Phil Barton: 28, fun, quirky and electric… and a live wire of energy. Phil studied contemporary music, songwriting and voice at Southern Cross Uni in Lismore. His Lismore band, Echidna, was one of the North Coast’s biggest bands, touring Australia and receiving frequent airplay on the Triple J network with their song ‘Freedom’. Phil was recognised for his work when presented with the 1995 University Cultural Award for achievement in the arts, and in 1996 won the North Coast Dolphin Award for best male vocal and best funk. Over the last five years, Phil has been the main force behind the ABC for Kids act, the Flower Pot Gang. In this period he has averaged over 300 shows per year, and released four highly successful CDs, with two receiving major recognition with 1998 and 2000 ARIA award nominations. His song ‘Bounce’ also received an APRA songwriting award nomination in 1998. Over the last year, Phil has been working on material for a pop solo release, which he started recording in September, and has recently been writing with many acts such as Miss Radio, ABC country artist Kieran Lancini and Mishelle Bradford-Jones (Warner), just to name a few. His songwriting is taking him next year to France where he will write with some of the best songwriters from around the world, at Miles Copeland’s Castle. There is also a songwriting trip to Nashville planned. |