Rebecca Barnard (born December 1960) is a Melbourne-based Australian singer, songwriter and musician. She was the lead singer of Rebecca's Empire from 1994 to 2000, and has forged a solo career since her debut album, Fortified, was released in 2006. Her second solo album, Everlasting, was released in 2010. Barnard has a versatile musical range, delving into rock, pop, and jazz genres. Barnard grew up listening to Gladys Moncrieff, Fats Waller, Pinetop Smith, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. At 14, she became acquainted with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.Rebecca Barnard is the daughter of Australian jazz drummer Len Barnard (once a member of the jazz band, Galapagos Duck). Her uncle is Bob Barnard, who is an accomplished Australian jazz trumpet and cornet stylist.Barnard featured in the following Australian bands The Escalators (1982-1984), Black Coffee (and the Beans) (1985), Wayback 5 (1986), Romance Without Finance, Peaceful Anticipation Social Aid and Pleasure Club (1990), Stephen Cummings Band (1986 and 1990–91), Triple Peaks (1991), and the Rebecca Barnard Band (1992).When songwriting became a focus, she founded the band Rebecca’s Empire. The band toured extensively, supported Billy Bragg on his Australian tour, released three EPs and two albums (Way of All Things in 1996, and Welcome in 1999) and appeared on the Triple J Hottest 100 albums three years in a row. At this height of popularity, Barnard had her own cooking segment on Triple J called Pot of Rock.Rebecca’s Empire disbanded in 2000 when the duties of being a mother took priority (Barnard gave birth to a son, Harry, in 1996). During this time, Barnard appeared on recordings by Paul Kelly, Tim Rogers, Renée Geyer, Deborah Conway, The Meanies, Warped and The Audreys.