Jen Cloher

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]

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]

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)