Carla Werner

Born in New Zealand to a dairy farmer, singer/songwriter Carla Werner grew up there and heard her grandfather perform with his band the Country Boys. A wide array of pop music surrounded her during childhood, and she began entering country competitions well before her teens. Her early teenage years brought a move to Australia with her mother and siblings, where the scene’s intensity led her to set aside professional ambitions at age 16. She reversed that decision at 19 and headed to Sydney to pursue music full time. Producer John Holbrook entered her life in 1999; the following year she signed her first deal, with Engine Room Music. The arrangement introduced her to Carmen Rizzo, who collaborated with remix artist Paul Oakenfold, and she started supplying vocals for Oakenfold projects while finishing work on her debut album. By 2001 she was pursuing contracts with international labels and landed one with Columbia Records. Columbia issued that album, Departure, on July 29, 2003.