Carrie Lakin is an enigmatic vocalist based in Sydney, Australia. She sings a wide variety of musical styles from Blues, Jazz and Pop through to Rock, Soul and RnB, and is a passionate and gifted live performer.
Over recent years, Carrie has captivated audiences at the Hawkesbury Jazz Festival, Wine Banq, Marble Bar, Soup Plus, The Rocks Square and The Opera Bar. In October of 2006, she staged an outstanding performance with her quintet at Australia’s premier jazz event, The Manly International Jazz Festival.
She received wide acclaim for her support of Yvonne Kenny’s Opera in the Vines and Cliff Richard at Wyndham Estate and has also appeared as a key lead soloist with the impressive jazz-gospel vocal ensemble Jubilation, led by internationally renowned artists, Joy Yates and Dave MacRae, at the following prestigious jazz festivals, Tauranga (NZ), Manly, Bellingen, Dubbo and Darling Harbour. Jubilation has also become a featured group at the Carols in the Domain TV spectacular backing many of Australia’s greatest talents (Marcia Hines, Guy Sebastian, Julie Anthony) and you will have seen Carrie as a featured soloist on the 2005 show performing the pumping and thumping gospel belter, “He’s All Over Me”. Jubilation has also performed with Alex Lloyd for Crown Princess Mary, at the LIVE sites for the 2000 Olympics and Paralympics and at regular shows at The Basement. Carrie appears as a lead soloist on the group's two CD's and on their live DVD.
International experience also features in Carrie's singing career with a successful six month season at the Hilton Hotel, Tokyo in 2004. As the lead singer of jazz trio Le Nouveau, she performed at the prestigious St Georges Bar and delighted the international and local patrons at this highly regarded nightspot. On her return to Sydney, Carrie secured a residency at Avery's Bar in the Avillion Hotel, where she performed a mixture of Jazz, Blues and Pop two nights a week for over 18 months. At Avery's, Carrie established an even wider fan base with many audience members returning on a regular basis to catch Carrie's gigs.
In this time, Carrie also produced her first album featuring classic songs such as "My Foolish Heart", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Natural Woman". Recorded with outstanding Australian musicians, the self-titled album showcases Carrie's ability to deliver timeless songs with an emotional depth and beauty, and it has earned glowing reviews from all who experience it. In June 2007, FM 99.3 featured the CD as their celebrated "Wish Disc" and a recording of three live tracks was broadcast on this popular radio station.
By the close of 2006, Carrie had came together with two other rising singing stars, Anthea White and Asli, to form The Collective. This hot vocal group performs a universal mix of soul, pop and RnB and rocked the stages at the Live Site at Belmore Park, The Rocks Aroma Coffee Festival and the White Ribbon Dinner, where they performed for luminaries such as Nicole Kidman. In February 2008, The Collective were the featured backing vocalists for the outstanding Rolling Stones tribute shows "The Beggars Banquet" at The Basement and "It's Only Rock n Roll" to a massive crowd of 10,000 people at Sydney Olympic Park. The Collective continues to perform live shows with their band.
Carrie has also been busy lately performing backing vocals for the No.1 selling group Evermore, at the MTV Awards and the Enmore Theatre, along with country music superstar Troy Cassar-Daley on Sunrise, also with up and coming funk band, The Hipstones, on Mornings with Kerri- Anne and most recently with Natalie Bassingthwaighte at the launch of the Rugby World Cup at the Opera House and the Opening Ceremony at Aussie Stadium. 2008 also saw Carrie as the featured vocalist for internationally- renowned DJ, Alex K, during his high energy performance at The Freedom Festival at The Hordern Pavillion.
With all these other projects on the go, Carrie is still out there charming audiences with recent performances at The Rocks to celebrate the Sydney Harbour Bridge's 75th Birthday, The Manly Food & Wine Festival along with many corporate engagements for happy clients like CBA, Westpac, Investec, Thales and Mallesons. Carrie has shared the same bill as the Sydney All Star Big Band with Carl Riseley (Australian Idol) at the wonderful Wahroonga Twilight Concert and has been performing knock-out shows at the Woollahra Hotel playing many of her own original songs. March 2009 saw Carrie deliver a sell-out show at Paris Cat Jazz Club in Melbourne and then back in Sydney, she took to the stage with Kinderjazz at the Conservatorium of Sydney Open Day.
Carrie is a singer that knows how to WOW any crowd. Be it a classy intimate wedding or an energetic corporate event, Carrie Lakin is THE singer to use. With her effortless professionalism and exceptional performance skills, she will delight fans and guests.
This girl can sing, watch her shine!
