Blackman playing at the Parklife Festival (2009) Bertie appeared on the Australian music scene in 2004 with the single 'Favourite Jeans' taken from her debut album, Headway (2004) a folk-inspired acoustic album featuring musicians Cameron Deyell, Laurence Pike and Cameron Undy and was co-produced by Richard Belkner. This album established her as an Australian headline alongside contemporaries, and. She wrote music for Australian films including the title track to the 2008 production which saw her collaborate with prodigious Australian producer. After forming a new band with Neal Sutherland, Evan Mannell and Cameron Deyell, she made her second album Black (2006) and received positive reviews and high rotation on and demonstrated Blackman's move away from folk music to a focus on rock. This album was produced by well-known Australian producer, (, ) In 2008, Bertie signed with newly formed Australian management company Forum 5 and began working on her third studio album, entitled Secrets and Lies which was recorded between Sydney and Melbourne.
Musicians involved included Neal Sutherland, Evan Mannell and Ben Hauptmann with producers Lee Groves (, ) and (, ) Her first single from the album, 'Heart' was released on 10 April 2009. The song was added on high rotation on Australian radio station and nationwide on commercial radio network as well as on regional and community stations across the country. Altogether 'Heart' was the 4th most added song on radio in the week of its release and entered the Australian radio airplay charts at #67. The album Secrets and Lies was the Triple J Feature Album for the week commencing Monday 27 April 2009 and was officially released on 8 May 2009 on Forum 5 Recordings with distribution through. Secrets and Lies entered the album charts at No. Php Grid Open Source For Mac. 72 and peaked at No.