Australian Ned Collette got his start in experimental and improvised music, before gravitating increasingly towards songwriting. His literate, evocative songs are paired with music that's both adventurous and eclectic, and his albums exist inside a dynamic flux of folk, jazz and avant rock. A dual New Zealand citizen, many of his early performances in this vein actually occurred in Wellington in and around The Space and Happy scenes of the early 2000s. He has since gone on to release seven albums of uncompromising vision on a variety of international labels, mostly out of his studio in Berlin, where he has been based since 2010.
Collette’s most recent album, Our Other History, was released late in 2024 on the US label Sophomore Lounge and features contributions from regular collaborators including Jim White and Mick Turner of the Dirty Three, Chris Abrahams of The Necks, the folk singer Leah Senior, and other luminaries of adventurous music worldwide. His live performances drift between delicate, intimate folk and explorative sonic jam-outs, both when performing solo or in various band combinations.
Over the years Collette has collaborated and toured with such artists as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, Joanna Newsom, Cat Power, Bill Callahan, St Vincent, Kurt Vile and Deerhoof, amongst many others. Funny, haunting and sad, often all at once, the music nonetheless manages to remain plain-spoken and uncluttered, despite its expansive vision.
“Ned’s music wears its modernity subtly and surely and is as rewarding a listening experience as I’ve come across in recent times.” – Will Oldham
