Alice Cotton Bio.
“Cotton has the quality that Paul Kelly and Stella Donnelly have whereby it seemingly feels like she’s narrating the mundane moment in life and relationships that we’ve all been through and then - POW - you’re hit with the depth and breadth of her storytelling.”
— Nkechi Anele (Triple J)
Straight outta Darwin, queer indie-folk artist Alice Cotton’s infectious songs ‘hit you with the depth and breadth of her storytelling’ (triple j). Fresh off a nomination for the National Live Music Award (‘23), top 10 placements in ABC NT’s Territory Sounds Countdown (‘23, ‘22), and multiple finalist placement for the Australian Folk Music Awards (‘23, ‘21), Cotton is carving up the country’s regional music scene with her infectious and off-kilter blend of folk, alt-country and indie-rock. Audiences are drawn in by Alice’s playful banter paired with stunning vocals and introspective lyrics about family dogs, queer love, and a constant longing for food.
Collaborations with Australian artists.
Based in a tiny regional city in the tropical north of Australia, Cotton has a national reach, bringing together a slew of Aussie music legends for her debut EP, released February 2024. A collaborative record with industry heavy-weights Nick Huggins (Alice Skye, Jen Cloher) and Holly Thomas (Quivers, HUSKY), the EP captures the live band energy and showcases Cotton’s characteristically warm vocals.
Cotton’s debut single ‘Sleeping Dogs’ and accompanying Auslan-interpreted film-clip garnered strong radio play including a triple j premiere, regular play on the likes of 2SER, 8CCC, ABC Darwin and Alice Springs, and a finalist nomination for the 2021 Fist Full of Film’s Music Video Award.
“Cotton pens a beautifully tender and emotive track inviting us into her reflection” - Steph Liong - Tone Deaf, on 'Sleeping Dogs'
Her follow-up single ‘You Drive a Hilux’ , paired with an outback NT tour, continued to garner strong community radio and audience support for her music, listed twice in Tone Deaf as top Australian music picks for community radio and added on high-rotation to SYN FM, as well as play across double j, RTR FM, PBS FM, 2RRR, 2DRYFM, Edge Radio, Radio Adelaide, 5tripleZ and JOY 94.9 FM, and a feature on Brian Nankervis (RocKwiz)’s national ABC radio show Songs and Stories. Cotton’s follow up singles My Turn, Coming Home and I Feel Fine continued to garner strong radio support, paired with a film-clip by Territory talent Jacob Hazeldine.
Born and raised in Darwin, Alice Cotton would write songs as a child about her everyday world; mouldy pillows and fly-screen doors. She left for Melbourne to study classical music, and then, a Masters of Music Therapy. Cotton returned home to the NT seven years later and embedded herself in community, running a pub choir through Big Community Sing!, performing at Darwin Festival, and producing sell-out LGBTQIA+ events for Darwin Fringe Festival.
And it’s not just about her own music. The community-minded artist was the recent recipient of an Arts Access Award, commending for her work providing professional development and creative performance workshops for disabled and neuro-diverse musicians in Darwin.
Cotton is spending March 2024 touring the EP (supported by Regional Arts Fund) with performances at Adelaide Fringe, Naarm with locals Darcy Fox and Charlotte Le Lievre, and a special home-town show at the heritage listed Audit House. Locally, you can catch Cotton opening for the likes of The Audreys, The Whitlams Black Stump Band, and Nathan Cavaleri, co-writing with award-winning folk-country artist Dave Garnham, or playing in post-punk feminist outfit The Ovulators.
“A Territory hit”
NT News
“Sweeping, intimate, melancholy vibes”
FROOTY Magazine, on Sleeping Dogs
“Alice has delivered a song that resonates with NT nostalgia”
Benjamin Erin - Tone Deaf, on You Drive a Hilux
“a nuanced way of viewing the world has clearly produced an artist and performer of rare qualities ... Alice’s approach is insightful”
Foldback Media
“Cotton pens a beautifully tender and emotive track inviting us into her reflection”
Steph Liong - Tone Deaf, on 'Sleeping Dogs'
“Cotton has the quality that Paul Kelly and Stella Donnelly have whereby it seemingly feels like she's narrating the mundane moment in life and relationships that we've all been through and then - POW - you're hit with the depth and breadth of her storytelling”
Nkechi Anele, triple j
MEDIA
30/6/23 The Music 2023 Territory Sounds Countdown Winner Revealed
29/6/23 ABC Darwin Rising Stars from Alice Top 2023 Territory Sounds Countdown
10/2/23 NT News ‘Link to childhood’: Surreal story of a missing family dog’s return
4/11/22 Music Feeds New Aus Music Playlist: Our Favourite Tunes of the Week
31/8/22 Tone Deaf Turn It Up: Community radio’s Australian music picks
