Alana Wilkinson

Wilkinson was born in 1991 in Malvern, Victoria, to Jenny (a singer) and Stewart Wilkinson (a keyboardist) and grew up in "the most musical family" in Seaford.[1] In September 2008, as a secondary student of Sandringham College, she took part in a musical play, Return to the Forbidden Planet.[2] She was providing solo and group singing lessons and song writing workshops by April 2014.[3] The singer described the live performances that inspired her to start her music career include Kimbra's "Settle Down", Sia's "Soon We'll Be Found" and Queen's "Somebody to Love".[4]

Wilkinson uploaded a track, "Show You Mine", to her YouTube channel in December 2016.[5] She was the support act for a five-piece folk band, Davies West, in early January 2017.[6] The artist supported Eddi Reader (of Fairground Attraction) at her shows in Melbourne and Sydney in March.[7] She sold a four-track extended play at her shows in the following month.[8] She described the EP as "a little collection of oldies... They're really simple."[8] She has performed at festivals in Blue Mountains, Queenscliff,[1] Woodford,[9] and Nannup.[10][11] While singing she accompanies herself with acoustic guitar (made by George Lowden), piano or ukulele.[9][12]

Her debut single, "Closer", appeared in late 2018, which was produced by Hayden Calnin.[9] It was added to play lists at Triple J and on ABC Radio.[9][10] The Partae's writer observed, "A fragile yet fulsome narrative matches the poppier side to an folk groove."[9] She followed with a second single, "Partner in Crime", in April 2019.[10][11] Pilerats' Craig Corrigan felt it was "bittersweet" detailing "a one-sided conversation she is having with her childhood best friend who unfortunately passed away."[12] It was recorded with Calnin producing at an old church in the small community of Lauriston.[12] For the session Wilkinson was joined by Justin Lewis on electric guitar, Angus Robb on whistles and background vocals and Xander Theofanis on bass guitar.[12]

The musician took part in the Festival of Small Halls including an appearance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in late 2019 alongside Scottish folk group, Paul McKenna Band.[13] Wilkinson launched her third single, "Good for You", in February 2020, at a Fitzroy apartment building. A staff writer for write, sing, repeat found the set list was, "a delicate balance of honesty, story-telling, and hard life lessons learned – paired with comedy, wit, and just plain having a boogie."[14] She issued her fourth single, "Rib Cage", in May 2020 ahead of her proposed album, Half Time Oranges.[15] The track was produced by Calnin, again.[16] She has supported national tours by fellow Australian artists Tim Freedman, Clare Bowditch,[1] and Kate Ceberano.[15]

• I Wanna Punch on with You (25 January 2017) Independent[17]