Carmen Fraser

“Music is the purest form of art... therefore true poets, they who are seers, seek to express the universe in terms of music... The singer has everything within him. The notes come out from his very life. They are not materials gathered from outside.” Rabindranath Tagore (Indian Poet, Playwright and Essayist, Won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913, 1861-1941)

Carmen Fraser is a singer songwriter from Mansfield, Victoria, and has been doing gigs full-time, singing and playing piano, for three years. “I have amazing parents who have said to me and all of my three sisters – whatever your passion is, go for it – you can do it! And music – singing and songwriting in particular, has always been my passion.”

Carmen has just graduated from the 2008 Country Music Association of Australia College of Country Music and had the time of her life. "It was so great to be surrounded by so many people of like mind and with the same passions - it was one of the best experiences of my life!"

At school Carmen was in the choir, and played in all the concerts she could. Academically she was focused, wanting to make the most of it, and left with a score of 97.45, however she never once considered a career other than music. “I think music is a very powerful instrument that can uplift people, be thought-provoking and inspiring, and it really excites me that I’m lucky enough to continually listen to, create, explore and practise it,” she explains.

Since school, Carmen spent a year working at Timbertop (Yr 9 campus of Geelong Grammar) as the music and running assistant, working on songs, has spent 2 winter seasons up at Mt Buller with residencies at the Mt Buller Chalet, and at the Abom, playing 3-4 hours a night. Other residencies include 5-star hotels in Melbourne: The Grand, and the Sofitel. Last year Carmen did some shows on behalf of the Jimmy Little Foundation in the Northern Territory, and supported GANGgajang at The Tivoli in Brisbane, the Basement in Sydney and Manchester Lane in Melbourne, and also played at the World Aids Day Concert in Federation Square in Melbourne. She made the most of the travelling and fitted in solo gigs of her own from Noosa down to the Mornington Peninsula, also appearing on the Today Show with Jimmy Little, and the 7.30 Report.

Her musical influences are many and varied, including Bruce Springsteen, Tim McGraw, Frank Sinatra, Keith Urban, Kenny Rogers, U2, Jewel, Elton John, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, Carol King, Joshua Kadison and the Dixie Chicks. “I really love anyone you can listen to for hours on end and still love,” she enthuses. “My sisters all play instruments, and we often just sit around at home singing and playing.”

When asked of her love for songwriting, Carmen says, “as with most songwriters I’m definitely more expressive in songs that I write than I would ever be when speaking with someone I don’t know, which is why I think songs are such an exciting medium – it’s great to be able to convey an emotion, thought, idea or story without the usual limitations of how well you know and trust someone. This works both ways because listening to an original song really does give a special insight into that person.”

Other interests include art, painting in particular, health, food, fitness, running, reading, Shakespeare, climate change, and more.