woman went by on one of those motor wheelchairs and I stopped for a moment and said to myself "thankyou for this heavy load that I am able to carry". Am I getting too heavy in this bio (pun not intended)? Ok how about this...I love cheese. Very very much. And reading too...all kinds of books but mostly fiction- getting lost in another adventure for a minute. My favourite colour is blue...blue clothes, blue eyes, blue skies. I am slightly obsessive compulsive and have a real problem delegating tasks to people. I'm working on these things :). I love being alone...I'm not bad company you know hahaha. No but honestly, I like to learn new things about myself and to know that I am ok by myself. I think laughter is the best medicine- the last thing that made me laugh out loud was nothing much...just a silly moment with some friends that made my belly ache. To me, someone's smile is the most attractive thing. I've been in love...twice...and I hope that it will work out the way it should. I believe in what I am doing...you have to right? What I know for sure is that nothing in the world makes me happier than singing my songs and knowing that maybe I am helping, maybe I am getting through, maybe I am brightening one more person's day.

I want to thank the music and musicians that brighten my day...there are so many of you out there. But right now it's Tom Tuena and India Arie. There's so much I could say...so much I could go on about...apparently I'm a bit of a talker :) I don't know if I've said enough or not...feedback is welcome!! But...thankyou for taking the time to read this and get to know me a little better. I wish you every happiness and I mean it.

Love

Coby xxxx

A Song About Me - Music Video from Coby Grant on Vimeo.

Check out this LIVE video of "Jump" from my EP launch



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