Barrier Line by Charlotte Le Lievre – Video Premiere

Emerging alt-country songwriter, Charlotte Le Lievre paints a vibrant portrait of life in regional Australia with the music video release for her latest single Barrier Line, premiering today exclusively on Countrytown.

The song drips with honky tonk spirit and is a powerful nod to the likes of Kitty Wells and Wanda Jackson, showcasing Charlotte’s knack for putting a contemporary spin on the classic country tradition.

Co-produced by Charlotte and pedal steel player Jas Bell and recorded live to tape by engineer Alex Bennett at Sounds Recordings near Castlemaine, the song digs deep into the sense of isolation and solitude that can be experienced living in a regional town.

The music video, which was filmed in the Far West NSW outback town of Broken Hill by journalist and film-maker Aimee Volkofsky, showcases the breathtaking outback landscapes and historical landmarks that give Broken Hill its unique reputation.

Featuring a cast of local characters, including the infamous writer Jack Marx, outback camel guide Petah Devine and drag performers Amanda Screetly and Murray Codpiece, the video also shines a spotlight on the beautiful queer and regional identities who inhabit the town.

Charlotte says, “Broken Hill really exceeded my initial impressions. It is one of the most interesting and quirky places I have lived. Like other creatives, writers, musicians and painters I became captivated by the vast landscapes, diverse characters and rich histories of the region. In making this video, I wanted to capture the unique, rebellious and creative spirit of the town and the community I have made there”.

Charlotte moved to Broken Hill in 2015 to pursue a job in a community legal centre. Whilst her initial experience was steeped in isolation, this shifted into a deep sense of connection and belonging to a thriving creative community. The storyline of the video for Barrier line, reflects her personal narrative.

The opening scenes canvas Charlotte’s unsuccessful attempts to escape the town by road, rail and camel train. She then stumbles upon a poster for a travelling roadshow audition, hosted by ringleader Jack Marx. Charlotte takes to the stage, alongside other hopeful auditionees and provides a performance that provokes an ecstatic response from Marx. The video closes out with a colourful line dance scene, leaving the audience guessing as to whether Le Lievre escapes or becomes enmeshed in the town.

Watch the video below!

Barrier line is the title track of Charlotte’s long-awaited debut album Songs from the Barrier Line, which is set to be released on vinyl, CD and digital download on Friday, 10 March 2023.

The body of 10 original songs take listeners on a journey, as Charlotte grapples with the existential nature of death and dying, the processing of grief and the healing nature of connection to Broken Hill. The record gives a powerful nod to both classic country and folk traditions, showcasing her genre-defiant style. The arrangements of the songs draw upon the diverse currents of country music to create sonic mountains and valleys that mirror the outback landscapes of Le Lievre’s mind. 

Keep up to date with everything Charlotte Le Lievre and follow her on Facebook here.