Andrea Barnett is an award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist based in Melbourne, Australia.  After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Melbourne University in the early 1990s, she embarked upon a music career under the tutelage of Sue McNeil at the Australian College of Entertainers in Middle Park.  Self-funded in lessons, equipment and life via a variety of cover band projects and dayjobs, Andrea perfected her performance craft at various original establishments, including the inner city Barley Corn and Empress Hotels (thankfully the latter had an inhouse piano, usually she had to lug keyboard and accoutrements underarm & developed quite the amazonian bicep).  In 1997 Andrea settled as resident singing pianist at Collingwood's Cafe Bohemio for 2 years, and as the Miss in the popular & busy Italian wedding band "5 Hits & a Miss for 3 years.  

In 2000 she staged the 1 woman cabaret show "Amazonian Lady" as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival, and in 2001 won 1st prize in the National Australian Songwriters Association competition for her quirky composition "When I Lived Alone".  For much of the noughties she collaborated on various recording projects with her producer buddy Mark McSherry, one significant result being her album "Loose Ends", an eclectic collection of musical musings on the delights and despair encountered through the struggle to find Self in contemporary urban life.  The down to earth songs are infused with country lament and often peppered with self deprecating humor.

Two more songs from "Loose Ends" brought Andrea further honour from the Australian Songwriters Association with top 10 placings in the Country & Contemporary categories of their 2008 national songwriting competition (for Loose Ends & Fire in My Mind respectively), and a nomination for the Rudy Brandsma award for songwriting excellence.

Delayed by pregnancy and early motherhood, a belated album launch for "Loose Ends" was held as a Sunday afternoon family-friendly event on the 7th February 2010 at the iconic Hardimans Hotel in Kensington, inner Melbourne.  A 100-strong crowd of kids big & little enjoyed the show put on by Andrea and her four piece band.  To respect the 1st anniversary of Black Saturday all CD Sales on the day were donated to the RSPCA, in recognition of the free care and assistance they provided to injured wildlife, domestic animals and their traumatized owners during those dark days (and continue to provide to all creatures great and small).

Loose Ends has an inner focus, and now, happily ensconced in outer suburban domestic bliss, Andrea has directed her songwriting towards ideas and concerns related to social welfare and the environment, including the climate change challenge.  Instilled with the community spirit, she has become a regular performer at her local "Relay 4 Life" annual event to raise money for cancer research, has been appointed as a Community Leader for the Australian Conservation Foundation and was elected to the board of WREC, the Western Region Environment Centre based in Wyndham Vale Victoria.

Her greatest coup 2 date is winning ABC Victoria's "Play Apollo Bay" competition. Her composition "Friday on My Mind 2", a tribute to the legendary songwriting duo Vanda & Young, was selected by nighttime presenter Derek Guille, Apollo Bay festival director Caroline Moore and ABC Dig's Manager Tony Walker from over 100 entries, & earned her radio play & promotion & 2 performing spots @ the 2011 Apollo Bay music festival.  "Friday On My Mind 2" was also recognized by the Australian Songwriter's Association, being shortlisted in three categories at their 2011 awards and winning 7th place in the "Australia" section overall.