Sunburnt Country Music: Recent Episodes
Sophie Hamley
For over a decade Sophie Hamley has been interviewing Australian country music artists for her website, Sunburnt Country Music. Now new interviews will be made available in this podcast. Listen to Golden Guitar winners such as Amber Lawrence and Luke O'Shea, and many others, talk about their songs and songwriting, about performance and creativity and so much more.
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Briana Dinsdale is a singer-songwriter from south-east Queensland who is a recent graduate of the Academy of Country Music and who released her debut album, Beginnings, in 2021. Since then she’s released some irresistible country pop songs, including last year’s ‘Chasing Boys’.
Dinsdale's latest single is ‘Whiskey Worked That Way’, which she wrote with Robbie Mortimer, Chloe Styler and Jen Mize, and as with all of Dinsdale's songs it seems to head one way but goes into other and that new direction is always welcome. The accompanying music video also doesn't go where you think it will go.
We talked about both song and video, and how she came to make the song in Nashville with father-and-son team Michael and Caleb Flanders during an intense week of writing and recording. Three tracks came out of those sessions, including the single.
We also discussed Dinsdale's songwriting process, including how she values collaboration and the way co-writing sessions open her up creatively, and she is as engaging and interesting as ever. She'll be taking 'Whiskey Worked That Way' to stages at Lasso Country Music Festival in July and Gympie Music Muster in August (both in Queensland), accompanied by her band, which includes her sister, Ashlyn.
For more about Briana Dinsdale: https://brianadinsdale.com/
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Listening to Sweet Talk in 2022 and the single ‘Warm Love’ last year, and I spoke to brothers Tane and Soren Walker about it at that time.
Since then Sweet Talk have carved up the Tamworth Country Music Festival and played Bluesfest, where Kasey Chambers joined them on stage. They released the single ‘Lovin’ Myself’, a collaboration with Andy Golledge and have a new single of their own, ‘Real Good Cookin’’, which was the subject of this interview with band co-founders Soren Walker and David Turner.
The night before the interview the band had had a particularly creative jam session - they hold these sessions weekly, but this one had produced new music and in speaking about it Turner and Walker show us the strength of the connection and collaboration within the band, and also their own bond which has lasted for a quarter of a century.
This interview also shows a reason why I love finding out the stories behind musical artists and the music they make: the energy that is in Sweet Talk's music - the ease and groove of it - comes partly from the connection that is clear between these two band members. It's not something that can be manufactured but it is something that can be made through work and consistency and intention, and a listener can hear it in recorded music and see it in the live setting.
So this talk with Sweet Talk is ostensibly about 'Real Good Cookin'' but it's also about how art is made, and how you can only arrive at trusting in magic happening when you lay the groundwork for it.
For more about Sweet Talk: https://www.sweettalkmusic.com.au/
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Shanleigh Rose is a singer-songwriter from Queensland's Sunshine Coast who has released several catchy country-pop singles and won the 2023 Gympie Muster Junior Talent Search as well as being a Top 10 Finalist in the Groundwater Country Music Festival KIX Start Competition.
Last year Rose attended the Junior Academy of Country Music and the Dag Sheep Station Songwriting Retreat, and in this interview she talks about both as well as her musical background, influences, songwriting process and that new single 'Ricochet', which she wrote with her brother, Riordan, who brought in references to Greek mythology and also created the cover art.
Rose has been surrounded by music from a young age and lives in a musical household; influenced by Taylor Swift, Kasey Chambers and Troy Cassar-Daley, amongst others, she creates songs with memorable melodies and relatable themes, and knows how to use her lovely singing voice to great effect. We talked about all of that and more [shownotes below if you'd like the shorthand version].
For more on Shanleigh Rose: https://linktr.ee/ShanleighRose
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The first I knew of Andy Golledge was seeing him in the 2019 SBS series Robbie Hood. He had the role of Robbie’s dad and he played guitar and sang, and his music was an integral part of the show, which remains one of my favourite anythings and always will (and it’s still available to stream on SBS).
At the time I couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of Golledge, but research revealed that he hadn’t released recorded music. Thankfully, in early 2020 he released the EP Namoi. But then, of course, everything stopped.
As I told him in this interview, he was the first artist I saw performing a lockdown show online, and I’ve seen him play in various incarnations since - with his bandmate Caitlin Harnett in an acoustic setting, as well as with his band in toto in different venues. Every time, in whichever way, it has been a standout gig. He is an exceptional live performer, so I relished the opportunity to talk to him about performance and about the tour he’s currently on (dates here), as well as about Robbie Hood.
At a certain point in our chat Golledge said, ‘I think the important thing about live music is danger … I love doing it. And I think more people should implement danger in their music.’
Danger is, indeed, what I had perceived in his performances but what’s so interesting about him as a live performer is that the danger comes within a structure that he has carefully created over the course of years, so what the audience experiences is this sense that anything could happen, and probably will, and he’s completely in charge of it. It’s both thrilling and reassuring at the same time.
If you go and see Golledge live at one of these shows, you can expect that - and I’ve seen him live enough times to know it’s consistent - and also expect that it will be a show you won’t ever forget.
Oh, and to establish his pedigree: his first album, Strength of a Queen (2022), won Best Independent Country Album/EP at the AIR Awards 2023 and was also nominated for Best Country Album at the 2022 ARIA Awards and Best Alternative Country Album at the 2023 Golden Guitars. His latest album, Young, Dumb & Wild, was released this year and both consolidates the first album and moves his work along musically.
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Adam Harvey is the winner of 9 Golden Guitars and untold numbers of fans, with over half a million albums sold across several albums, including The Great Country Songbooks with Troy Cassar-Daley and Beccy Cole, and he will have a new album out later in the year.
In this interview Harvey touches on the story behind his catchy new single ‘It’s Gettin’ Late’, written with hit songwriter David Lee Murphy; it turns out it was inspired by a neighbour who may not have been able to take a hint …
Harvey recalls his first cowriting session with Murphy, when he was nervous at first; the two songwriters then established a fruitful creative relationship over time. Harvey also talks about upcoming tour dates with longtime collaborator Beccy Cole on the road this June, and touches on connecting with fans, touring life, finding motivation through setting new challenges, supporting emerging talents like his daughter Layla, and simply appreciating his longevity in Australian country music.
For more on Adam Harvey, including tour dates, go to: https://adamharvey.com.au/
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Abigail Wighton is a folk-influenced singer-songwriter from Sydney who released the EP interwoven in 2019. In recent months she has released the singles ‘letter’ and ‘if you let me’ from her new EP soon. She’s also supported Fanny Lumsden at her Sydney show and played in the National Folk Festival.
In our recent interview Wighton talked about her musical journey, from an unlikely start writing songs for the funerals of her pet mice to studying music at university and releasing her debut EP Interwoven in 2019. She also talks about dealing with performance anxiety earlier in her career.
Wighton’s new EP soon features songs written during her early 20s, including the title track which she first penned in 2018. She explains how returning to these songs several years later to finally record them felt like ‘diving back into old diary pages’ and forced her to reconnect with that period of her musical and personal development. The result is a collection of songs in which Wighton allows herself to be vulnerable and, through that, opens herself up to connection with the listener, all the while letting them know they are in safe hands.
Wighton will be playing a string of EP launch shows starting in June at venues in Sydney, Wollongong, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands (NSW), and NSW Central West.
For more on Abigail Wighton, including tour dates: https://www.abigailwighton.com.au/
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Tammy Moxon lives in Townsville, Far North Queensland, where she performs live regularly. She released the album Drive Me Sane in 2019 and has been steadily releasing singles leading up to her latest album, Fighting Chance, which was recorded with producer Shane Nicholson in just three days, in and around lockdown travel restrictions.
As on Drive Me Sane, Moxon shows herself to be a thoughtful songwriter who is prepared to be vulnerable not to unburden herself but to share something with the listener. There is so much heart in these songs and in Moxon's performance of them.
Moxon got an early start in music, participating in competitions from the age of 8, and her father was her vocal coach from around the same age - he is also now her co-writer, having contributed to two songs on Fighting Chance, including 'Barfly Blues', on which Bill Chambers contributes vocals.
In our recent interview Moxon talks about her progression as a songwriter and artist from Drive Me Sane and about why she enjoys making albums rather than releasing singles only; we chatted about the thriving live music scene in Townsville, and how she maintains her packed schedule of gigs.
For more about Tammy Moxon: https://www.tammymoxon.com/
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Mild language warning
Brooke Taylor is an alt-country singer, songwriter and guitarist from Melbourne who released her debut album It’s the Little Things in 2020. Her second album, There’s Magic in Mistakes, is not long out in the world. It is by turns pragmatic and joyful, wry and compassionate, and at its core is Taylor's inherent ability to entertain and be present in her music.
As I found out when Taylor and I spoke recently, several songs on the album came together quickly, and others emerged more organically through experimentation. And not all songs are new: 'A Thousand Kisses' predates It's the Little Things. Taylor worked with producer Damian Cafarella, who also produced her first album, and her band The Poison Spitting Gin Queens.
We also talked about her new project The Deserters, in which she collaborates with fellow Melburnian Delsinki, with an album potentially slated for release by end of this year.
Taylor's vim, vigour and verve were as evident in our conversation as they are on her album; she is a creative force surely making magic, whether it's from mistakes or simply from embracing music as her path and conjuring as she goes along it.
For more about Brooke Taylor: https://www.brooketaylormusic.com.au/
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Mak & Shar are brothers from Mudgee in New South Wales who released their debut single together in 2022 - but this was far from their first release as they were members of the band Brothers3 and as such played 12 Tamworth Country Music Festivals and appeared on X Factor in 2016. They released the single ‘Leap of Faith’ earlier this year and now have a new single, ‘Best Thing’ (watch the music video here).
During our recent interview the brothers talked about their writing and recording process - in which Mak takes the production lead and Shar the writing - and their easy collaborative dynamic was clear. They have been passionate about music since childhood and have not only maintained it but found new ways to create music together through this duo.
For more on Mak & Shar: https://www.makandshar.com/
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released a self-titled EP in 2020 and her debut album, Sticks, Stones and Stories, in 2022. Late last year she released the single ‘Too Far Down’ and her latest single is ‘Can’t Fake That’.
‘Can’t Fake That’ is Brooke’s tribute to women of the land, with a lighthearted feeling that was achieved by Brooke and her producer, Rusty Crook, by deciding to re-record the song after realising their first version wasn’t quite right.
Brooke lives on the land and draws inspiration from it; she also makes it clear in our chat that connection with other people is her primary driver in creating music, and this is something she pursues with passion.
We also have a little bit to say about Mercury Retrograde … for those who believe, or not!
For more about Katie Brooke: https://www.katiebrookemusic.com/
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Jayne Denham was nominated for a Golden Guitar in 2022 for her last album, Wanted, and she returns now with Moonshine, which is an irrepressible force of an album that features Jayne’s amazing vocal power.
Whereas Wanted had a spaghetti western theme, Denham chose the Prohibition era as the creative inspiration for Moonshine. Working with her Nashville-based producer Brian White, she carefully selected songs that would not only work individually but contribute to the whole vision of the album. These included a cover of George Strait's 'Poison', as Denham explained when we spoke recently.
The latest single is the emotional 'Lovin' a Wild Thing', which was originally written for a male vocalist. Vocal collaborators on the album include Colt Ford on the title track and Hurricane Fall on 'Are You Ready for This'.
The track 'Risk it All' reflects Denham's decision to launch an Australian tour, which she is currently on (tour dates below) - and having seen her live I can see it is a low-risk decision to attend as she is an incredible live performer. We discussed the decisions she makes that feed into the powerful live experience, as well as the making of Moonshine.
See Jayne Denham live
Jun. 7, 2024 - Freemasons Hotel Molong
Jun. 15, 2024 - Barra & Boots Music Festival Lake Proserpine in the Whitsundays
Jun. 21, 2024 - Moonshiners Tamworth
Jul 5, 2024 - Astor Hotel Goulburn
Jul. 6, 2024 - Oaks Hotel Albion Park Rail
Aug. 23, 2024 - Camden Hotel
Sept. 27, 2024 - Texas QLD Country Music Festival 2024
Oct. 26, 2024 - Mandurah Country Music Festival
For more about Jayne Denham: https://www.jaynedenham.com/
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Melbourne singer and songwriter Jay Santilli has been immersed in music since childhood, listening to classic country artists on the radio growing up, begging her parents for a keyboard at age 10 and learning saxophone then guitar. She formed a band with friends and would go on to take part in such competitions as the (now-defunct) Telstra Road to Tamworth contest. This year she was a Grand Finalist in the Toyota Star Maker competition.
The path to being a musician has not, however, been straightforward – nor has been the pursuit of her other dream, motherhood.
Santilli’s new single ‘Long Way Home’ tells of pursuing dreams even when they seem impossible. It is emotional and inspiring, and Santilli has a lot more on the way this year, with plans to release one single a month. When we spoke recently Santilli’s love for her artform and her generous spirit and open heart were evident, making the chat just as inspiring as the song.
For more about Jay Santilli: https://jaysantilli.com/
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When reviewing Troy Cassar-Daley’s last album, The World Today (2021), I compared him to Orpheus, going to the Underworld in search of his wife, Eurydice, who had been taken there by Hades. But after going into the darkness to find what he was looking for then turning back at the point of rescue only to see Eurydice disappear – as the myth has it – Cassar-Daley as Orpheus turned his face forwards and stepped into the light, as complicated as the path ahead was.
‘Troy Cassar-Daley has long been a beacon in our culture,’ I wrote then, ‘for his songs and the way he delivers them. With this album he takes on not mythic status, because he’s still with us, but he becomes, perhaps, a warrior for the people. Out of his darkness we can find light, and the only thing left to say to him is “thank you”.’
That album remains as one of its creator’s very best, and a classic by many measures. It seemed unlikely that he could better it, for how would he find a deeper well to draw on, how much further could he go into the darkness and, to balance, how much light would he discover on his return? The answer has arrived in the form of his new album, Between the Fires, which is an epic work of love, loss, water, fire and smoke, of country and connection, written almost entirely by Cassar-Daley alone in the wake of the death of his mother, then recorded in her home.
The depth of Cassar-Daley’s sorrow is soaked into this album, as is his resolution to find light once again. He growls, he rails, he ponders the past and looks to construct a future that may not have included his wife, Laurel, as they went through a separation around the same time, which is also part of the fabric of this album. Most of all, though, he pays tribute to his mother, and we are shown – more than we are told – how much of a man she helped to make him. For the work done there is his too, and the unforgettable resolution of the album, ‘Moving On’, is his alone.
There is a verse in the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, a revealed text of Kashmir Shaivism, that goes:
Live continuously for a few days in the meditation,
‘I am immersed in the flame,
The flame of life, the flame of love, the flame of time.
The universal fire flows through me.’
Step into that fire fully, wholeheartedly,
Starting with the toe of the left foot –
And then surrendering everywhere.
Only the not-self, which doesn’t exist anyway,
Is burned.
(Verse 29, translation by Lorin Roche)
Between the Fires documents Troy Cassar-Daley’s burning of the not-self and consequent revelation of the self. Through the fire of grief and change we are able to see the man as he is now and was always meant to be. There is so much bravery required to step into this flame and to go on afterwards, let alone present what remains to the world.
For more about Troy Cassar-Daley: https://troycassardaley.com.au/
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Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits are a Melbourne duo who released their debut album, Southlands, in 2017 and have just released their latest album, the gloriously entertaining and thought-provoking Say What You Mean.
The longtime friends and collaborators started their performing life in punk bands over a decade ago in their hometown of Adelaide before forming Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, with Hana on vocals and Jessie-Lee on guitar, in 2014. The catalyst was a batch of country-tinged songs written by Hana. Jessie-Lee helped flesh out arrangements, and they then played a month-long residency at Adelaide's Crown & Anchor Hotel to cement the new formation.
Over the next few years, Hana and Jessie-Lee continued evolving their sound while playing live extensively. It was the isolation of pandemic lockdowns that inspired Hana to write a new collection of songs which have now become Say What You Mean.
In this interview we talked about their creative collaboration, their musical influences and songwriting process – and what bad habits might have prompted the band name.
For more about Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits: https://hanaandjessielee.com/
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Tori Forsyth released her Golden Guitar-nominated debut album Dawn of the Dark in 2018 then followed it up with rock album Provlépseis in 2021. She now has a new country music album, All We Have is Who We Are.
The album was created after Forsyth decided that if she didn’t love the process of making music, she’d walk away. Around the same time the pandemic led to her once more living on the land, where she found herself grounded, both literally and creatively. The combination freed her to make an album that not only allowed her to tap back into the joy that initially drew her to music but which sounds like it.
On All We Have is Who We Are Forsyth is by turns earthy and ethereal, wild and circumspect, thoughtful and unconstrained. The album is a story arc that documents how she arrived at where she is - how all she has is who she is. And our conversation about it was as rich, interesting and inspiring as the album itself.
Forsyth has some live dates coming up, and having seen her place a showcase in Sydney last year I can attest that she is very much worth seeing live.
MAY 17 SYDNEY - THE VANGUARD - Tickets
w. Chloe Gill, Piper Butcher
MAY 18 NEWCASTLE - STAG AND HUNTER - Tickets
w. Chloe Gill
MAY 23 MELBOURNE - THE TOTE - Tickets
w. Jay Santilli
MAY 26 SUNSHINE COAST - SOL BAR - Tickets
w. Piper Rodrigues and Tyla Piper Rodrigues
For more about Tori Forsyth: https://www.toriforsyth.com/
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The Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields project falls into the category of ‘high risk’: two artists with solo careers that have seen them win audiences, acclaim and awards, with potentially nothing to gain from a collaboration. After all, if something ain’t broke, why fix it?
What they have fixed on, though, is interesting and compelling work that draws on their individual talents and strengths to make something new and different to what they have created individually. What was apparent on their singles ‘Your Heart of Gold’, ‘Love Ya Like I Can’ and ‘No Trace’ is now evident on their album, I Remember You: they have brought their talents and strengths as artists and openness – vulnerabilities, if you prefer – as individuals and created something unique, rich and stunning.
The collaboration has required them both to set aside any expectations they have for their solo work and start afresh with each other. It could only have worked if they did not demand any more of the other than they demanded of themselves. The proof is in the ten tracks on the album, each different to each other just as Joe Gow and Fields are different to each other, but united in the common cause of telling a story of life, loss and love, of what home means and where to find it.
Throughout these songs the duo also provide proof, over and over again, that for as much as they have great strengths as songwriters they are also extraordinary singers. Listen no further than to Joe Gow on ‘Carry On’ and Fields on ‘Here I’ll Be’ for that proof, but you’ll want to listen to it all, over and over again, and find yourself entranced.
So, in the end, this high-risk project is, in fact, high-risk and high-reward – the reward being for them as the creators and us as the listeners. And I spoke to them both about the project in this interview.
https://mattjoegowmusic.com/
https://www.kerrynfields.com/
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Jade Gibson is a singer and songwriter from Victoria who was a Grand Finalist in Toyota Star Maker in 2022 and has played at several large festivals. In 2019 her debut EP The Great Unknown went to number 1 on the iTunes Country chart and she has released several successful singles since. Her brand new single is ‘Down the Road’.
The song holds special meaning for Gibson as it's her first song inspired by her partner of five years, whom she met when she was 21 even though they grew up 20 minutes apart in regional Victoria. The song captures a feeling of love coming when you least expect it, and was recorded with Melbourne production duo MSquared, who she has worked closely with over the past two years. The music video was made by Jake Davey and features Home and Away star Kyle Shilling.
Gibson has been a performer from a young age, playing local pubs and rodeos at 14 before getting discovered at a small gig and being asked to play B&S balls. She also spent time in Nashville before returning to Australia at the start of the pandemic. Gibson is an astute artist who is constantly working on her craft, and it was a pleasure to talk to her about all of this and more.
For more information on Jade Gibson: https://jadegibson.com/
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Kylie Gale is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales who released the EP Upside in 2021. While working as a teacher and raising four children, Gale has carved out time to nurture her songwriting craft. This dedication led to the 2021 release of her debut EP Upside.
Gale’s musical talents first emerged in primary school, where she began guitar lessons. However, it wasn’t until high school when her music teacher encouraged her to take voice lessons that she discovered her love of singing. As her children have grown up, Gale has been able to invest more time into songwriting.
Her latest single is the deeply personal single ‘Nobody Knows Me Like You Do’, written with in-demand co-writer Billie-Jo Porter and recorded with producer Simon Johnson at Hillbilly Hut. The song explores the understanding and support Gale shares with her husband of 22 years. And Gale has plans to release more singles leading up to a full album in 2024.
During our recent chat Gale’s passion for and perseverance in music while balancing life’s other responsibilities were clear – and inspirational as we spoke about her musical influences, creative process, and hopes for the future.
For more information on Kylie Gale: https://www.kyliegale.com/
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Rebecca Jane Howell and Marty Mckenna are friends from Central Victoria who have been singing together for over a decade. Rebecca honed her instinct for harmony through years spent in the Australian Girls Choir and Marty grew up singing to the sheep on his family farm, with his dad, where he still tends the flock to this day.
As Valley Road the duo released their wonderful self-titled debut album towards the end of last year. It was produced by Rod McCormack after Valley Road were awarded the Troubadour Foundation prize.
Whether live or recorded, Howell and Mckenna have a synergy as writers and performers in a partnership of true equals. Each knows how to support each other in song, and accordingly bring out the best in each other. The result is songs that are elegant, nuanced and strong, covering the whole of life from birth to death, and love for the natural world.
For more information about Valley Road: https://valleyroadduo.com.au/
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Known for her powerful vocals and catchy melodies, Cassidy-Rae recently returned to Australian shores after a stint performing four-hour shows on cruise ships - shows at which she had her own fangirls. She's also very much a fangirl of other artists, so she is perfectly qualified to write and release her latest single, 'Fangirl'.
During our recent interview, Cassidy-Rae offers a glimpse into her high-energy performances and the immersive nature of her shows as well as her creative process, which includes collaborating with producers MSquared in Melbourne to make 'Fangirl' and her other recent single, 'One More Song'.
Looking ahead, Cassidy-Rae previews plans to launch a national tour in Australia and promises that there are more new tunes coming down the pipeline.
For more about Cassidy-Rae: https://cassidy-rae.com/
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Emma Donovan is well known to Australian audiences from her bands Emma Donovan and The Putbacks (which I managed to call The Pushbacks in the introduction to this interview) as well as the Stiff Gins, and from the Black Arm Band. Her music ranges from soul to reggae to R&B and gospel, yet country music has been there from the start and she now has a new country album, Til My Song is Done. The album is broad in scope, and underscored by love and change. Donovan's voice is a wonder, piercing the heart of any listener.
Donovan has been singing since childhood, influenced by country artists like Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton. Her grandparents would bring cassettes when they visited, instilling in Donovan a love of classic country that stays with her. Her mother and five uncles performed together, and - as I found out during our recent chat - Donovan has quite the history of childhood talent quests ...
For more about Emma Donovan, including upcoming live dates: https://www.emmadonovan.com/
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Brisbane-based singer-songwriter Jacob Vincent has just released his new single 'What Would I Say', just in time for Anzac Day, and the first single from his upcoming debut album, produced by Shane Nicholson and due for release in 2025. The song had its genesis at the DAG Songwriting Retreat in Nundle, NSW, where Vincent met poet Colin Defries. It pays tribute to diggers and their service, with a new take on this subject.
Vincent grew up in a musical family in Tasmania - with his grandfather a member of The Singing Kettles - and developed a passion for songwriting and performing from a young age. He released his debut EP, Cold & Blue, in 2020. In 2022 he was crowned Best of the Buskers at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and last year he was a Grand Finalist in the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition. This year he returned to play a sold-out show with Kelly Cork at The Press.
We talked about Vincent’s family background, and his years as a competitive swimmer and how that might have had an impact on his development as an artist. Vincent is a thoughtful and articulate with songs to match and a voice that brings his powerful stories to life.
For more on Jacob Vincent: https://www.instagram.com/jacob_vincent/
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Piper Rodrigues started 2024 as a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist, in the wake of releasing her popular 2023 single 'Exit Wound'. Originally from Newcastle, NSW, she now calls Brisbane home and her latest single is 'Watch Your Step', co-written with Hayley Marsten.
Rodrigues was bitten by the music bug early on, taking singing lessons from age 7 and performing for her mother's hair salon clients as a child. She wrote her first song at age 13 and really hit her stride at 15 when she started teaching herself guitar and writing prolifically. Early influences included country legends like Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift as well as artists like Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Nicks.
During our recent chat Rodrigues shared funny stories from her life that inspired the lighthearted vibe of 'Watch Your Step', as well as tidbits about her creative process, organising gigs, and her dreams for the future.
Fans can catch Piper live playing festivals like Texas Country Music Fest later this year. She gave us a sneak preview that even more new music is on the horizon as she prepares to record again soon and continue evolving her signature country/pop fusion sound.
For more about Piper Rodrigues: linktr.ee/hiheyitspiper
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Bud Rokesky is a singer and songwriter from Queensland who released his wonderful debut album, Outsider, last year. Since then he’s been on the road quite a bit, playing support slots for C.W. Stoneking, Deacon Blue, Meg Washington, Tim Rogers and Matt Corby as well as appearing at Gympie Music Muster, Woodford, Dashville Skyline, Groundwater, Queenscliff Music Festival, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, and Out On The Weekend.
As powerful as Rokesky is on recordings, he is a live performer of rare impact, and a big part of that is his voice, which emerges from a deeper well when he's on stage. It is live performance that has motivated a shift in direction for his releases this year: the 'Volumes project', for which he's releasing two new songs a month, as an A side and a B side. The latest volume is 02 and the tracks are ‘Newtown’ and ‘Oars’.
Bud Rokesky is on the road supporting Brad Cox over the next few months. Find the tour dates at: https://www.budrokesky.com/live
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Chloe Swannell is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Oberon in the central west of New South Wales who released her first single, ‘Strange Love’, last year. She has just released her second, ‘Unchained’.
In our recent interview Swannell tells the story behind 'Unchained' and talks about working with producer Tarquin Halls-Corbett, her songwriting process, her musical background - she plays guitar, bass, drums and banjo - and teaching music for ten years. She also reveals which sort of tradie she is on the side ... and talks about her planned EP release.
For more about Chloe Swannell: https://www.facebook.com/ChloeSwannellMusic/
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Josie is a country music dynamo from Far North Queensland who kicked off the year with a busy Tamworth Country Music Festival. She has released the very popular singles ‘Down Here’ and ‘Freight Man’. Her latest single is ‘Our Place’.
'If anyone has been to a party at my parents' place, you’d know we don’t muck around when it comes to having a bit of fun, cooking up mean feeds, and letting your hair down no matter the occasion,' says Josie.
'Dad cookin’ up a storm is no word of a lie,' she says, referring to a line in the song, 'briskets and top notch bush snags galore. Mum is always cranking the tunes maybe a little too loud … and the whole family would just about invite every man and his dog out for a cheeky beer that would always turn into 2am campfire jam sessions surrounded by empties.'
Josie and I had a chat about 'Our Place', as well as the success of 'Freight Man', the time she stirred up controversy amongst truckers, and what she has planned.
For more about Josie: https://linktr.ee/josieofficiall
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Jemma Beech is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales who has released the album That’s Just Me along with several cracking singles, including ‘You Fool’ and ‘If I Can’t Wear Boots’. She was also a Grand Finalist in this year's Toyota Star Maker competition.
Beech's latest single is ‘Four Leaf Clover’, which was inspired by a trip she made to her ancestral homeland, Ireland. Surrounded by music and stories, Beech was inspired to create a song that signals a shift in direction from her previous releases, and which has also led to her wanting to return. She is full of vigour and passion for her craft and keen to see where her music takes her - and her audience.
For more about Jemma Beech: https://www.jemmabeechmusic.com/
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Olive Mae is a folk/country singer-songwriter from the south-west of Western Australia who released her debut single, ‘Give Me Something’, in 2022. Last year she released the single 'Hit the Road' and her latest single is ‘Wait & See’ - both of them will appear on her EP due for release later this year.
Mae has been a musician for most of her life, learning instruments from a young age and playing in a band in adulthood before taking a break to raise her children. She's now back writing and releasing music, and playing music - including up and down the east coast of Australia over the past few months, culminating in her first visit to the Tamworth Country Music Festival. We had a chat about all of that.
For more about Olive Mae: linktr.ee/olivemaemusic
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Sara Storer has won 22 Golden Guitar awards, her most recent being this year for the song ‘Dust Kids’ released with her brother Greg as Storer, from their self-titled album. On her own Storer has released five studio albums, all of which have been fan and award favourites. Her brand new song is ‘Under Darwin Stars’ and Sara is working towards a new album.
Storer is far too young to be called a legend yet there is something legendary about her songwriting and her success with it. The qualities that she brings to her music are also present when she is interviewed: she is present, real, open-hearted, funny, down-to-earth and pragmatic. They're some of the reasons why it's always a treat to interview her; some of the others are that she tells great stories, is effortlessly interesting and entertaining, and that it is always, and always will be, a privilege to talk to an artist this accomplished and esteemed.
For more about Sara Storer: https://www.sarastorer.com.au/
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Robbie Mortimer grew up in the central west of New South Wales as one of five brothers in a sporting family. He would go on to be a professional sportsman before returning to his home area and becoming a teacher and mentor, all while creating music. His first album, the pop-leaning 200 Years Too Late, was released in 2021. He has a brand new song, ‘Blow the Speakers’, and it’s as hi-octane as it sounds.
Mortimer and producer Jared Adlam captured the energy of Mortimer's live sound in the song, and if you'd like to see Mortimer live you can see the dates below. Mortimer and I had a chat recently about his development as a songwriter and artist, his passion for live performance and his plans for the future.
See Robbie Mortimer live:
Friday 5th April - Way Out West Festival - Winton, QLD
Saturday 20th April - Stock Route Festival - Dubbo, NSW
Sunday 28th April - Carnival of Cups - Goulburn, NSW
Saturday 8th June - PBR Monster Energy Tour – Brisbane Ent. Centre - Brisbane, QLD
Saturday 22nd June - PBR Monster Energy Tour – Newcastle Ent. Centre - Newcastle, NSW
Saturday 13th July - PBR Monster Energy Tour – Cairns Convention Centre - Cairns, QLD
Saturday 28th September - Heart Of The Hunter Festival - Tocal, NSW
Saturday 26th October - PBR Monster Energy Tour – Equine & Livestock Centre - Tamworth, NSW
Saturday 2nd November - PBR Monster Energy Tour – Townsville Ent. Centre - Townsville, QLD
For more about Robbie Mortimer: https://www.robbiemortimer.com/
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Cass Hopetoun released her debut album, Not Your Typical Bride, in 2022 and was nominated for the Golden Guitar for Best New Talent, which was her second nomination for that category. In fact, she’s had three Golden Guitar nominations in total.
Since releasing the album Hopetoun has become a mother and, with husband Blake Dantier, released the single ‘Some Things Never Get Old’. Her latest single is ‘To Be a Lady’, written with Dantier and Sarah Buckley, and produced by Dantier. On Not Your Typical Bride Hopetoun established herself as a performer and writer with range and perspicacity, and 'To Be a Lady' is at one in the lineage of the album and indicates that Hopetoun is only gathering strength as an artist.
We talked about the song, creative life and motherhood, and what's next for this talented singer-songwriter.
For more about Cass Hopetoun: https://www.casshopetoun.com.au/
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Ryan Mead is a singer-songwriter from the Sutherland Shire in Sydney who may be 18 years of age but he’s already racked up a few musical credits, including the Talent Development Project last year. He has just released his debut single, ‘Tangled Up in Wranglers’, and a warning: the song is kinda addictive, so once you start listening you may find yourself hitting 'play' a few more times.
Mead's first instrument was drums, which he's been playing from a young age, before he added guitar and voice to his repertoire. He is soon to depart Australian shores to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Before then you can catch him playing various locations in Sydney CBD and the Shire. The full list of shows can be round on his website.
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Tony Kennelly is an artist from picturesque Port Macquarie on the mid north coast of NSW who has released two albums, Hittin’ the Wall and Battlegrounds. He has a new single, ‘Sunday in the Sun’, which is just right for helping us hold on to summer days even as we have passed the equinox.
Kennelly has been performing live for many years, including a busy stint in Sydney in his younger years when he was working by day and gigging by night. He has some great stories to tell, including the one about the origins of 'Sunday in the Sun', which involves a large group of friends and an even larger zest for life.
For more on Tony Kennelly: https://www.tonykennellymusic.com/
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Kerryn Fields is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Aotearoa New Zealand, now living on our shores. She won the Music Victoria Best Folk Work award in 2022 for her second album, Water, which followed acclaim for her first album, Rascal. In recent months she's released two singles with Matt Joe Gow, ahead of an album release.
Fields's latest solo release is the EP The Folk Singer, which she released around the time she travelled to the USA to perform at Folk Alliance. The EP features all new tracks and was recorded live and acoustic. It documents Fields's path through life, and great difficulties, to become the magical, majestic artist she is today - and if you've ever seen her play live you'll know what I mean. In our recent interview she spoke movingly about the stories behind the songs on the EP and gave great insights into the artist she has become.
For more on Kerryn Fields: https://www.kerrynfields.com/
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Last year Wagga Wagga, NSW resident Nathan Lamont released his debut single ‘Drink You Up’, then he was named a Grand Finalist in this year’s Toyota Star Maker competition, the second time he’s been a grand finalist. He recently appeared on the single ‘My Favourite Summer’ with Loren Ryan and has a new single of his own, ‘Skin to Skin’.
At this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival, Lamont shared a stage with Ryan at the latter's headline show at Moonshiner's and demonstrated just why his star is on the rise. We spoke about that show, as well as so much more when we chatted recently. And I'm not even going to pretend to be objective: Lamont is one of my favourite singers and seeing him play live only confirmed what I'd suspected, that he is an artist with so much to offer audiences and music as a whole.
For more about Nathan Lamont: linktr.ee/nathanlamontofficial
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Jake Whittaker hails from south-east Queensland. Earlier this year he appeared in the Tamworth Country Music Festival as a Grand Finalist in the Star Maker competition, and no doubt getting up to other things. He has released several singles to date. The fourth and latest is 'Shoey'.
'Shoey' was written with Gavin Carfoot and produced by Whittaker's regular produced, Jared Adlam.
'I’m partial to a good shoey,' Whittaker admits. 'Audiences can be guaranteed of at least one at every gig, and I’ve never been sick from one.'
We had a chat about Whittaker's ongoing collaboration with Adlam as well as the writing of 'Shoey' and his plans over the new few months, which include the arrival of his first child.
For more about Jake Whittaker: https://www.jakewhittaker.com.au/
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Jen Mize moved to Australia from the United States a few years ago and that has been to Australia’s benefit, as this extraordinary performer has released two solo albums and one in collaboration with Mark Sholtez, called Twilight on the Trail.
Last year she released an eponymous album with her relatively new band, the eight-piece Jen Mize and the Rough n’ Tumble. Their latest single is ‘Hail Mary’.
Mize is a complete artist, steeped in musicality from a young age, able to bring her acuity and understanding of instruments to the instrument of her voice, which is one of the most impressive in the land. The Rough n' Tumble has given her the opportunity to collaborate in a new way and explore different parts of her range as a singer and songwriter. It was fascinating to talk to her about all of it.
For more about Jen Mize: https://www.jenmizemusic.com/
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New South Wales singer-songwriter Kora Naughton released her first album, Nineteen, at 19 years of age and since then she has been a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist and released three more singles, the latest of which is the very catchy 'Head in the Sand'. Indeed, Naughton has quite a knack for writing catchy songs, which we talked about recently.
Naughton released 'Head in the Sand' after a period away from releasing music, after recognising that she was burning out due to various demands, as well as having had spinal surgery. She talks about this, and about her plans for new music, in our interview.
For more about Kora Naughton: https://www.koranaughton.com.au/
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Keely Ellen is a singer and songwriter from Bundaberg in Queensland who has just released her debut single, ‘Red Head’, written with Nashville-based Australian artist Katrina Burgoyne. She attended the Junior Academy of Country Music and has performed at various festivals including Tamworth and Lighthouse Country Music festivals, and she is still only 17 years of age.
When we spoke recently I found out how Keely came to write 'Red Head' and all about her musical life since childhood.
For more about Keely Ellen: https://keelyellenmusic.squarespace.com/
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Jake Davey is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the mid north coast of New South Wales who has released several country pop singles since 2019 and played many festivals. He was a Grand Finalist in Toyota Star Maker in 2022.
Davey has several other jobs as well, including producer and videographer. But everything he did come to a halt several months ago when he suffered a spinal cord injury. He thought he may not walk again, yet he was onstage, performing, during the recent Tamworth Country Music Festival.
His latest single, 'Second Chance', acknowledges both his experience and the perspective he's put it in. And Davey is not only back making music - he's back doing everything else too. So we talked about that, and his music, and his plans for further releases.
For more about Jake Davey: https://www.jakedaveymusic.com/
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Clancy Pye is a singer and songwriter from the central west of New South Wales who has twice been a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist. She released an EP in 2020 and the single ‘Feels Like Home’ last year. Her latest single is ‘Drink About’.
'When I was writing this song, it was the idea of catching up with someone you haven't seen in a while and having a lot to talk about andinevitably,a lot of things to drink about,' says Pye of the inspiration behind the song.
When we spoke recently it became clear very quickly that music is soaked into Pye's marrow - she grew up in an intensely musical household and has been performing from a young age. She's also been songwriting up a storm over the past few years and is working towards an album release. We talked about that, and a lot more besides.
For more about Clancy Pye: https://www.clancypye.com.au/
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Finnian Johnson was a Grand Finalist in the 2023 Toyota Star Maker competition and in the 2023 NAB Talent Search at the Gympie Music Muster. He reached the top 12 in season 11 of TV show The Voice, and he’s also been touring the country. Last year he released the singles ‘July’ and ‘Dishonest’. His latest single is ‘I’m Doing Well’.
'“I’m Doing Well" is the most special song I’ve ever written, coming straight from my heart for anyone to connect with,' says Johnson of the song he wrote with Golden Guitar-winning songwriters Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersley.
Johnson also toured with McClymont and Eckersley last year. We talked about that, the song, competitions and several other things.
For more about Finnian Johnson: https://linktr.ee/finnianjohnson
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Baeden Faint was born in South Australia and currently calls the NSW town of Cobar home. He has just released his debut single, ‘Hometown Fantasy’.
'This song is essentially me reminiscing on past relationships where it seemed everything was laid out. Ready for the white picket fence and kids,' says Faint. 'But also, that it was like having blinders on, as to whether it was a good thing or not. I wrote this song like a lot of other songs - with a bottle port, smoking alone late at night, with too much time for thinking.'
Faint has an interesting background that includes a black belt in karate and a broken hand (or two!), which is not at all convenient for a guitarist. I knew there were some stories there and he was prepared to share them.
For more about Baeden Faint: linktr.ee/baedenfaintwakefield
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Ashleigh Dallas is a five-time Golden Guitar winner who has released five studio albums, winning the Golden Guitar for Traditional Country Album of the Year for her latest album, In the Moment. She is also an ambassador for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Dallas's latest single is 'Secondhand Stories', which was written during a DAG Songwriting Retreat with Natasha Soonchild and Margaret Anne King. 'This came from a morning we spent talking about what it’s like when you get out and see things,' says Dallas. 'We were talking about when you have awesome experiences, we have all had someone tell us how lucky we are to experience that.
'It’s all about not living your life through someone else’s pictures and Instagram posts, don’t live your life through a secondhand story; get out and do it yourself.'
I've interviewed Dallas several times, and our chats tend to be long because there's always a lot to chat about! And it's always interesting and inspiring, because she can't help but be those things. So settle in for lots of heart, humour and insight from this talented Tamworth native.
For more about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/
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Kayla Mahon is an artist from Gore on the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand who was the winner of the coveted 2000 and 2008 New Zealand Overall Gold Guitar Award. She was also one half of country music duo The Heartleys, releasing two albums. Last year she released the single ‘Love’s Got a Witness’ and now she has a new song, ‘Little Man’, both of them taken from her forthcoming album.
'I hope this song encourages listeners to embrace motherhood, with all the challenges and moments you wouldn’t change the world for,' Mahon says, 'and soak up the love that children give, and the qualities that children constantly display for us. This is a song that reminds us to cherish every moment.'
Mahon and I spoke about the song, and her upcoming album, about balancing motherhood with art, and the music she's producing with her daughter and seven nieces. She has created a life that is rich in meaning and music, and it was so interesting to find out about it.
For more about Kayla Mahon: https://www.kaylamahon.com/
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Mackenzie Lee is an artist from the Hunter Valley of New South Wales who last year attended the Junior Academy of Country Music. She has released two EPs, one self-titled and the other entitled Sometimes I Wonder, and now has a new single, 'Let My Love Drown'.
Lee was also the winner of the inaugural Macca's Golden Gig Talent Quest at the 2022 Tamworth Country Music Festival and the 2023 ICMA Patti McKinnon Encouragement Award and Today's Country 94one 'Brand New Star' award.
At only 17 years of age Lee has already been a highly productive artist, with the talent and drive to go further - so there's more to come from this up-and-coming singer-songwriter, as I found out during our recent chat.
For more about Mackenzie Lee: linktr.ee/MackenzieLeeMusic
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Courtney Keil is an artist from the Central Coast of New South Wales who released her debut album, The Good Kind, last year and who has just had an action-packed Tamworth Country Music Festival. She has a brand new single, ‘All About You’, which is It is another toe-tapper to add to the collection of Courtney Keil ear worms along with ‘Hummingbird’ and ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’.
'We set out to write an anthemic, feel-good song,' says Keil of 'All About You'. 'As songwriters it’s often naturally easier to write slower heartbreak songs so we wanted to focus on the love I have in my life and how it makes me feel.'
Keil was award Best Female Vocal at the People's Choice Awards in Tamworth, and she has some exciting shows coming up.
For more about Courtney Keil: https://www.courtneykeil.com/
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Felicity Urquhart has recorded several albums and EPs as a solo artist and as a member of Bennett Bowtell and Urquhart, winning 13 Golden Guitars along the way. She was also the host of Saturday Night Country for several years. Josh Cunningham is a founding member of The Waifs, who have released 10 albums over three decades and won multiple ARIA awards.
Together Felicity and Josh released the album The Song Club in 2021 and last year they released Birdsong, which has just won three Golden Guitar awards, including Traditional Country Album of the Year.
This pairing is a rare one: two individuals who are exceptional at what they do joining to create something that is different and in which they revel. On stage it is clear how much they love performing together; that regard for each other is evident in their recorded music as well. They write, sing, play and perform from the heart, straight to the hearts of their audience, and thus it is that their particular birdsong takes flight.
For more about Felicity Urquhart: https://www.felicityurquhart.com/
For more about Josh Cunningham: https://joshcunningham.com/
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Matt Joe Gow is a New Zealand-born Melbourne resident who has released four albums, the most recent of which was last year’s Between Tonight & Tomorrow, which won the Music Victoria award for Best Country Album, as did its predecessor, Break Rattle and Roll. Recently Joe Gow released a reprise version of the title song, and he’s also been collaborating with Kerryn Fields on a forthcoming album. However, in this new interview we talked about his new acoustic album, The Woodshed Sessions, recorded late last year, which he also produced, so we delve into the production aspects of the album as well as the songs and recording.
It's the first acoustic album made by Joe Gow with his Dead Leaves bandmates Andrew Pollock and Katya Harris, and it was initially released as a video recording late last year. Joe Gow's albums tend to not put his voice at the forefront but there is nowhere else for it to be on this album, and that is to the listener's benefit - as much as we tend to laud the 'songwriter' part of singer-songwriter, the singing part is equally important and Joe Gow is a wonderful singer, with a warm tone that turns commanding when required and handles a range of emotions so that it's a proper partner for his lyrics.
The Woodshed Sessions will be released on 9 February and can be preordered on Bandcamp
Matt Joe Gow and the Dead Leaves play George Lane, St Kilda, Vic. on 10 February - tickets
For more on Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/
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Hailing from Melbourne, Al Carr is an alt-country singer and songwriter with rock leanings who played in bands in Sydney in the 1990s before he relocated south in 2006 and started his solo career thereafter. He released a self-titled EP in 2013 then albums in 2017 and 2021. His latest album is The Right Dereliction.
Says Carr of the album, 'Each song on this release is tinged with a sense of hopefulness whilst recounting stories, characters and personalities who are struggling through a moment in time,"explains Carr. "With this batch of songs I wanted to get inside the head of a character living through a small town drama and balance the lyrics almost like a confessional of sorts. The verses offering up the dilemma and the choruses providing the redemption.'
Towards the end of 2023 I spoke to Carr about the album - there were a few wifi issues during this interview so it's taken me a little longer than usual to post it, plus if you watch the video of it you'll see me on screen for longer than usual as Zoom did not switch back to Carr. Therefore, you get to witness me practising 'neutral facial expression' as the wifi cut in and out.
For more on Al Carr: https://www.alcarr.com.au/
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The Buckleys are a band of siblings Sarah, Molly and Lachlan from northern New South Wales who released their debut album Daydream in 2020 and the EP Take it as it Comes in 2022. Last year they released the single ‘Wondering’ and this year ‘Too Fast’.
Says Sarah of the song, 'we really wanted to put a fresh, new, country twist on those 1960s romantic bops. I’m so obsessed with that era in music, especially with melody. It’s influenced me in a lot of ways. "Too Fast" is about slowing down and enjoying the moment in a world where we're always so eager to move on to the next thing. It's about appreciating where you are right here and right now.'
In addition to creating infectious, memorable recorded music to the world, The Buckleys are also one of the greatest live acts you could ever hope to see - it's always hard to put the experience of a gig into words because so much of it is about the moment, the energy and the dynamics in the room, but I've tried, and also tried to ask them to describe what they do when I spoke to them not long before they headed to the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Their sibling dynamic has something to do with it, but not all, and I hope you enjoy watching or listening to this talented trio talk about the music they make together.
For more about The Buckleys: https://www.thebuckleys.net/
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Delilah Rose is an artist originally from Western Australia, now resident in Queensland, who released the album Moxie in 2022; the latest - and last - single from the album is 'Jack's House'. As Delilah Rose and the Gunslingers she released the EP Good Grief! in 2018. She is also the host of The Song Café and of Australian Songwriting Retreats.
The next instalment of The Song Cafétakes place at The Cave Inn in the Brisbane suburb of Woolloongabba on 25 January 2024 at 7 p.m. and is a First Nations focused event featuring Sue Ray, Aunty Maggie Walsh and Georgia Llewellyn. You can buy tickets here.
Rose also runs the Crap Song Club as an extension of Australian Songwriting Retreats and the next one starts on 31 January - more details here. On top of all of that she writes songs and runs a household with young children, and mentors other artists, and has an expansive view of creativity and creative practice. It was so interesting to talk to her.
For more on Delilah Rose: https://delilahrosemusic.com/home
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Darlinghurst is a Golden Guitar Award-winning act from Melbourne. Originally a four piece, it was announced in December 2023 that they were moving forward into 2024 as a duo comprising original members Cassie Leopold and Pagan Newman, and they have a great new single, ‘Unapologetic’.
'"Unapologetic"’s message is this – by all means, listen to other people’s opinions, but don’t disregard your own. Don’t be afraid to disappoint if you don’t meet others’ expectations,' Leopold has said of the track. 'Unapologetically know your own worth; fight for it if you must. Success comes in the lonely hours, and it can be awfully lonely when it feels like it’s you alone against the world, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut and jump.'
I spoke to Newman about the song, and about her longstanding friendship and collaboration with Leopold, plus their upcoming shows at the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival. She lives and breathes music, and is passionate about the band's new direction, as you'll find out.
For more about Darlinghurst: https://www.darlinghurst-band.com/
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Good Will Remedy are a four-piece alt-country band from Brisbane with members Will Lebihan, Mitch Reid, Dave Newman and Rob Penman. They have released six albums and played over 1000 shows since 2018. The latest is Sunshine State.
The title of the new album is 'more a state of mind than location,' says songwriter, singer and bassist Will Lebihan. 'The title track is an anthem to all things good and positive - oh and Queensland of course!'
Lebihan wrote most of these songs during and following the COVID period: 'I'm fortunate to be able to write and do some basic demos at home, and that certainly helped me refine the songs a lot more this time around. The other guys also had the ability to record some of their parts and send them back to me which was really great fun.'
Recently I spoke to Lebihan about the album, the band's history, and his own rich musical history, and found an artist who is not only highly productive but curious and passionate about his craft.
For more about Good Will Remedy: https://goodwillremedy.com/
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Michael Carpenter is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who has several musical projects on the go at any one time. Michael Carpenter and the Banks Brothers have released 3 albums and an EP and have two nominations in the 2024 Golden Guitar awards. Michael Carpenter and the CRC (Country Rock Collective) have released three singles. And that is, really, just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to Carpenter's work.
This interview was a great opportunity to find out how Carpenter manages all the different aspects of his musical world, which involved talking about organisation and how it's essential to productivity. In the process he had many interesting things to say about creativity and how he sees it and works with it. In general he was fascinating to talk to so hopefully you find him just as interesting to listen to.
For more on Michael Carpenter: https://www.mcarp.com/
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Graeme Connors has been a musical artist for over 40 years and released 20 albums, as well as winning a few awards along the way. He has not only written songs for his own recordings but for other artists as well, including the late Slim Dusty. Those songs are now collected in a new book, My Lyrical Life.
Connors has had - and continues to have - such an interesting musical life that there was much to ask him about, and his perspective on songwriting and his role as a songwriter was fascinating. We also spoke about the process of putting the book together, and his upcoming shows at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which will be quite different to each other - details and links below.
Sunday, January 21: Capitol Theatre, Tamworth NSW –The Songwriter… 50 Years On - Tickets
Friday, January 26: Tamworth Town Hall, Tamworth NSW – The Performer… 50 Years On - Tickets
For more on Graeme Connors: https://graemeconnors.com/
To buy My Lyrical Life: https://graemeconnors.com/product/graeme-connors-my-lyrical-life/
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mild language warning
Henry Wagons is known to many as the host of Tower of Song on Double J and to many others as the head honcho of the band Wagons as well as a solo artist. His latest album is South of Everywhere and it was recently nominated for an ARIA award.
Wagons is also one of the most dynamic live performers anywhere, of any time - never not completely entertaining, regardless of song or venue, small audience or large. When I interviewed him not long before Christmas it was a great opportunity to talk about the art and craft of his performances, and he gave fascinating insight into that as well as his development as a musician and songwriter, and his recent UK tour. There's also some discussion about tennis because we're both tennis players - but sport is relevant to music too!
Wagons is playing the Tamworth Country Music Festival with Lachlan Bryan on 25 January 2024 at 2.30 p.m. - tickets here. He's heading back to the UK and Ireland in late February and March.
For more on Henry Wagons: https://www.wagonsmusic.com/
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Melbourne four-piece band Kingswood - whose members are Alexander Laska, Fergus Linacre, Josh Koop and Jack Davies - released the country-rock album Home early in 2023 then followed it with bluegrass album The Tale of G.C. Townes. In and around these releases they played over 100 shows across Australia, and they are heading to the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2024 (details below along with other dates).
Just before Christmas I spoke to founding member Fergus Linacre about the contemporaneous recording of Home and The Tale of G.C. Townes and about the world of Townes the character, as well as delving into the history of the band and their massive touring schedule.
See Kingswood live:
Thursday 25 January Tamworth Hotel Tamworth Tickets
Friday 2 February Alice Springs Brewing Company Alice Springs Tickets
Saturday 3 February Mayberry Darwin Tickets
Friday 9 February All Seasons Hotel Bendigo Tickets
Saturday 10 February Wool Exchange Geelong Tickets
For more about Kingswood: https://www.kingswoodband.com/
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Singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddle player Bonnie Kellett is one of the busiest live performers in Australia, between solo performances and touring with Amber Lawrence. But in 2023 she also found time to release her debut album, Hidden Spirit, and a completely new single, ‘Bare Feet’.
Having seen Kellett play several times in 2023, with Amber Lawrence and under her own steam, and when we spoke late last year I was keen to find out more about her and discovered just how rich her background in music and performance is. It was a very interesting conversation and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know Kellett better, as I did.
(My tripod fell over twice during the interview - out of hundreds of interviews it's ever happened before - and the second time I managed to not set it up again properly, so you'll see the top of my computer for the last few minutes.)
For more about Bonnie Kellett: https://www.bonniekellett.com/
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When 'Sinner', the debut single from Central Coast (NSW) artist Ruby Shay - featuring her band The Red Horse - was released in October 2023 it was immediately clear that Shay is an artist with power and presence. Her voice is rich and captivating, layered with so much emotion and compassion that it was obvious in that song she had much to say and one song was never going to contain it all.
Having now heard her second single, 'When They Call Me', due for release in early 2024, it's clear that impression was not misplaced. Interviewing Shay recently gave me the opportunity to find out more about this singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and we were quickly in the territory of life, death, art and inspiration. Shay brings her whole self - light and dark, shades in between, past, future and present - to her music and I loved talking to her about it all.
For more about Ruby Shay: https://www.instagram.com/rubyshaymusic/
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Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle both grew up in South-east Queensland and met through sport. One afternoon a decade ago they jammed together, and as Route 33 they have played together ever since. They’ve released two albums: The Switch in 2017 and Coro Drive in 2019.
They now have a new single, ‘Summer You’, a pop-country anthem that was produced by Matthew Copley. It marks a new songwriting era for the pair, who wrote the song together, and they have plenty of plans for the future, as I discovered when we spoke recently.
For more about Route 33: https://www.facebook.com/route33entertainment/
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Shyanne Irwin is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who grew up in the Hunter region of New South Wales and currently lives in Newcastle. She released the album Out of This Town last year and has a brand new single, ‘Where I Want to Be’.
'Last year was my first year of living away from home and studying at uni, so this song has all the feelings of loneliness and sadness of moving away,' says Irwin. 'It’s all about leaving behind familiar faces and the memories of a small town to pursue my dreams in the city and how I navigated that change. Despite the feelings of loneliness, it’s also got a feeling of purpose and determination because I know I’m where I should be for my future.'
Irwin is a multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer and songwriter, and it became clear during our recent chat that she is passionate about and devoted to music, and to sharing it with others.
For more about Shyanne Irwin: https://shyanneirwin.com.au/
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Jo Caseley is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales who recently released her moving third album, High on Heartstrings. It’s been a big year because she also attended the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth at the start of the year.
In this interview Caseley talks honestly about the challenges of finding time for a creative life amidst marriage, motherhood, running a household and running a business. She also talks about the songs she hasn't released, and what's ahead at the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival.
For more on Jo Caseley: https://www.jocaseley.com/
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Zac Cross Band are a four-piece from Rockhampton in Queensland with members Zac Cross (lead vocals, guitar), Lachlan Plant (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe O'Shaughnessy (bass) and Bailey Connor (percussion). They released the EP Times Like These last year and have an album in the works.
Their new single is ‘Too Far Gone’, which was initiated by Connor. 'Bailey was constantly sending me lyrics,’ recalls Cross. 'They all had a similar sentiment in that feeling of missing someone. The feeling just straight up sucks. So, we wanted to make a song that tells a story of a fresh love and those first-
time feelings that you experience with someone new.'
Recently I spoke to Zac Cross about the song, the formation of the band, and about his own songwriting process, which comes from a place of authenticity and a willingness to connect with an audience.
For more on Zac Cross Band: https://www.zaccrossband.com/
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Les Thomas is a Naarm/Melbourne born and based singer and songwriter whose his first album, Survivor’s Tale, was released in 2013. His latest album, All My Friends are Superstars, was released this year. His songs are thoughtful, compassionate and vivid evocations of daily life, and they are just as impactful performed live as on the record.
Thomas also runs the website Unpaved, which documents the music scene in his home town, and has a background in journalism. When we spoke recently he had lots of interesting things to say about songwriting, community and activism. It was a great pleasure to interview him.
For more on Les Thomas: https://lesthomasmusic.com/
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Katie Brooke grew up on the land and - after time away, including some years in Tamworth - has returned to live on the land in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales. She released a self-titled EP in 2020 and her debut album, Sticks, Stones and Stories, last year. She now has a really lovely new single, ‘Too Far Down’, which is actually a song about standing up for oneself.
'“Too Far Down" is a vulnerable song,' Brooke says. 'It speaks of comparison and the temptation to stray from your path, abandoning yourself in attempt to seek approval or personal gain.'
We spoke recently about the song, the album and Brooke's musical life - as well as some of the more esoteric parts of creativity.
For more about Katie Brooke: https://www.katiebrookemusic.com/
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Denvah is a singer and songwriter from central Queensland who has had a big 2023 and the year isn’t over yet. She was the winner of the 2023 Gympie Music Muster Talent Search, a 2023 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist and has just been named the winner of the Groundwater Kix Start competition. She released an EP in 2020 and there have been other singles since. Her latest is ‘Do Without’.
The song is, says Denvah, 'the result of me stopping and comprehending all that had happened, almost as if the song was a diary entry. The writing process for this song happened quickly, for I feel the lyrics consist of all the things I never said, so it spilled out from my head to paper rather fast.'
We talked about the new song, and other songs, and also about Denvah's experiences with those prestigious competitions.
More about Denvah: https://www.denvah.com/
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James Johnston’s debut album RAISED LIKE THAT made history as Australia’s largest debut country album. It has reached #1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums (All Genres) and the #1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums. Johnston has spent over 115 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Country Hot 50 National airplay chart, amassed over 55 million global streams, delivered six #1 airplay hits, received two Golden Guitar awards (from six nominations) and played many festivals.
I first interviewed Johnston towards the end of 2021, with the interview published in January 2022, and the trajectory of his career has been absolutely no surprise. Johnston worked diligently at honing his performance and songwriting skills for years before he recorded and released even one song. Since those first singles he's also become expert at social media, something we discussed in relation to his single 'Same Songs'. This latest interview is the fourth time we've spoken, and this time it's about the album, which is a magnum opus from an artist who is only just beginning. In this chat Johnston talks about how being 'raised like that' was the theme for not just that first single but the album itself. We also spoke about his current tour.
For more about James Johnston: https://jamesjohnston.com/
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Originally from Bega in New South Wales, Corey Legge now lives in Wollongong. He’s a prolific songwriter, releasing three albums in quick succession and now anticipating a fourth, produced by Nash Chambers. Legge's latest single is ‘Friday Nights’.
It would be easy to say Legge is a prolific songwriter, given his output, but it's probably more correct to say that he's a committed one, because that word more accurately reflects his consistency and work ethic, balancing other work with his music, never resting on his laurels.
This year he’s also done some touring in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium, and we talk about that as well as 'Friday Nights' and the upcoming album.
For more about Corey Legge: https://www.coreylegge.com/
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Shara Rose is a singer, songwriter and professional dancer, so music is in all aspects of her life. Originally from Perth, she now lives in New South Wales. This year she’s been on tour with Jason Owen and Tania Kernaghan, and she’s been releasing singles, ‘Coming Home’ and the latest, ‘Four Chord Song’.
Shara and I had a long conversation because she has many interesting and insightful things to say, apart stagecraft and performance, songwriting and music in general. We also spoke at length about her song 'Hold On' and what inspired it: her experiences with endometriosis. I appreciated her candour about the difficulties this condition has presented her with as a performance and no doubt others will appreciate having their experiences acknowledged simply by her talking about them, given that endometriosis is a chronic condition that affects many women yet it's not talked about as openly as it should be.
For more about Shara Rose: https://www.shararosemusic.com/
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John Spence was a member of the 1990s band The Fargone Beauties, which turned rock songs into bluegrass songs and whose members included James Gillard of The Flood. Since then John has worked behind the scenes in the music industry but he's now back behind the microphone with the songs 'Burning Sky' and '(Everybody Wants to be a) Winner'.
'Burning Sky' is the story of young friends who undertake an adventure to the far west in search of mining work. 'The idea was to dedicate a year or so of hard labour to build a cash reserve to set them up for later endeavours,' says Spence. 'But ongoing droughts and tough economic conditions bring about the demise of the town and its industry, forcing some hard decisions about whether to pursue their outback dream, or head back to the city. It is not an entirely fictional story, and based on the ongoing challenges of remote communities in ever deteriorating harsh environments.'
Spence has had a fascinating career that has now brought him back to original music. It was great to have the chance to find out more about all of it, including the story of how The Fargone Beauties came to be.
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Kayla Mahon is an artist from Gore on the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand who was the winner of the coveted 2000 and 2008 New Zealand Overall Gold Guitar Award. She was also one half of country music duo The Heartleys, releasing two albums. This year she has been working on a new solo album and from it comes the new single ‘Love’s Got a Witness’.
'This song was inspired by one of my best friends who was out dating,' says Mahon. 'My friend had met someone pretty special and she wasn’t sure what was happening, she had never been in love before. Seeing her light up when she talked about him, and sharing her feelings of butterflies I could see in no time she would be falling in love. It was so gorgeous to witness something so magical for her. If you have been lucky enough to fall in love, let this song take down memory lane.'
Mahon and I talked about the song and her rich family musical history, which continues through the youngest generations.
For more about Kayla Mahon: https://www.kaylamahon.com/
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Nathan Lamont grew up around Wagga Wagga in New South Wales and has been a performer for several years, appearing on television show The Voice twice, as well as twice being a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist, and for good reason: Lamont is a wonderful singer. He has now released a country-pop single, 'Drink You Up’.
The Wiradjuri man forged his musical path from a young age, despite some obstacles, including going in and out of foster care. It was his stepmother Millie who brought him into country music, as she was the president of the Leeton Country Music Association.
Lamont says of his songs, 'I try to write music that is uplifting or positive, I struggle to tap into my struggles as it unravels too many unaddressed things from the past.' New single 'Drink You Up' is a glorious tribute to Lamont's wife, and I asked him about that and many other things when we chatted recently.
For more on Nathan Lamont: linktr.ee/nathanlamontofficial
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Jimbo Stokes grew up on the land near Tamworth in New South Wales and spent the first part of his working life in the corporate world in Sydney before moving back to the New England region, where he now works in the arts. He released his exceptional debut single, 'Atlas', last year then followed it with 'Headed Country'.
His latest single is 'Same Damn Walls', which - like his first two singles - has elements of his personal story in it and was produced by Rod McCormack. All three singles have shown Stokes to be an artist with a clear vision of the stories he wishes to tell and the skills to bring them to audiences clearly and appropriately to each song. His training as an operatic tenor has no doubt helped with his delivery, but it all stems from his desire to be authentic as an artist. Stokes is working on an EP, and we talked about that, his songwriting and more.
More about Jimbo Stokes: https://jimbostokes.com/
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Kiara Rodrigues grew up in Far North Queensland and she now lives in New South Wales. Over the past few months she’s released the singles ‘High School Reunion’ and ‘Message in a Bottle’. Her latest single is the powerful ‘Ain’t Your Rehab’.
Says Rodrigues: 'I wrote this song thinking about how sometimes we go into relationships thinking we can fix someone and put them back together again. That can often come at the price of our own wellbeing, and its inevitably unachievable.'
We talked about the new song and Rodrigues's plans for her EP, which will be released before the end of the year. She is a songwriter with a talent for writing memorable melodies and covering relatable subjects with a fresh perspective, which means you never know what to expect from her songs - in a good way. It was great to have the chance to talk to her again.
For more about Kiara Rodrigues: https://www.kiararodriguesmusic.com/
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Mikhail Laxton is a singer-songwriter from the KuKu Yalanji tribe in Mossman, Far North Queensland, who now calls the province of Ontario in Canada home. Laxton's music has influences of Americana, country, folk rock and blues and all of those are present on his excellent self-titled debut album. There's a range of stories and moods on this album; what the songs have in common is that they're irresistible.
Laxton and I had a wide-ranging conversation when we spoke recently, talking about how songwriting helped him manage depression, what it was like to embark on a career in a different country, and the Rabbitohs. And given that many years ago I did a stint on Canadian university radio and a street-press music magazine, I relished the chance to find out what was happening in the Canadian music scene, of which Laxton is now a part. Hopefully he'll return to home shores at some point, though, so we have a chance to see him play these wonderful songs live and experience the passionate entertainer who is so evident on the album.
For more about Mikhail Laxton: https://mikhaillaxton.com/
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North Queensland artist Josie released her debut single, ‘Down Here’, earlier this year and it’s had over 140 000 streams already. Her latest single is ‘Freight Man’, which she wrote with multiple Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins. The song is a tribute to her truck-driving father, and it was recorded with producers MSquared.
'"Freight Man" struck a chord with them, they knew it had to be one of the songs we recorded,' says Josie. 'The vocal recording for this song was way different to "Down Here", I sang through the entire song top to bottom three times, and that was it. This song’s performance just came so naturally filled with passion and emotion, which made the recording process for this one so easy.'
During our recent chat Josie talked about the song as well as the significant health challenges she has had to manage in order to pursue her music dreams. She was a delight to talk to, as she was the first time I interviewed her.
For more about Josie: linktr.ee/josieofficiall
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Sweet Talk are a six-piece band from Melbourne who released an EP last year and now have a brand new single, ‘Warm Love’. Two of the six members are brothers Tane and Soren Walker, who talked to me about the formation of the band and about the song - and also about their musical bond. It is immediately evident how much regard they have for each other as humans and musicians, and that set the tone for the rest of the interview. At the risk of sounding outrageously twee, their affection for each other matches the title of the song. They were an absolute pleasure to talk to.
'Warm Love' has a video clip - which you can see below - and you can see Sweet Talk live on the following dates:
27th October – Bridge Hotel – Castlemaine, VIC
28th October – The Eastern Hotel – Ballarat, VIC
29th October – The Barwon Club – South Geelong, VIC
3rd November – Music on the Hill – Main Ridge, VIC
4th November – Archies Creek Hotel – Archies Creek, VIC
10th – 12th November – Blues at Bridgetown – Bridgetown, WA
For more about Sweet Talk: https://www.sweettalkmusic.com.au/
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Matt Joe Gow and Kerryn Fields are compatriots from Aotearoa New Zealand who both live in Melbourne. As individuals they have both released albums, Joe Gow with his fourth album, Between Tonight & Tomorrow released earlier this year, Fields with her second album, Water, in 2021. Now they are collaborators, releasing the single ‘Your Heart of Gold’ earlier this year and with a new single, ‘Love Ya Like I Can’, and an accompanying tour (dates below).
For two strong individual performers with their own interests and identities, a flowing, fruitful collaboration isn't a foregone conclusion. In this interview Joe Gow and Fields not only talk about but demonstrate why theirs works, not as a sum that is greater than its parts but a different entity that is at once formed yet shifting. Their first two releases - so different to each other yet complementary - indicate that whatever they shift to next, it will be inherently worth listening to.
See Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields live:
Oct 16 – Brunswick Ballroom, Wurundjeri (Melbourne) VIC **
Oct 18 - The Great Club, Gadigal (Sydney) NSW **
Oct 19 – El Horses, Dharawal (Nowra) NSW
Oct 20 – Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Wodi Wodi NSW
Oct 21 – Bootleggers, Dharug/Gundungurra (Katoomba) NSW
Oct 22 – Petersham Bowls Club, Gadigal (Sydney) NSW
Nov 10 – Odessa at Leavers Hotel, Dja Dja Wurrung (Crewswick) VIC
Nov 11 – House on The Hill, Wurundjeri (Melbourne) VIC
Nov 18 – The Junk Bar, Meanjin (Brisbane) QLD
Nov 25 – Marysville Music Festival, Taungurung (Marysville) VIC
** Supporting Melissa Carper & Summer Dean
For more about Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/
For more about Kerryn Fields: https://www.kerrynfields.com/
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Jeremy Edwards is a singer and songwriter from Thirroul in New South Wales who has performed with his band, Dust Radio, as well as releasing music under his own name. Ghosts is his latest album and it is a collection of songs that are poignant, sometimes bittersweet and ultimately hopeful.
Edwards made Ghosts with a cohort of friends and collaborators. '2021-22 was a prolific time for me regarding writing and collaboration,' he says. 'Being able to create through this period was such a gift and was often with dear friends who I admire greatly, friends with who I’ve shared much joy and sadness in the last years.'
When Edwards and I spoke recently we talked about that joy and sadness, about his musical life and all sorts of other things.
For more about Jeremy Edwards: https://jeremyedwards.au/
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Benny Elder is a singer and songwriter from Brisbane who has released several singles, the latest of which are 'Longing for Change' and 'She's Still Blowin' in the Wind'.
Elder says of 'Longing for Change' that it 'is for everyone out there that works themselves to the bone chasing big dreams, and a life they think is going to make them happy. It’s coming to the realisation that enjoying the journey is the most important part of the process, and trying to slow down and observe what’s around them before it’s gone is the secret to fulfilment.'
While music is Elder's present, and he is fully immersed in it,
it wasn't his past: he's a mechanical engineer by trade, and I asked him about that as well as his songwriting and singing.
For more about Benny Elder: linktr.ee/_bennyelder
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J.V. Rail are a four-piece alt-country band from Western Australia who have released several singles over the past couple of years, the latest of which is ‘Enough for Me’.
Says the band of their new song, 'In a world of show, greed and constant need for attention, "Enough For Me" is the antithesis it seems many need reminding of. Simple, small town country life with its simple pleasures that mean the most. Fun, friends and family. It tells the stories of hard-working people hitting the weekend. A cold drink, Friday night football, clean wheels and good company. What more do you need?'
Recently I spoke to Jon Veitch (the J.V. of J.V. Rail) about how the band came together, how it was named and what lies ahead.
For more on J.V. Rail: https://www.instagram.com/jvrail/
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Angus Gill is a Golden Guitar winning singer, songwriter, musician and producer who always has one interesting project or another on the go. His latest is the album Departure & Arrival, recorded with Seasons of Change, who also appeared on his album 3 Minute Movies. Across all of his music Gill is a thoughtful, observant songwriter who excels at selecting details of life which become stories in his songs.
Gill is in the middle of planning a departure of his own, to Nashville, Tennessee. For a prolific songwriter and songwriting collaborator, it's a natural destination. Before then, though, he is looking ahead to the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival, where he'll play two shows, on 21 and 26 January.
For more about Angus Gill: https://angusgill.com.au/
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Katelann Maree is a singer and songwriter from Miles in Queensland who released her debut EP, the bittersweet Different Kind of High, in 2021. She is an artist who is dedicated to improving as a performer and songwriter and open to learning all the time, attending the Academy of Country Music as well as the Gympie Song Muster, where she has collaborated with other writers including Linc Phelps and Amy Ryan, with whom she wrote her latest single, 'Let Him Go'
Katelann Maree has plans to record and release more songs - when she finds the time amongst a full life that includes two children, running her own business and other responsibilities. In the meantime her recorded music gives us an insight into her life and hopes for the future.
For more about Katelann Maree: https://www.facebook.com/katelannmareemusic/
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Jazmyn is a photographer, music video creator and designer from south-east Queensland. She is also a singer and songwriter who has released her debut EP, Garden, which is full of heart and soul and lovely melodies.
The title track was the first single from the EP, followed by 'Mother' and new single 'Lay Your Guns Down', for which Jazmyn has - appropriately, given the other work she does - made a stunning video. Final tracks 'God and I' and 'Keep Getting Greener' round out a five-track package that has been a long time in the making, given Jazmyn's enduring passion for music.
We discussed Jazmyn's musical background, the new single and its video, and much more - for anyone looking to be inspired by someone who lives in constant creative flow, it's well worth your time.
For more about Jazmyn: https://www.jazmynproduces.com/
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Cass Hopetoun and Blake Dantier both released debut albums in 2022, Hopetoun with Not Your Typical Bride and Dantier with Dry Season, and both found themselves nominated for the 2023 Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year. In the past year they also got married and became parents, so there's been a lot going on.
While it may seem natural for the pair to record together, they've only now released their first duet ‘Some Things Never Get Old’. It was produced by Dantier and Simon Johnson, who worked together on Dry Season, and mixed by Matt Fell, who produced Not Your Typical Bride. It's a dream team for a song that's all about appreciating moments and memories.
We spoke recently about 'Some Things Never Get Old' as well as songwriting process and those competing Golden Guitar nominations.
For more about Cass Hopetoun: https://www.casshopetoun.com.au/
For more about Blake Dantier: https://blakedantier.com.au/
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Andy Penkow released his second album, Love, Lies & Dirty Dishes, last year and and received a Golden Guitar nomination for Bush Ballad of the year. He has already released some brand new music this year, the singles 'Driving You Home' and his latest, ‘Aussie Rain'.
‘As a full time musician, I get the amazing opportunity to travel across Australia and visit some pretty neat places,’ Penkow explains. ‘I first visited a small town in outback New South Wales called Coonabarabran a few years back and I felt an instant connection. There was something so special and unique about it. The people, the land, the history, the nighttime stars, it really moved me. “Aussie Rain” is a love letter to the town, to thank them for being part of my journey as an artist, singer and songwriter.’
Recently I spoke to Penkow about the song and its video, as well as his travels to Nashville and Canada, as well as what music means to him.
For more about Andy Penkow: https://www.andypenkow.com/
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Small Town Romance is a duo from Melbourne whose members are Flora Smith and Jim Arneman. After releasing their self-titled debut album in 2016 they released the single ‘I Don’t Believe You’ in 2020. Their latest single is the enchanting ‘Home Fires’, taken from their forthcoming second album.
Both Smith and Arneman have rich musical backgrounds. Arneman is a part of a grand Australian country music lineage: his mother, Anne Kirkpatrick, is the daughter of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean and a cherished artist in her own right. Smith too has taken a fascinating path through playing, writing and performing music, as I discovered when I talked to them both recently.
Arneman is also a filmmaker who not only created the documentary 2020 Slim & I but makes the video clips for Small Town Romance, and we spoke about that too.
For more about Small Town Romance: https://www.smalltownromance.com.au/
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When starting an interview, even with artists I've interviewed before, I have no expectations about which direction the conversation may take. Part of the fun and fascination of interviewing is the not-knowing: anything can happen, and it is always going to be interesting.
Before interviewing Victorian artist Matt Malone I knew that in For the Term of My Natural Life, his third LP, he'd produced an album full of epic mini-tales (perhaps that's a contradiction in terms, but it fits here) and thought there would be a story there about, well, storytelling. The interview moved away from music fairly quickly but came back to it, and over its course Malone was indeed fascinating to talk to. The interview could have gone much longer but attention spans being what they are, we kept it under half an hour, so you then have time to go and listen to his album.
For more about Matt Malone: https://mattmaloneandtheholyspirits.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-term-of-my-natural-life
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Eloise Rayner is a singer-songwriter from Sydney and Zara Lindeman is a singer-songwriter from the Riverina region of New South Wales. They attended the Academy of Country Music together and have recorded a new song, 'Fallin' for a Cowboy'.
It was great to talk to this talented pair about how they came to write together and what they have planned, and how they work together given the geographic distance between them. The interview was done on the day they recorded their single, so the experience was very fresh in their minds.
For more about Zara Lindeman: https://www.facebook.com/zaralindemanmusic/
For more about Eloise Rayner: https://www.instagram.com/eloiseraynermusic/
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Camille Trail is a Queensland artist who was nominated for a Golden Guitar for Best New Talent after releasing her impressive debut album, River of Sins, in 2021. The album was top 5 in the ARIA Country chart and also led to a Queensland Music Award nomination.
Since then Trail has played at Folk Alliance at Kansas City and released a new song, ‘Gotta Get to Know You’. When she wrote the song, says Trail, ‘my long-term partner and I had split up and it was that moment where … what do I do now? I moved to a whole new place, I got new friends, new hobbies, completely started over. Everything is new and different and exciting now and I wanted the music to reflect that as well.'
Trail is a powerful singer-songwriter and her new song is further proof of that. It was a pleasure to speak to her recently about that and find out what she's been up to lately.
For more about Camille Trail: https://www.camilletrail.com/
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Kaylens Rain was formed by siblings Glen Harrison and Kaylee Stewart. They released two albums of great country pop, In Our Blood in 2016 and Found in2016, then took a long break to focus on their young families. Kaylens Rain have now returned with Stewart's husband, Joel, as a member and a new song called, appropriately, ‘One Song Brings You Back’.
The song was originally pitched to the band in 2018 by Nashville-based writers Brett Rutledge and Jessica Campbell Waterman. 'We instantly fell in love with the ideals and meanings these words had for each of us at the time,' says the band. 'In collaboration with Brett and Jessica, we were able to rework the lyrics to tell our own story and added it to our live set. After spending the last few years raising our young families, it was a matter of finding the right time to release music again.
I spoke to Harrison about the song, about playing music with his sister, and more besides.
For more about Kaylens Rain: https://www.kaylensrain.com/
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Felicity Dowd is a singer-songwriter from the south coast of New South Wales and CMAA Academy of Country Music graduate who released her first single, ‘Blue Skies’, last year. Her latest song is the quite lovely ‘Honeycomb & Glue’.
'This song has seemed to connect well with so many different people. It’s about the couples that don’t make sense on paper, they’re a bit abrasive, but no matter what, they’re strong relationships and stick together through thick and thin,' says Dowd of her single.
'They support each other through hard times. This can also relate to families, and all those connections that can last through as many different circumstances as possible - that’s a beautiful thing. I think of this as a mature love song because they’re stuck in love. The song is also very Australian.'
Dowd spends a lot of her time on the road, living in a caravan while studying at university and playing gigs. It was such a treat to talk to her recently and find out more about this talented, inspiring artist.
For more about Felicity Dowd: https://www.felicitydowd.com.au/
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Tammy Moxon released the album Drive Me Sane in 2019 then the brand new single ‘Fighting Chance’ earlier this year. At the same time as writing and recording music she keeps up a brisk performing pace in her hometown of Townsville in Queensland.
Moxon now has a great new follow-up single, ‘Comfy’. 'It was the first song I wrote in that three months of the initial pandemic shutdown,' says Moxon. 'I was determined to write a happy love song ... The definition of "comfy" according to me – the state of contentment in a relationship. Knowing, without a doubt, that your partner is right for you. Feeling like you can be yourself in his presence and still get butterflies.'
Moxon and I had a chance to chat about 'Comfy' and quite a few other things.
For more about Tammy Moxon: https://www.tammymoxon.com/
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Luke O’Shea has won a lot of Golden Guitars – sixteen – and two of those were won this year for the song ‘South East Queensland’ and its video, which O'Shea co-directed with Jay Seeney. The last time O'Shea won a Golden Guitar for a video it was only last year, for ‘Long Way round’, performed with Ashleigh Dallas and the video also co-directed with Seeney.
O'Shea has now reunited with Dallas for the single ‘Next Best Thing’, which is also the title of his forthcoming album. They are a fantastic pair, bringing joy and depth to their joint projects, as they do to their solo work. O'Shea is always interesting to talk to and this time we talked about 'Next Best Thing', making music videos, songwriting and more.
For more about Luke O'Shea: https://lukeoshea.com/
See Luke O'Shea at Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival (NSW) - https://www.kangaroovalleyfolkfestival.com.au/tickets
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Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan have so many awards and nominations between them that you'd be reading for a while if they were listed, but suffice to say they are two of the most eminent singer-songwriters in Australian music and luckily for us they decided to work together as The Pleasures.
They have released several singles, including 'Every Story Has Two Sides, and have now released their debut album. It is called The Beginning of the End but hopefully it is just the start for this pair, who have brought their formidable talents, skills and experience to this project along with considerable respect for each other and an openness to whatever their collaboration may bring. And it has brought a singular album that is full of fire, reflection, melancholy and momentum.
I spoke to Britt and Bryan about it recently, and what a fascinating chat it was - an insight into the process of bringing this magnificent album to life.
For more about The Pleasures: https://thepleasuresmusic.com/
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This year Queensland artist Brittany Elise has been named a finalist at the Independent Country Music Awards for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year, and she has recently returned from performing at CMA Fest in Nashville. Last year she was a Grand Finalist in the Toyota Star Maker competition and released her second album, Just Be. She has just released a brand new song, ‘Something About This Town’.
'I wrote this song about all the beautiful small-town people in sunny Queenslandwhere I live, who have always believed in me. I also took inspiration from the people and places I have visited on tour and finished with the feelings I felt whilst living in Nashville, Tennessee,' says Brittany Elise of the song.
We talked about the new song and Brittany Elise's four months in Nashville, where she played CMA Fest, as well as her songwriting.
For more about Brittany Elise, including tour dates, go to: https://brittanyelisemusic.com/
Listen to 'Something About This Town' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3YZzVnU
Listen to 'Something About This Town' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1UxAKBAttPaTJFHUoELrQa?si=U4hPp75SQqqAPPsEmLAMFA
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A few months ago country-pop artist Chloe Styler released the EP Side A, always with the intention of releasing Side B, which she now has. Side B is more introspective in tone that its sister release, with first track and current single 'Hometownless' leading listeners deep into Styler's heart.
'These five songs mark the end of a six-year chapter of my life, and to be honest, I’m really looking forward to leaving these memories in the past,' says Styler.
In between her A and B Sides Styler played at CMA Fest in Nashville, which was far from the first festival she's played as she's appeared at Falls Festival, Gympie Muster, Deni Ute Muster and Groundwater.
She is also not resting on her laurels, as I found out when we spoke recently, as she is already working on new music.
For more about Chloe Styler: https://www.chloestyler.com/
Listen to Side B on Apple Music: https://apple.co/45QD3ou
Listen to Side B on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0IqgLQnE3JCcNmdj71B1Oi?si=emqTuQQFRwaZV0rInwNDLg
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Earlier this year Matt Joe Gow released his fourth album, the excellent Between Tonight & Tomorrow, then he set out on a tour of his homeland, Aotearoa New Zealand with compatriot Kerryn Fields and they released the song ‘Your Heart of Gold’. There will be more releases from the pair but Joe Gow has also returned to the title track of his album and with longtime collaborator Andrew Pollock recorded a different, remarkable version of it, after a strong audience response to the song as he has toured it in Australia and New Zealand.
The reprise version of 'Between Tonight & Tomorrow' is the single from the EP Closer to Tomorrow, which also features electronic remixes of the song, suggested by sound engineer Chris Elliott. Joe Gow and I had a chat about this project recently - and while an interview wouldn't usually focus on one song alone, if ever a song deserved it, this is the one.
For more about Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/
Listen to Closer to Tomorrow on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3YVP8WX
Listen to Closer to Tomorrow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1dHmenNYjzlW0IfMxNEA2i?si=r6aCFgnHSdOx4hLC49pn7g
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Chris Carrapetta is an alt-country artist from Sydney who released the EP I’m Not a Stranger last year and recently released the album Nothing Left to Lose, which contains the singles 'This is Not the End' and 'Golden Mile', and showcases Carrapetta's soaring vocals.
'The title Nothing Left to Lose is mostly about expressing the idea that once you get to a certain point in your life where you stop caring so much about what people think about you and who you are, it’s about feeling comfortable in who you are in your own skin and feeling less that you have to try hard to fit in or be someone you are not,' says Carrapetta.
We spoke about the album recently, and delved into Carrapetta's musical past.
For more about Chris Carrapetta: https://www.chriscarrapetta.com/
Listen to Nothing Left to Lose on Apple Music: https://apple.co/47Gh8Su
Listen to Nothing Left to Lose on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3gQb3tphgnTBZmrKU7EFPy?si=GO8ntXhXQjGSARjJNgjvIg
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TC Cassidy released the album Travelling Heart last year after a long absence from country music (and we talked prior to its release). It was nominated for a Golden Guitar for Traditional Country Album of the Year, which was quite the comeback. And the theme of a comeback is also present in TC’s latest single, ‘Alive Again’.
Once again Cassidy recorded with Angus Gill, who produced Travelling Heart. 'We were talking about what to record next when Angus mentioned this song that he wrote with Alan Mackey, Tim James and Rivers Rutherford,' says Cassidy.
The song was born in 1976 when Mackey was working with TV show Countdown. 'Alan started writing the song, but then shared the concept with Angus (decades later), and they co-wrote it with Tim James who has written for Chris Stapleton and Rivers Rutherford who wrote 'When I Get Where I’m Going" for Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton,' says Cassidy.
The theme of 'alive again' has special resonance for Cassidy who has, as I discovered in our latest interview, overcome considerable challenges in order to be able to embrace music again.
For more about TC Cassidy: https://www.tccassidy.net/
Listen to 'Alive Again' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3KR6fUh
Listen to 'Alive Again' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1VWrQSrvdXdINdU10CukfF?si=a3b64d357b964373
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Jade Holland has released two albums, Dream Wild and Leather & Les Paul, and followed them last year with the completely infectious single ‘Oh My Heart’. She now has a new single, ‘Wild in Me’, which is captivating in a different way.
The song was written by Holland with Alys Ffion, and is, says Holland, 'a story about how sometimes we carry our heartbreaks through to the next relationship and don’t really notice that they are holding us back from finding "the one".' But, says Holland, 'Jade says: 'Once you meet "the one", finally those heartbreaks all seem to disappear. It makes way for this new found love in your life and those small pieces of you that were being held back, have now been embraced by this new human who loves you for exactly all that you are.'
During our chat Holland talked candidly about the writing and recording of 'Wild in Me' as well as other aspects of her life as an artist and how she embraces not only the wild in her but the wild life of creativity.
For more about Jade Holland: https://jadeholland.com/
Listen to Jade Holland on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3KLmoKK
Listen to Jade Holland on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0fHLzgaigV23z0vU2cji3h?si=YzkbcA53T5Oki3lxiaNgcA
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Megan Baragry is a singer and songwriter from Goulburn in New South Wales who released her first single, ‘How Can I Not’, last year and has recently released her second, ‘Me and Carrie’. The song was inspired by Carrie Underwood, and almost didn't happen after Baragry had early doubts, as I discovered when we chatted recently.
And during the course of our chat I learned that Baragry is also inspired by Australian artist Amber Lawrence, who invited her on stage when she was eleven years old and sparked the musical fire in her. Baragry will be supporting Lawrence at her show in Goulburn on 13 October.
For more about Megan Baragry: https://www.facebook.com/megan.baragry.3/
Listen to Megan Baragry on Apple Music: https://apple.co/45eeWQA
Listen to Megan Baragry on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7E4mFRLVGB8SR84LVwLAFR?si=VqQDnZCvQ1ygwHvlekuOug
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Melburnian Clint Wilson released his debut album Dark Water in 2018. Another Death in the Family followed in 2020, reaching number 12 on ARIA Australian Country Charts and number 2 on the iTunes Country Albums Chart.
For his third album, LA, Wilson left Australia to record in California - as the album's title suggests - although this came about mostly through happenstance. While the country music influences are still there in Wilson's music the location of the recording has had a sonic influence on the songs, which have a different - one might say sunnier - tone than those of his previous albums. We talked about that, and other things, in our recent interview.
For more about Clint Wilson: https://www.clintwilsonmusic.com/
Listen to LA on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3OvPPBD
Listen to LA on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4g9bl0pHWcK6o9L64XvBMa?si=9sS2ifORQ3K7cmvLUZ_8Rg
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Jessica Luxx is a country/folk singer from regional South Australia who released her debut single, ‘Heavy Lifting’, last year. She has a new single, ‘The Temple’, ready for release soon. We talked about her music, of course, and the conversation also took an unexpectedly esoteric route ... but it all comes back to music in the end.
Luxx is a passionate artist who loves lies performance, and on 18 August she will play at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Adelaide for the Ramblin’ (Winter) Moon Revue with her band, which features Tom Kneebone (The Audreys, Max Savage), Jamie Harrison (John Schumann), Robin Anthony (Pocket String Quartet, Goanna) and Travis Demsey (The Living End).
More about Jessica Luxx: https://jessicaluxx.com/
Listen to Jessica Luxx on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3rZBWEa
Listen to Jessica Luxx on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bxVJyEMC9991UI7RBwO9b?si=KhacBSO6RpyUhW0mPa9t9g
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There is a saying, 'A rising tide lifts all boats', and it's probably been used too much, or maybe I've heard it a lot lately, but it has another use and that is to in part describe Fanny Lumsden, eight-time Golden Guitar winner, ARIA winner, singer, songwriter, bandleader, video maker from the Upper Murray region of New South Wales. And that is because Lumsden is a rising tide.
Through her commitment to excellence in writing and making songs, in live shows, in music videos - in general a commitment to making great art - she inspires and encourages others to make their art. Through her Country Halls Tours she takes music to rural communities that may rarely, if ever, have musical artists come to play and that helps those communities feel connected and acknowledged - and also just helps them have a great evening's entertainment.
All the rivers of Lumsden’s creativity - to continue the water-based references - flow towards her recorded music, and her fourth album, Hey Dawn, is out now. It is also her fourth work of excellence in a row, and another reason why she's a rising tide: she keeps setting the bar for herself higher, and she keeps going over it. Everyone benefits from that, especially the listening public. I'm a fan for a reason and make no attempt to be impartial in covering Lumsden’s music, so it was an honour to talk to her about Hey Dawn recently.
For more about Fanny Lumsden: https://www.fannylumsden.net/
Listen to Hey Dawn on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3KoGslN
Listen to Hey Dawn on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4OZpg10qc1BvbIq6xvVF9w?si=LQFYYlj8QKydIBaCKHk-Sw
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Nathan Seeckts is a singer and songwriter from Geelong in Victoria who released his first album, The Heart of the City, in 2019. He has been releasing some great singles over the past few months and they can be found on his new album, the richly layered, life-affirming Something Rare and Beautiful.
Seeckts has said of the album: 'I was at a stage where personally things were heading in a more positive direction and I really wanted to capture that feeling of hope in the songs and when we laid everything down in the studio.
'I became acutely aware of all the rare and beautiful moments rushing by us that we often take for granted in our lives and also the thousands of rare and beautiful elements of ourselves as human beings.'
It was a great pleasure to talk to Seeckts recently about the album and the stories behind it.
For more about Nathan Seeckts: https://www.nathanseeckts.com/
Listen to Something Rare and Beautiful on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0qAdIxPe0bL9klDACbQJUw?si=oPEYdog5SKaa8TnN-Ekjgg
Listen to Something Rare and Beautiful on Apple Music: https://apple.co/43SI0eR
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Sari Abbott lives on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, where she plays regularly. She was a finalist in this year’s Toyota Star Maker and has won or placed in several other competitions.
Her latest single is ‘Feels Like Home’, which was added to ABC Country, ABC's Grass Roots program and Australian Country Radio, and has had airplay on KIX Country, ABC Sunshine Coast, Sea FM, Zinc FM, and has enjoyed several weeks on the AMRAP Regional Chart.
The single was started at a musical festival and finished at a Song Culture workshop at Queensland University of Technology, where Abbott worked on it with James Johnston, Jared Adlam and Nolan Lynne.
Abbott will soon be playing at another festival, as she is a finalist in the 2023 Gympie Music Muster Talent Search.
We talked about the song, and plenty more, in our recent chat.
For more about Sari Abbott: https://sariabbottmusic.com.au/
Listen to Sari Abbott on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3q6iULP
Listen to Sari Abbott on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23fxO7nqQTw4TY0O6N4wB4?si=gA_6SOVNQ1GmrtKoKxMgkw
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Billie-Jo Porter was a Grand Finalist in the 2022 Toyota Star Maker and has been steadily releasing singles over the past few months, including 'Upside'. Recently she released her self-titled debut album, which is a ray of musical sunshine.
Says Porter of the album, 'As I geared up to record my album, I couldn't help but wonder - what if this was my only shot at leaving a musical mark on the world? I quickly realised that I wanted to have fun, spread happiness and infuse some pure joy into people's lives! So, I decided to ditch the heartbreak tunes, the "you did me wrong" tracks, and the "screw you" songs.'
The result is a joyous experience for the listener that also gives us an insight into what Porter must be like to see live - and she has dates coming up listed below.
See Billie-Jo Porter live [all dates 2023]:
Friday 1st September - Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour - NSW
Sunday 3rd September - Seaview Tavern, Woolgoolga - NSW
Sunday 10th September - Monthly Hit Of Country, Grafton - NSW
Sunday 17th September - Coramba Hotel, Coramba - NSW
For more about Billie-Jo Porter: https://www.billiejoporter.com/
Listen to Billie-Jo Porter on Apple Music: https://apple.co/44UKGd0
Listen to 'Billie-Jo Porter on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1zUGtJKVnqknBO0dDsRCOC?si=sPcG6fx1RzmRxUD-57WvIg
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Josie is an artist from Queensland who has just released her first single, 'Down Here', although she's already had a long involvement in country music, attended the Junior Academy of Country Music, as a finalist in the 2019 Gympie Music Muster talent search and reaching the Top 10 of the 2022 Groundwater KIX Start competition.
Says Josie of creating 'Down Here', 'I took to streaming services to have a geez at what the top country artists are singing about. I noticed a trend amongst them. They all seemed to have an insatiable thirst for singing about American places and themes. I wanted to show the world that I'm more than just a mimic. I'm a genuine storyteller who can achieve that coveted mainstream sound without having to pretend I've got a deep-rooted connection to every nook and cranny of the good ol' U.S. of A.'
Josie has created an infectious song that depicts many aspects of the wide brown land, and she was also great to talk to in our recent interview - thoroughly interesting and entertaining.
For more about Josie: https://linktr.ee/josieofficiall
Listen to 'Down Here' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3K7CZrQ
Listen to 'Down Here' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0FC44XRBIHsLBg32HpFHTL?si=gS30IMfIQzCMFMAvBeGlfA
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Living and working mainly in Katherine, NT, singer and songwriter Tom Curtain has been playing musical instruments since childhood and writing songs for almost as long. He won Golden Guitars in 2018 for his song ‘Never Never Land’, which was on his third album, Territory Time. He released his fourth album, We’re Still Here, in 2019 and his fifth, Nothin’s Gonna Stop Us, last year. Says Curtain of the album, 'There’re some funny upbeat songs, some serious ones that describe the life out here in the bush and a few really heartfelt songs that is new territory for me but I think they will strike a chord with fans.'
Curtain also runs the Katherine Outback Experience, which was awarded Gold and Silver in 2021 and 2022 respectively for the Best Tourist Attraction at the Australia Tourism Awards. He also takes it on the road several months of the year and will be doing so again from October this year.
We spoke about his music and his other ventures (and adventures). Curtain leads a busy, fascinating life and it was so interesting to hear about it. There's the occasional glitch in the recording - internet connections not always being stable things - but if you persevere you'll no doubt find as much gold from Curtain in our conversation as I did.
More about Tom Curtain: https://www.tomcurtain.com.au/
Listen to Nothin's Gonna Stop Us on Apple Music: https://apple.co/44sgJ47
Listen to Nothin's Gonna Stop Us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7pCI1kdc7TP2KQxvfVv4MC?si=I6Iz-RCsSOmu_nVpPnMcpw
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Darlinghurst are a four-piece band each of whose members has an extensive background in music. When they combined their talents they immediately captured listener attention and chart success. They released their self-titled album in 2021 and won the Golden Guitar for New Talent of the Year in 2022. Their latest single is 'Pretty Doesn't Make You Good'.
Recently I spoke to singer Cassie Leopold, who said of the single, 'Trying to escape what the world sells: "what success should look like" is a narrative that continues and one that has a much further reach than ever before. Our personal internal dialogue, self-deprecating, body loathing struggle is real, and this system is deeply unconscious, yet faithfully repeated.'
See Darlinghurst live:
Friday 11 August - Sooki Lounge, Belgrave - VIC
Saturday 9 August - The Beer Shed, Sydney - NSW
Friday 3 November - SS&A Club, Albury - VIC
Saturday 4 November - Molesworth Blue Grass & Country Music Festival - VIC
December 1-8 - Crusin’ Country
For more about Darlinghurst: https://www.darlinghurst-band.com/
Listen to Darlinghurst on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3PXB8JL
Listen to Darlinghurst on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3OjwjBrXRtZtqqmrjc9RYA?si=Nns9xeIcR4i8T5_MhpEFHQ
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Travis Collins has released seven studio albums and one acoustic album of his last record, Wreck Me. He has had number 1 albums and won eight Golden Guitar awards and is one of the most dynamic live performers you’ll ever see. He now has a new album, Any Less Anymore, which debuted at #3 in the ARIA album charts, #2 in Australian artists and #1 on the country chart.
The album was created during the enforced time off the road brought about by the pandemic, when Collins could essentially no longer do his job. It is a life-affirming album that also showcases Collins's tremendous ability to entertain, and we spoke about it recently.
More about Travis Collins: https://www.traviscollins.com.au/
Listen to Any Less, Anymore on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3XNBm8k
Listen to Any Less, Anymore on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7kzmnHQbgOfSfAl5oYw0w5?si=FuAEwIWVQN6X1BsoWU0hRg
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Charlie Fittler played his first TCMF at the age of 13 and attended the Academy of Country Music in 2018. He’s just released his debut EP, Dying Breed, which is a collection of four original songs and one Slim Dusty cover. Fittler lives and works on the land and brings this experience to his country music, which is a testament to how much he has developed his craft from a young age.
Fittler is joined on the EP by highly regarded musicians such as Jeff McCormack, Rod Motley and Mick Albeck, and the EP was produced by Bill Chambers. While all that experience in the studio obviously enhances the recording, the songs and Fittler's voice are the stars on this EP.
For more about Charlie Fittler: https://charliefittler.com.au/
Listen to Dying Breed on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JMUf5x
Listen to Dying Breed on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2lCFeVMLwSQeM2IOXFgOZ2?si=4TXfAUi-TlOPdDAL3VZfeg
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Sometimes an artist finds themselves in the middle of a cultural moment, in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that moment is on its way to being movement. Sometimes the artist helps create the movement. With her second album, Girlhood, Hayley Marsten has created something that is both moment and movement, and an excellent piece of work as well. It is about self-conception and misconception, about power and powerlessness and the fortitude forged by both. Mostly it’s a great ball of wondrousness, a collection of infectious songs and mostly not country music but because Marsten has come from the country lineage I’m not resisting the opportunity to cover it. Nor was I going to refuse the opportunity to talk to her about it.
For those new to her music, Hayley Marsten released her first EP, Lonestar, in 2017 and her debut album, Spectacular Heartbreak, in 2019. That album would garner several award nominations, including for the Golden Guitar for Alt Country Album of the Year. Girlhood was preceded by singles including ‘Drowning Myself’ and ‘I Am a Rich Man’, and produced by Dan Sugars, Kieran Stevenson, Michael Muchow and Cody McWaters. Marsten will be back on the road touring it later this year.
More about Hayley Marsten: https://www.hayleymarsten.com/
Listen to Girlhood on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3r9x3Id
Listen to Girlhood on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3tfDLxTgUs4Kty1pFj1IXW?si=FbWjgezmSLqyv0XjAJuYBQ
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Shane Nicholson has released 11 studio albums and 1 compilation of B-sides, won 3 ARIA awards and 16 Golden Guitars. His most recent album, Living in Colour, won the Golden Guitar for Album Of The Year as well as Alternative Country Album Of The Year, and the single 'And You Will Have Your Way' won Single Of The Year and APRA Song Of The Year awards. Living in Colour was also Nicholson's seventh consecutive ARIA-nominated album.
Nicholson is also one of Australia’s most in-demand producers and he is now embarking on a new tour, Living in (More) Colour, which will cover his 25 years in song - you can find the dates below.
I never take for granted the opportunity to interview Nicholson because, as noted elsewhere on Sunburnt Country Music, this whole enterprise likely wouldn't exist without his music. Twelve years ago this week, in fact, his music kept me from dropping off the perch in a very practical way and it was while I was recovering that I started writing about Australian country music (you can find that story on the website). So I'll always say 'yes' to talking to him for that reason - and also because he is a titan in Australian music and has lots of interesting things to say. Plus he’s a great storyteller and you can be in the audience for his stories, and stories in song, on this new tour.
Shane Nicholson live dates:
July 6 - Camelot Lounge, Marrickville NSW
July 7 - Qirkz In The Hunter, Abermain NSW
July 8 - The Press Basement Bar, Tamworth NSW
July 14 - Trinity Sessions, Adelaide SA
July 15 - Murray Delta Juke Joint, Goolwa SA
July 20 - Live In The Lyre, Upwey VIC
July 21 - Live In The Glen, Glengarry VIC
July 22 - Memo Music Hall, St Kilda VIC
July 28 - Smith’s Alternative, Canberra ACT
July 29 - Milton Theatre, Milton NSW
August 10 - Music Lounge, Wollongong NSW
August 11 - The Venue, Bowral NSW
August 25 - Brass Monkey, Cronulla NSW
August 26 - Lizottes, Newcastle NSW
More about Shane Nicholson: https://shanenicholson.com/
Listen to Shane Nicholson on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3XCc0dl
Listen to Shane Nicholson on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2VGE8KFAYM3yE0qOsDGf6t?si=ID4a39btRzeu-Qyy1zDsFQ
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Brooke McClymont is one third of top-selling, award-winning Australian country music trio The McClymonts who have over five #1 ARIA Country Albums, 40 million streams, two ARIA Awards and fifteen Golden Guitar Awards. Adam Eckersley has won five Golden Guitar Awards and with The Adam Eckersley Band released two high-charting albums. Adam has also won awards for his songwriting.
Together Brooke and Adam released their first album in 2018 and earlier this year won three Golden Guitars for singles off their brand new album Up, Down & Sideways, which is a glorious package of, as the title suggests, ups and downs but also joy and celebration. They sound like they're having fun on the album, and that makes for a wonderful listening experience that carries on into their live shows.
It was also lots of fun talking to them recently about the creation of the album, those live shows and other things. mild language warning
More about Brooke and Adam: https://www.brookeandadam.com/
Listen to Up, Down & Sideways on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3NDsUDM
Listen to Up, Down & Sideways on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5wEvYYwZUu3PPFnGZZVDgJ?si=XWSAzoHdRp2h04CF1Xki6w
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Mel Lukin released her first EP in 1999 and in recent years has released some lovely country-pop singles, including ‘Caught Up in a Dream’. Earlier this year she released the song ‘One Way Ticket’ and her latest single is 'Look Up', which is an inspiring song that exhorts us to take in and appreciate the world around us.
'I wrote this song with talented songwriter, Nolan Wynne, in May of last year,' says Lukin. 'We sat down together and just started chatting about life as you do when starting the writing process. He has young girls also, and we shared common experiences and concerns which made writing this song so fulfilling. I had the title "Look Up" and the concept for a quite a while, and Nolan and I rounded it out together and created the song "Look Up". Currently, kids and teens hardly engage in face-to-face conversations, and is is crucial for us to help our youth in redirecting their attention towards the real world. Together, let’s encourage our young people to “Look Up”. This song means so much to me personally and it’s my honest to date.'
We spoke about the single and about Lukin's varied and fascinating career in music.
More about Mel Lukin: https://www.melissalukin.com/
Listen to Mel Lukin on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3raVQvy
Listen to Mel Lukin on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0di5dnBv4GqF8pqvDVjEi5?si=xG8PAXn0ShSmYJKYHsgrgQ
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Described as, 'A reformed thrill-seeker with stories so weird and wild they beggar belief', Brisbane-based artist Lisa De Angelis is the creator of sultry, intriguing country music songs that included last year's 'Hunger Pains'.
Her latest single is 'My Sister's Blue Suitcase', and it provides the latest evidence that De Angelis is a performer of captivating powers, as anyone who has seen her play live can attest. She is an artist dedicated to creating pieces of magic, whether recorded or on stage, and it is difficult not to be enchanted. This all comes after a very trying time as De Angelis has had to learn how to adapt to a change in how she experiences sound in the world - a challenge for anyone, let alone a musician.
Interviewing De Angelis is as entertaining as seeing her play, and she has lots of great stories to tell.
More about Lisa De Angelis: https://www.iamlisadeangelis.com/
Listen to Lisa De Angelis on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3NNDMk4
Listen to Lisa De Angelis on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/65Vbqlfd3K4hBmqPmC839t?si=aMMZ7ZN3ReeWDDYH0Wox7w
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Caitlyn Shadbolt has just released her third studio album, the irresistible Bloom & Surrender, which is a tale in two halves. Says Shadbolt of the concept behind the album: 'For the most part, I’m a happy-go-lucky, country-loving, small town girl. But like everyone, I also have a side that is reflective and introverted. I really wanted to share both sides of me, but was unsure how best to deliver it. So here we are, with two ‘sides’, sharing the extroverted and introverted side of me!'
Bloom & Surrender follows Shadbolt's 2020 album Stages, but she first came to public attention on The X Factor in 2014. Shadbolt is an accomplished songwriter as performer, and her excellent country-pop sensibilities are on display on her new album. We spoke recently about her new songs.
More about Caitlyn Shadbolt: https://www.caitlynshadbolt.com/
Listen to Bloom & Surrender on Apple Music: https://apple.co/43T8ePa
Listen to Bloom & Surrender on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5FW3FwReSPdFC5fVANPqqe?si=PXwg1fpETk23pCZXsOSf5g
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Claudia Tripp is an artist from Perth in Western Australia who was a Grand Finalist in this year’s Toyota Star Maker competition. She released the single ‘I Only Miss You When I’m Drunk’ late last year and now has a new single, ‘I’m Never Drinking Again’.
Says Tripp of the song, which she wrote with Rachael Fahim and MSquared: '"I'm Never Drinking Again" was a song title idea I held with me for a long time, loving that it's been said by almost everyone. When I brought the song to Rachael and MSquared, this song gained a whole new life. True, raw heartbreak can manifest itself into the things you love and hurt you all over again. I've been there; I've tasted a drink, heard a song, had something I used to love hit me like a ton of bricks in the wake of a heartbreak.
'I hope anyone who relates to this song is comforted by this; in the same we say this phrase hungover on a Monday morning, and then find ourselves having a beverage the following weekend, one day you'll be able to love and enjoy those painful things without that person, no matter how much you think "I'm Never Drinking Again".'
Tripp and I caught up recently to talk about the song, her Star Maker experiences, and her plans for the future.
More on Claudia Tripp: https://www.claudiatripp.com.au/
Listen to Claudia Tripp on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3NpKOdf
Listen to Claudia Tripp on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5I0T6nRUCHMYv7zytK5zPB?si=RvaVdR33TXeOYv73V9MnoQ
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Steph Wood is a singer-songwriter from Sydney who recently released her self-titled debut EP, which is a collection of five songs that are heartfelt, sometimes sad, and all memorable. While Wood has been singing for most of her life she has only recently started performing and recording, and she has wholeheartedly embraced songwriting, gaining formal qualifications.
Wood and I spoke recently about what songwriting means to her, and also what it's like trying to find gigs in a city where venues are hard to come by.
More about Steph Wood: https://linktr.ee/stephwoood
Listen to Steph Wood on Apple Music: https://apple.co/449c9qY
Listen to Steph Wood on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0JHnWPp8aS0OQQHDWJ2xIM?si=ubMSNJI7SmWnCcA1RLuvaA
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Jackson James has an extensive background in the music industry. As an artist he's opened for Rick Price, Diesel, Melanie Dyer and Caitlyn Shadbolt. As a writer he co-wrote the songs 'One More Kiss' and 'Never See Me Cry' by Hudson Rose; he also produced both songs and made the music videos.
Now James has released his own single, ‘Get Around to It’. James says, 'This song started from a guitar riff that came to me one day on the way out the door. I later sat down with my partner/co-writer Melanie Dyer, and we talked about wishing for more hours in the day to get around to all the things that often get pushed aside when you re living a busy life.'
At the time we spoke he was in Nashville preparing to play with Dyer at CMA Fest, and when they return to Australia they're off to the Big Red Bash.
More about Jackson James: http://www.jacksonjames.com.au/
Listen to Jackson James on Apple Music: https://apple.co/42I1N09
Listen to Jackson James on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7eznUN0qicxJvFOBLg9LeA?si=gMEZ5yr7S6OekbPEloqxZQ
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Tyla Rodrigues released the single ‘All She Is’ last year and since then she’s been busy appearing at festivals and touring Queensland. She has a brand new, and rather haunting, single called ‘Way Out West’. As I discovered when we spoke recently, Rodrigues approached the writing of this song differently to previous songs, and it was great to have the opportunity to find out more about her process.
Rodrigues has an exciting few months ahead, appearing at Groundwater Country Music Festival on the Gold Coast with her band. Other dates are listed below.
More about Tyla Rodrigues: http://www.tylarodrigues.com.au/
Listen to Tyla Rodrigues on Apple Music: https://apple.co/42M2Trx
Listen to Tyla Rodrigues on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SwnYxaLFxCb2LQ7Kl7JAV?si=OFqQbS__SdmMt-kHTsbciQ
See Tyla live:
Friday 23rd June
Lefty’s Music Hall
Brisbane QLD
Thursday 10th – Saturday 12th August
The Overlander Hotel
(Rodeo Week)
Mount Isa QLD
Friday 20th October – Sunday 22nd October
Groundwater Country Music Festival
Gold Coast QLD
Follow Sunburnt Country Music on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunburntcountrymusic/
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Jo Caseley is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales who cut her teeth busking on the streets of Sydney's Kings Cross. She also has an extensive background as a writer, having studied journalism; she is not only a skilled storyteller but one who is passionate about music and connecting with people through it.
Caseley has released two albums, Dusty Dirt Track and Albany; she attended the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth earlier this year. Her latest single is 'Special', which followed the lovely 'Houseless Never Homeless', and there are more releases on the horizon.
More about Jo Caseley: https://www.jocaseley.com/
Listen to Jo Caseley on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JAr3yL
Listen to Jo Caseley on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6dX0wCdS5fXSNeP0tEoGOK?si=yS9ffm5vTZqQciNk368XLw
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Tammy Moxon is an artist from Townsville in Queensland who released her debut album, Drive Me Sane, in 2019. She intended to go back to the studio in 2020 but, of course, all those sorts of plans were derailed, but it was worth waiting for her new single, 'Fighting Chance', with the promise of more songs to come.
During our recent interview I discovered all sorts of interesting things about Moxon, including how many hundreds of songs are in her repertoire for gigs, and some of the more interesting places she's played. She is an artist for whom art has been a matter of life and death, literally, and she is courageous in talking about this. There is surely more to discover about Moxon, and as she releases more music over the coming months we will hopefully find that out.
More about Tammy Moxon: https://www.tammymoxon.com/
Listen to 'Fighting Chance' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3P7fLVX
Listen to Tammy Moxon on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7oi727ZzPVqpqpNN2RQ4SJ?si=qrd0pirNSEWPidinWe2Jow
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Sunburnt Country Music website: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
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Mark Moldre is a singer-songwriter from northern New South Wales. He fronted four-piece band Hitchcock’s Regret for a seven-year period and recorded his first solo release in 2009. His previous album was 2019's Fever Dreams.
Moldre's latest album is Nambucca Fables, which combines melodic Americana and indie pop-rock. It is a moving, often dreamlike exploration of grief - specifically, Moldre's grief after his mother died. She grew up in Nambucca Heads, NSW, and it is to this place and his memories of it that he turned to inspire the new album.
More about Mark Moldre: https://markmoldre.com/
Listen to Nambucca Fables on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3OPc0o9
Listen to Nambucca Fables on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4K8kk5rnEOWo4dJbu7oq8v?si=SUMqPbWlQ7uJc7GKA6eg-w
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Nathan May is an Arabana, Yawuru and Marridjabin man who grew up in the Northern Territory and who is now living on Kaurna country in South Australia. Last year he released the single 'Fix It Up' and it became immediately clear that he is an artist of great talent and subtle power.
May has now released the unforgettable single 'It's Gotta Start Somewhere'. 'I wanted to write a song about my grandmother and how she grew up,' says May of the song, which he wrote with Luke O'Shea and James Gillard. 'My great-grandfather is a white man from overseas and my great grandmother was an Aboriginal woman born in a creek - my great grandfather did not allow Aboriginal culture in the house, and it was not allowed to be taught to the kids.'
From that family history comes a song in which each line is a story, and consolidation of May as an artist to watch. It was a pleasure to talk to him again about the new song and the other songs he's working on.
More about Nathan May: https://linktr.ee/nathanmaymusic
Listen to Nathan May on Apple Music: https://apple.co/45Ie7jD
Listen to Nathan May on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1MSZWYELfRVbVsRH9I8HdT?si=AzMy6RcwRQ-gEdTHiOAIeQ
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Watty Thompson is an artist from the Ottway Ranges in Victoria and he has just released his self-titled debut album, which is an epic collection of songs that dig deeply into the trenches of life and which are ultimately life-affirming.
From writing about and appreciating the natural world in 'City to Run' and 'The Beauty That Surrounds Ya' to honouring the end of a life in 'Mountain Sage' and 'Coming Home', Thompson is clearly a songwriter who is open to everything around him and finds a way to bring the fullness of his experiences into song. It's an emotional album, and an enriching listening experience, and it was great to have the chance to ask him about it.
More about Watty Thompson: https://www.wattythompson.com/
Listen to Watty Thompson on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3C3ggJe
Listen to Watty Thompson on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2nlZs6shm9m46OTyLaGl52?si=11Yam80MQy-LvRg9iOwtoQ
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Sydney-based artist Hayley Jensen is one of Australia’s most powerful live performers, with a range and dynamism honed since childhood, although she first came to public attention on Australian Idol several years ago. Since then she has released three studio albums, the latest of which was Breakin' Hearts in 2021, and she has twice been nominated for the Golden Guitar for Female Artist of the Year.
Jensen has a brand new single, ‘Bring it On’, and if you need a song to motivate you to do just about anything, this is the one. 'We’ve all felt undervalued, underestimated and taken advantage of at some point in our lives,' Jensen has said of the song. 'Just as we’ve all had self-doubt & questioned our worth. "Bring it On" is an empowering anthem about standing up for yourself and finding the strength to fight for the life you deserve. I really hope this song inspires others to do just that!'
To find out more about the song I spoke to Jensen recently, and our conversation also covered stagecraft, about which she had many fascinating things to say, and Jensen's development as a performing artist.
More about Hayley Jensen: https://www.hayleyjensen.net/
Listen to Hayley Jensen on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3OtuIS6
Listen to Hayley Jensen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pYmedjA9VyTosPNO3OaTi?si=fas8XPYERza5jTCM9HU4Dw
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Kaitlyn Thomas has been a singer and songwriter from a young age, and her first single, ‘I Wish’, was released in 2011. Since then Kaitlyn has honed her country-rock and pop sound and taken it all the way to our TV screens, appearing on the 2023 season of Australian Idol. Her latest single is the anthemic ‘Pretty Little Thing’, which came about, she says, 'after being told I don't fit the mould and what is typically expected as a female artist. I wanted to write about embracing who I am and female empowerment.'
We talk about the song, Idol and many more things besides, because Thomas is great fun to talk to as well as being interesting, and above all passionate and knowledgeable about music.
More about Kaitlyn Thomas: https://www.kaitlynthomasofficial.com/
Listen to Kaitlyn Thomas on Apple Music: https://apple.co/45lF3p1
Listen to Kaitlyn Thomas on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4bgeZZHRLzODQZ8b5DoYuo?si=yoWqSn6ATZy6W0z0ab_Ang
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Ben Mastwyk is the ringmaster of his band The Millions and the creator of three albums, the latest of which, Livin’ on Gold Street, was released in 2021. Mastwyk's music is thrillingly entertaining while also being lyrically thoughtful, proof that an artist can be dedicated to putting on a great show - even in recorded form - while also being interested in the structure and integrity of the songs. Or, indeed, proving that those things are intrinsically related.
Mastwyk's new single released in March is called ‘Actually’ and it is a cosmic country trip that’s taking him all the way to two shows in South Australia in May 2023. Those shows are listed below and tickets are available at https://sixteenhandshigh.com
BEN MASTWYK & HIS MILLIONS (Melb)
HILLSBOROUGH (Bris)
BENNETT & CO. (Adl)
plus, Special Mystery Guest
FRIDAY 26 MAY - The Wheatsheaf Hotel, Adelaide, doors 7 p.m.
SATURDAY 27 MAY - Three Brothers Arms, Macclesfield, doors 2 p.m.
More about Ben Mastwyk: https://www.benmastwyk.com/
Listen to Ben Mastwyk on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3M1ZgHL
Listen to Ben Mastwyk on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4J6Xy1loJviGDmhoWfqkH2?si=_QQDOFZ3SyudrurKqfxi7Q
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Maddie Cail is Gold Coast singer-songwriter who is a relative newcomer to the country music scene, releasing songs such as 'Look At You Now' and 'Good Girl Gone Bad' over the past couple of years. But she has galloped - pun completely intended - in with a great new song, 'Giddy Up', that is all about taking chances and getting on with things, even if that means accepting that something hasn't turned out the way you want it to.
Cail is also a primary school teacher who, as I found out when we spoke recently, uses music as a teaching tool - which sometimes has her confused with the music teacher! It was a delight to talk to her and find out more about her songs as well as her plans for the next little while.
More about Maddie Cail: https://maddiecail.net/
Listen to Maddie Cail on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3nWRWFc
Listen to Maddie Cail on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1BKgoE8u1DSJQfRxLNPnwd?si=_YohXi9cSqCGFax8chy2PQ
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Brooke Schubert is an artist from Queensland who recently had two different singles released - one on her own, 'New Kids in Town', and another, 'Simple Things' with Route 33. It's not the first time Schubert has collaborated in recent times, as she released 'Simple Then' with Will Day in 2021.
Schubert will be familiar to Australian TV audiences too as she has appeared on The Voice and Australian Idol, and also seems to have a good handle on TikTok! These were vehicles for Schubert to share her longstanding passion for and dedication to music with audiences, and that passion is infectious and inspiring. With new great singles already behind her this year, and more to come, she is bringing that passion to fans old and new.
More about Brooke Schubert: https://brookeschubert.com/
Listen to Brooke Schubert on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3VEmXKB
Listen to Brooke Schubert on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/37AhJFVvcLzRvWWHaHOrlq?si=0FHW2oW1QX-VpsdB6e9szA
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Since Brad Cox first came to our attention in 2018 he has released two studio albums and an acoustic album, and had multiple nominations for awards including Golden Guitars, ARIA and APRA. His first, self-titled album was released in 2018 and showed the breadth of Cox's songwriting skills. His second album, My Mind's Projection, was released in 2020. The acoustic album What's Your Favourite Country Song? was released in 2021.
Once the world shut down Cox was landlocked and he set to creating new music. Singles 'What Brought You Back', 'Single Life' and 'Last Time Last' were released in 2022. Now Cox has released third studio album, Acres, and is now heading out on the road to bring the songs to his devoted fans. Just before Acres was released we talked about that album, the fans and more.
[NB: mild language warning]
More about Brad Cox: https://www.iambradcox.com/
Listen to Acres on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3nzAGWy
Listen to Acres on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7i5lVXY0ro1Y94G6AqlS2e?si=6ovXCJDwSmGCanVNtirdcA
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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LEO is a singer-songwriter of alt-country and folk-influenced songs who travels the east coast of Australia playing her music. In 2021 she released an EP in 2021 and a lovely Christmas single, ‘North Star’. Last year she released an acoustic album that contains what just may be the perfect pandemic song, 'Refund'. It's appropriate because the album sprang from lockdowns when LEO was unable to work - as she made her living as a working musician - and going through intense personal changes.
The album covers heartbreak and renewal, hope and despair and acceptance, delivered with power and subtlety, so it was great to have a chance to talk to LEO about how she became an artist and the writing of the album.
More about LEO: https://leo-o-music.bandcamp.com/album/leo
Physical signed album booklet - https://py.pl/BGzHQ
Digital copy - https://py.pl/9AhhmqWYUnZ
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Copperline are a four-piece band from Sydney and the Blue Mountains who released their second album, Borrowed, Broken and Blue, last year. One of the songs from that album, ‘Lucinda’, has been streamed over 150 000 times on Spotify alone, and their songs have been finalists for the International Songwriting Competition, Tamworth Songwriters Association and Australian Songwriters Association.
The band has been on the road already this year, playing the Tamworth Country Music Festival main stage for the first time, amongst other venues. And singer Bradley Christmas has had another gig at the same time: newly published author. Copperline's latest single is the fierce ‘Gabriel’, which is a provocative tale for modern times, and I spoke to Christmas recently about the song, the album and his book.
More about Copperline: https://copperline.bandcamp.com/
Listen to Copperline on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Nof2Px
Listen to Copperline on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Lmdj1jSSlMAvGYcOJyJef?si=WZNwpNHgQ_us-nCaB0M4Jw
More Australian country music interviews, as well as playlists and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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The second track on Aotearoa/NZ-born Melbourne resident Matt Joe Gow's fourth album, Between Tonight and Tomorrow, released a few weeks ago, is ''Til My Whole Heart Bursts' and there is a sense on this album that Gow has not only committed his whole heart but been prepared to show it to his listeners. It is an album of joys and sorrows and all the layers of human experience in between, in which the title serves the function of metaphor: we exist in this liminal space between tonight and tomorrow, between what is and what's possible. It's also literal, and therefore practical, and the songs on this album give us guidance on how to be in this world, as all great art does.
Gow is a singer and songwriter of considerable experience, and he also produces and writes work for others. Right now he's touring New Zealand with compatriot Kerryn Fields, but before he left we had a chance to talk about Between Tonight and Tomorrow, and other things.
More on Matt Joe Gow: https://mattjoegowmusic.com/
Listen to Between Tonight and Tomorrow on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3n59zm4
Listen to Between Tonight and Tomorrow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2Cp9soDZbLeswqTEfiXH6S?si=vOUcw7wsR8iYeBCBJkrnnw
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Felicity Urquhart has recorded several albums and EPs as a solo artist and as a member of Bennett Bowtell and Urquhart, winning 13 Golden Guitars along the way. She was also the host of Saturday Night Country for several years.
Josh Cunningham is a founding member of The Waifs, who have released 10 albums over three decades and won multiple ARIA awards.
Together Felicity and Josh released the album The Song Club in 2021 and it was nominated for an ARIA and four Golden Guitars, and won the AIR Award for best independent country album. Since then they’ve released the single ‘Bogswamp’ and their latest song is ‘Unsteady (Ever Since You’re Gone)’. As was evident on their album, while Felicity and Josh separately create wonderful music, together they are different and just as special.
More about Felicity Urquhart: https://www.felicityurquhart.com/
More about Josh Cunningham: https://joshcunningham.com/
Listen to 'Unsteady' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3ArjKnO
Listen to 'Unsteady' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4OAj7vt8UTXxx0Ku0VPcTv?si=1ebh-OlzR_yEyEBLQ2_2fQ
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Lily Grace released her first single, 'Annie June', in 2021 and in collaboration with James Blundell. She followed that with 'Sixteen Wishes' and last year 'The Two of Us Meet', which has had over one million streams on Spotify alone. Her latest single is 'Follow My Road' and it's fair to say Lily has been following her own road in creating infectious country pop - and taking it all the way to Nashville, where she's currently based.
More about Lily Grace: https://lilygracelive.com/
Listen to Lily Grace on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3N2YhZQ
Listen to Lily Grace on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/36C2hXqhxu8S68awyDaGQD?si=QICgdL1kTcecpHqj5UDOeg
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Two Tone Pony formed in 2018 with five members who all have extensive musical experience, and they started gigging in 2021. Last year they went into the studio to record some songs with producer Rod McCormack and now their first single, ‘A Life Well Lived’, has been released.
David Kirkpatrick is a founding member of the band, but it is far from being his first foray into music: as the song of Slim Dusty and Joy McKean, Kirkpatrick grew up on the road, learning what it takes to not just create meaningful, entertaining songs but bring them to people. Quite apart from that he's led - and leads - a fascinating life, so it was a great pleasure to talk to him about that, and about how Two Tone Pony came to be and the music they're making. It's a long chat but worth the time because Kirkpatrick has so many great stories to share.
More about Two Tone Pony: https://www.twotonepony.com/
Listen to 'A Life Well Lived' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/445sm1c
Listen to 'A Life Well Lived' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2RYIpaGYsiF8mORplIIVRN
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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While James Keith now lives on the northern beaches of Sydney, he grew up on the land - but his connection to country music did not start there. It's a relatively recent passion, as I found out the first time we chatted, and one he has fully committed to, releasing his debut country rock single, 'Life is Good Today', last year.
Keith has now released a new single, 'Say I Do'. It shows a more romantic side of his songwriting, and is also another step on the road towards his debut album release in the months ahead. Ahead of that, he is throwing himself into playing shows and enjoying every single moment of them, as we talked about recently.
More about James Keith: https://www.jameskeith.au/
Listen to 'Say I Do' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3GNwBUW
Listen to 'Say I Do' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5YTd5snH7QjgyYCFjzTzKT
You can watch our chat on YouTube, or listen in Soundcloud or on the podcast.
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Rusty Pickups is a four-piece band from Toowoomba in Queensland that evolved from an earlier honkytonk project into the more bluegrassy outfit they are today. They recently played at the Tamworth Country Music Festival after a turn at the Gympie Music Muster, and they have plans to range far and wide to other festivals.
The band has released several singles over the past few months and their EP will soon be available on streaming services, although fans seeing them play live can buy a CD. Recently I chatted to Michael Cook - Cookie, as he's known - about the band's origins, what they're up to this year and what the music scene is like in Toowoomba.
More on Rusty Pickups: https://www.rustypickups.com.au/
Listen to Rusty Pickups on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3MMrIPH
Listen to Rusty Pickups on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31xuhHiS7hbSN59eZExlCv
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Over the past few years Laura Frank has released several singles in the country rock/pop genre that have revealed different parts of her story - as well as showcasing her vocal skills - building a portrait of an artist who is steadily gaining fans and recognition. She won the People's Choice Award for Most Promising Future Star at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival, and now she's released the single 'Days Gone By', which is not about wistful reminiscence but, rather, reflection on lessons learned.
Frank has a multitude of skills and creative endeavours, including building her own house - which we discuss in this interview and she's also started a new production company, Orange Schmorange. In short, there aren't many aspects of creativity that she's not involved in, and that makes her both interesting and inspiring.
More about Laura Frank: https://www.laurafrank.com.au/
Listen to 'Days Gone By' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/43xn7Hh
Listen to 'Days Gone By' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/48udXY73A4bxk1ULTAAgCo
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Angus Gill is a Golden Guitar winner as well as a nominee many times over, four this year alone as an artist and one as a producer. He releases music as a solo artist and also collaborates with others. In 2020 he released the album 3 Minute Movies with the band Seasons of Change, who work with Paul Kelly. Now there’s a new single for Angus and Seasons of Change, called ‘Departure & Arrival’, and Angus is about to tour extensively around Australia (scroll down for tour dates).
Gill is a creator in constant motion, and not just on the road - it was great to have a chance to talk about his songwriting process, his various projects and what inspires him as an artist.
For more about Angus Gill: https://angusgill.com.au/
Listen to 'Departure & Arrival' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3zUPrWd
Listen to 'Departure & Arrival' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6A2BFhuBVsXTIfI7Qw7TgU
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Queensland artist Matt Cornell has had long associations with several other Australian performers - he's played with Richard Clapton and Shannon Noll, and in The Baby Animals - but perhaps none has been as strong and long-lasting as that with country-rock star Adam Brand. Cornell has been part of Brand's band and worked as his musical director for several years - but they have never recorded a song together until now.
The title of that song, 'Our Church', comes from something that the pair established during lockdowns that upended their lives because, for the first time in years, they weren't able to play shows. For Cornell, who usually plays dozens of gigs a year, it was a fundamental and unwelcome change, and he needed his friends - that's where 'church' came from, as Cornell describes in our recent chat. Cornell knows first hand about the power of talking about what's on your mind, and of friendships.
More about Matt Cornell: https://www.facebook.com/mattcornellmusic/
Listen to 'Our Church' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3GqRLrF
Listen to 'Our Church' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/1Y4dvnpSu7lLWnM571HWJV
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Blake O’Connor was the 2019 Toyota Star Maker winner and that year released his first album, Everything I Feel. He has now released his second album, Finding Light, which is as uplifting as the title suggests. O'Connor collaborated with other songwriters, including Sinead Burgess, but there is a clear through-line that is all his, and it's true to the album's title, even when there are moments of darkness within some of the songs.
O'Connor is about to head to Nashville for a few months after playing some dates in Australia, and we caught up before he left these shores.
More about Blake O'Connor: https://www.blakeconnor.com/
Listen to Finding Light on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3moQoD5
Listen to Finding Light on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0aPyjPOp8pq8D3YUPOSGVV
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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It doesn't seem like that long ago that Adelaide singer-songwriter Matt Ward released his last album, If I Was in Dallas Tonight, but he has already released a brand new song, 'Nobody Told Me'. Ward actually took a break after the album, not writing or recording, but he has returned to both with vigour and is looking ahead to his new album, due for release later this year.
We spoke recently about what he's been up to and what's ahead. I also threw in a question about his dog, Shooter, because, well, when a dog has his own Instagram account, he becomes a personality in his own right!
More about Matt Ward: https://www.mattwardmusic.com/
Listen to 'Nobody Told Me' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3m9pjUs
Listen to 'Nobody Told Me' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3xUAZiLw9BGuTtWlNdHEuz
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Anyone who has heard a Jayne Denham song won't soon forget it, because Denham never fails to impress. With her powerhouse voice and boundless energy - which she brings to her live shows as well - Denham inhabits her songs, bringing them to vivid life for fans. That was the case on her Golden Guitar-nominated album Wanted, released in 2021, and it's also the case on her new single, 'Moonshine'.
Teaming up with American country-rap artist Colt Ford, Denham delivers the perfect follow-up to the wild western Wanted, and recently filmed the music video with him. It's the first release in what is set to be a busy 2023 for Denham, and we spoke about that and a lot more recently.
More on Jayne Denham: https://jaynedenham.com/
Listen to 'Moonshine' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Gbvkql
Listen to 'Moonshine' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/47xmWxy4WIl1YDtWRO6AvT
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Harley-Davidson motorcycles are famous all over the world, and beloved by many - including Melbourne artist Jason McDaniel. McDaniel has an extensive and fascinating musical history, which we discussed the first time I interviewed him, and after a long hiatus from music he released the single 'A Tall Glass of Country & a Shot of Rock 'n' Roll' last year.
McDaniel's latest single is 'Harley Ride', which was born during Victoria's long lockdown, when riding a motorbike - or anything - further than five kilometres was nothing but a dream. It celebrates not just Harleys but the experience of riding them, and has already been embraced by fellow riders, as McDaniel details in our latest chat.
More about Jason McDaniel: https://www.jasonmcdaniel.com.au/
Listen to 'Harley Ride' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3zngYzu
Listen to 'Harley Ride' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4bkoOZPS3JwULvGdoTB1jn
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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When Parkes, NSW singer-songwriter Raechel Whitchurch released her first new single since her Golden Guitar-nominated debut album Finally Clear, its title came as surprise. That's because it's called 'I'm Not Cool', and anyone who is even a casual observer of Whitchurch's work and life would disagree with that assessment.
Whitchurch grew up as a performing musician in a family band, then, after starting her own family, started releasing music as a solo artist. The result was the wonderful Finally Clear. This was done while running the booking agency Sure Thing and touring even while about to give birth. We talked about all of that recently and, as with the first time I interviewed Whitchurch, there was a lot to talk about. That's because Whitchurch's life is as rich, and cool, as her music.
More about Raechel Whitchurch: https://www.raechelwhitchurch.com/
Listen to 'I'm Not Cool' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/40vVRXw
Listen to 'I'm Not Cool' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4TGBx5ZyRdPXGYJPK5KsRR
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Suzy J is a creative powerhouse from Melbourne who is passionate about performing as well as songwriting - and her talents in the talent have been recognised lately with three of her songs making the top 30 in the Pop/ Country/ Ballad categories in the 2021 Australian Songwriters Association songwriting competition.
Suzy's latest single is called 'With You' and it's perfect for audiences who love country-pop. It will no doubt soon be joined by songs Suzy plans to write on her next trip to Nashville, which has already proved to be fertile ground for her songwriting pen. We talked about Nashville trips, songwriting and her latest single, 'With You'.
More about Suzy J: https://suzyjmusic.com/
Listen to Suzy J on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3G4KSfA
Listen to Suzy J on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6ZIwb0CPGeAkDAmUZ5Efjw
There is a high level of skill needed to release a debut single that makes a huge impact, and New South Wales singer-songwriter Brooke Harvey did that with her first single, 'Southern Sky'. And she has done it again with her new single, 'Little Bird', which features guest vocals from Kasey Chambers.
While 'Little Bird' is no doubt having an impact on listeners, Harvey is looking ahead to the release of her album. Given the events of the past few years, she has needed to be patient - but there is no time limit on heartfelt, impactful songwriting and a singer as powerful as Harvey. We talked recently about the album to come and the songs already released.
More on Brooke Harvey: https://brookeharveymusic.com/
Listen to 'Little Bird' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/40vD2Uk
Listen to 'Little Bird' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5teV2HNQkCHaMvjxVBxQLc
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Jake Whittaker has been a musician for quite a while, but for most of that time he was not performing country music. Whittaker has an extensive background in funk, blues and soul but his heart has long been in country - and he has now released his first country music single, 'Round Here'. Whittaker's range of influences can be heard in the song, which is about escaping the rat race and reconnecting to the country.
While 'Round Here' is his only release to date, Whittaker found himself co-writing with Matt Cornell and Adam Brand on their latest release, 'Our Church', and we talk about that as well as 'Round Here'.
More on Jake Whittaker: https://www.jakewhittaker.com.au/
Listen to 'Round Here' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3LQWJl7
Listen to 'Round Here' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1qNMPH0kNJPsFvHhTqKipC
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Originally from Melbourne, now resident in south-east Queensland, Brook Chivell has been wowing country music audiences for several years with his high-energy live show. Before the pandemic he released the album Fearless Rider, which spawned several singles, including 'Hot Country Girl'.
Chivell waited out the pandemic, as artists had to do, but in the process discovered a wellspring of creativity that has led to the first of several new songs. His latest single is 'Put 'Em Up' and we spoke about it recently.
More about Brook Chivell: http://www.brookchivellofficial.com/
Listen to 'Put 'Em Up' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3nml34k
Listen to 'Put 'Em Up' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6uY7ClpufEJ30NG85SGXga
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
The last time I spoke to Queensland artist Briana Dinsdale she had found out she was the recipient of the Keith Urban Scholarship to the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth, NSW. Dinsdale is not only a great performer but a songwriter with a particular - and interesting - slant on the world, which means her songs always offer something unexpected and wonderful. Sometimes it's a bit of sass, sometimes it's a story that doesn't head where you think it will. And Hinsdale's latest single, 'Chasing Boys', has both of those qualities in spades.
We caught up recently to talk about 'Chasing Boys' as well as Dinsdale's time at the Academy earlier this year - and ended it discussing the Harry Styles concert she was about to attend, so there's a little bit of Harry content in this interview and it was, as it was the last time we spoke, great to talk to her.
More about Briana Dinsdale: https://brianadinsdale.com/
Listen to 'Chasing Boys' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JQTRn6
Listen to 'Chasing Boys' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/17xsFTjBiz2QZvcZOchoer
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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ydney singer-songwriter Kiara Rodrigues released the upbeat single 'High School Reunion' last year then found out she was to be a Grand Finalist at Toyota Star Maker during the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival. Ahead of the competition she released the single 'Message in a Bottle', written with Nashville-based Australian artist Katrina Burgoyne.
Where 'High School Reunion' is about moving on from the past, 'Message in a Bottle' is about dwelling on heartbreak, but what the songs have in common is Rodrigues's song craft and great country-pop sound. It was a pleasure to chat to her recently about the new song, Star Maker, and her plans for the year ahead.
More about Kiara Rodrigues: https://www.kiararodriguesmusic.com/
Listen to Kiara Rodrigues on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Toej1L
Listen to Kiara Rodrigues on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6fbXvs8ey8MIcaWJV3Psmu
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Melbourne artist Sarah Catania has had a busy start to 2023, kicking off with attendance at the Academy of Country Music in January then releasing her new song 'Little She Knows', the follow-up to her debut single 'Venus and Mars'. Catania is an independent artist who has thrown herself into the creative and business sides of music, including writing with artists such as Lyn Bowtell, and with her 'Little She Knows' co-writers Jake Austen and Luke Sinclair. It was great to catch up with her again and hear about her plans for this year.
More about Sarah Catania: https://www.facebook.com/sarahcataniamusic/
Listen to 'Little She Knows' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JM0uab
Listen to 'Little Show Knows' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4WDwvewFY9xpyVtCGVxrqf
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Jax Tonic may be from the northern beaches of Sydney but with family routes in the Central West of New South Wales he has long felt connected to the land. His latest single, 'Country Boy', pays tribute to those who live and work on the land and also brings audiences a second single from Tonic after his first, 'On the Front Foot', was released last year. We caught up recently to talk about country life and country music.
More about Jax Tonic: https://www.jaxtonic.com/
Listen to Jax Tonic on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3Ttmslp
Listen to Jax Tonic on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5eXsOFn9O7A2F47j7ooaG0
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Given the hectic schedule six-piece Sydney band The Mezcaltones had at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival, you'd think they'd want to have a little lie-down before they launch into any new projects. Instead they have gone right back to their busy gig schedule and launched a new album, their fourth, Agavé Soirée, which captures the band's dynamic live sound and will no doubt be a welcome souvenir for their many devoted fans, some of whom make sure they see them in Tamworth every year. And I know this because I've known them for years - Neralita and I used to be in a band together, and I've seen The Mezcaltones play countless times.
So that's the context for this interview with Neralita and lead singer Col Padre, in which we probably all seem a little more familiar with each other than usual. But I haven't seen The Mezcaltones play live that many times because I feel an obligation - I do it because they are very, very good and always entertaining.
More about The Mezcaltones: https://the-mezcaltones.com/
Listen to The Mezcaltones on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JzUEsc
Listen to The Mezcaltones on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7zVI2vohwBoaiDyl8DDzm9
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Last year Tamworth-based artist Ashleigh Dallas won two Golden Guitars, including one for Female Artist of the Year, and this year she took home the GG for Traditional Country Album of the Year for her fifth album, In the Moment. When I interviewed Dallas last year she mentioned she was working on new music, and she meant it: her new single 'Take a Minute' is not taken from In the Moment because it is the first single of her next project.
I've interviewed Dallas several times over the past year and while there's a chance our chats threaten to turn into their own talk show, it's because she's so interesting and inspiring to talk to. Dallas is one of the most creative people you'll encounter, and one who appreciates how fundamental creativity is to her life while also treating it like it's the most everyday thing in her life. So I'll always take the chance to chat to her and find out what she's been up - and what's coming next.
More about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/
Listen to 'Take a Minute' on Apple Music: https://apple.co/42avnMw
Listen to 'Take a Minute' on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/5zIwKhIK9WLrFbd6qgWdJN
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Country music, as its name suggests, tends to have something to do with the country. In its modern form the singers and songwriters of country music may not live on the land but instead inhabit the genre by making storytelling the focus of their work, as stories have long been at the core of country music. Josie Laver is an artist from both strands. In her debut album, Ride This Lullaby, she tells stories that cover a range of experiences and emotions, and some of those are drawn from her experiences living and working on the land near Boorowa, New South Wales.
In my recent chat with Laver we discussed the peculiarly pandemic-era origins of the album, how she came to music - and the Academy of Country Music - and the many parts of her life that she has brought to it.
More about Josie Laver: https://www.facebook.com/laverjosephine
Listen to Ride This Lullaby on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3JcVj1E
Listen to Ride This Lullaby on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5YwgH8CNZvcZReBrYNgLib
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Every music lover has those moments when they hear an album for the first time and know it's going to be with them for a long time - and even when they're not playing it they're thinking about it. Outsider, the debut album from Queensland singer-songwriter Bud Rokesky, is likely to be that kind of album for many a music lover. Rokesky has a compelling singing voice, and that's part of it, but he is also expert at creating stories within songs that hook the listener in and won't let them go. It was, therefore, wonderful to have an opportunity to talk to Rokesky about the creation of Outsider.
More about Bud Rokesky: https://www.budrokesky.com/
Listen to Outsider on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6USFzLPgypeulskHsV78mo
Listen to Outsider on Apple Music: https://apple.co/3L3XIy2
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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In 2019 Sydney artist Ingrid Mae released the album Holy Smoke and she had plans to release a second album a little sooner than 2023 but, as we know, things happened in those intervening years. But great music is welcome at any time and Mae has greeted an album that is passionate and sassy, as well as serious in parts. It may be called Closing Time but no doubt it will open up Mae's music to new fans. In talking to Mae about the album it also became clear that she is an intensely creative person who finds opportunities to make things - not just music - every day.
More about Ingrid Mae: www.facebook.com/ingridmaemusic
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Before the pandemic Queensland artist Will Day was regularly on the road, playing gigs in various states; since the world has started reopening he's found himself on festival stages, off the back of several successful singles, including the latest, 'Always a Girl'. It's always a pleasure to interview Will and this time we spoke about the new single and what he has coming up this year.
More about Will Day: https://willday.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
In between being one of the most in-demand musicians and music video makers in the country, Duncan Toombs found time to make his first album, Steel on Steel. It's a record of Toombs's life, the things that matter to him and those he holds close to his heart, as well as an opportunity for Toombs to demonstrate just why he's so popular with other artists, with his golden vocals and excellent musicianship. And country music fans agree: on release the album went to number 1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart and number 2 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart, and it has returned to that number 1 spot since. Toombs and I spoke recently about the album and his headline show at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
More about Duncan Toombs: https://duncantoombs.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Rory Phillips is from the Tumut region in New South Wales and first released music when he was barely double digits in age. The EP Cars and Guitars came out in 2017 and although Phillips and I disagreed about this, it makes for great listening. In 2020 he released the powerful single 'The Truth', which was a plea to adults to take the future seriously. His latest single, 'Because Boys', looks at what it's like to be a teenage boy now. It's clear that Phillips doesn't resile from writing songs about serious subjects, and he has the skill to create tracks that are as engaging as they are thought-provoking. And although he's still a teenager he's an experienced musician, so we had quite a bit to talk about.
More on Rory Phillips: https://www.roryphillips.com.au/
You can watch our chat on YouTube, or listen in Soundcloud or on the podcast.
Central Coast, NSW-based singer-songwriter Courtney Keil released her first single, 'I Just Wanna Hold You', in 2020 and despite the challenges of that time she garnered accolades and won fans for her uplifting country-pop sound. Several singles followed, each different to the last, and they demonstrated Keil's musical range. Now those singles, and new songs, are contained in Keil's debut album, The Good Kind. It's an album that entertains and also has meaning, by turns moving and upbeat, and we spoke about it recently.
More about Courtney Keil: https://www.courtneykeil.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Queensland artist Jazmyn is the living definition of 'multi-talented': under the banner Jazmyn Produces she makes music videos for other artists, she's a photographer, she works in branding and all sorts of other things. It seems logical, therefore, that she would expand into releasing music herself - and it's also surprising that it hasn't happened before, given how creative she is. Her debut single is 'Garden' and it is a joyous anthem of life and creation that affirms the path Jazmyn has taken into the artistic garden of her own.
More about Jazmyn: https://msha.ke/jazmynproduces#links-1
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Sara Storer is the winner of 21 Golden Guitar awards; her latest album is 2019's Raindance. Her brother Greg has joined her onstage for years, and released his own album, Backwater, in 2010. As solo artists the siblings have quite different sounds, but what they have in common is excellence in songwriting and a commitment to bringing those songs to people. They now have a joint project, and an album: the eponymous SToReR. The last track on the album is 'This Music's For You' and all the way through this rich, satisfying musical journey of an album if does indeed feel as if Sara and Greg are writing music just for us, the audience who is going to cherish their stories and their senses of wonder and humour. It was terrific to talk to them both recently, and they are also on the road - details at www.sarastorer.com.au
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Melody Moko released her first album, The Wreckage, in 2017 and followed with Two Kids and a Radio in 2021, winning a Golden Guitar for Best New Talent to go with the fans she had already made supporting artists like Fanny Lumsden then headlining her own shows. Through those two albums Moko established herself as a songwriter with gravitas and a captivating singer. Her third album, Suburban Dream, has just been released and it continues Moko's commitment to being an unflinching examiner of her own life and of human life, as well as someone who can write and deliver great melodies. Before we started recording this interview I told Moko that there would be no frippery and we'd go straight to the marrow of her album, and Moko was as insightful and interesting as her work suggests. (NB: Around the 16-minute mark there was a break when someone knocked on my door, so there's a slight repetition of subject matter after we started recording again.)
More about Melody Moko: https://www.melodymoko.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Lyn Bowtell is one of the most beloved artists in Australian music, let alone Australian country music, and that is with very good reason: she is an exceptional artist, collaborator, mentor and leader within the industry. Those who have been captivated by her voice will forever be fans, and those who have been taught by her or had access to her knowledge and experience can only benefit from them. Bowtell won her tenth Golden Guitar award this year when her latest album, Wiser, was named Best Contemporary Country Album. That came after she had directed the Academy of Country Music through its 2023 term ahead of the Tamworth Country Music Festival and ahead of Bowtell going on the road. I'm not even going to pretend to not be a huge fan of Bowtell and her music, and that's reflected in this interview.
More about Lyn Bowtell: https://lynbowtell.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Cairns, Queensland artist Amber McIntosh has released several powerful country pop singles over the past couple of years, starting with 'Painted Me Grey'. The latest is 'Wasted'. The song was inspired by Patsy Cline's iconic 'Crazy' and its title takes on two meanings in the lyrics. McIntosh's voice is full of regret and positivity all at once, and it's an intriguing mix, so it was great to have the opportunity to talk to her about the song and her musical background.
Amber McIntosh on Instagram: @ambermcintoshmusic
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Although Central Coast, NSW singer-songwriter Jamie Lindsay grew up listening to country music, there was a time in his life when he veered away from it, thinking it was no longer the right music for him. Over the past few years, though, he has embraced his musical origins and now honours them with his new single, 'The is Who I Am'. Lindsay is always interesting to talk to about the many facets of being an independent artist and producer, and this interview was no exception.
More about Jamie Lindsay: https://jamielindsaymusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
In June last year Alan Fletcher released the EP Dispatches not long after he'd enjoyed playing his first shows at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, supported by his producers Lachlan Bryan and Damian Cafarella. It was the association with Bryan and Cafarella which led, somewhat organically, to the creation of Fletcher's new album, The Point, and those two men, with other members of The Wildes, will support Fletcher on his upcoming UK tour. When Fletcher released Dispatches he thought his days playing Dr Karl Kennedy on Neighbours were coming to an end, as the series was cancelled; now he's fitting in music around acting as Neighbours is back in business. Before that, though, he has those UK tour dates, and we talked about those and other things.
More about Alan Fletcher: https://alanfletcher.net/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Cassidy-Rae has started the year with her next chapter: that is, the single 'The Next Chapter'. As with her previous singles, 'The Next Chapter' strikes the balance of being entertaining and thoughtful. Cassidy-Rae has just returned from a busy Tamworth Country Music Festival and we spoke about that, as well as her plans for the chapters beyond this one. And even though I've interviewed Cassidy-Rae several times now, it's always fun finding out what she's up to!
More about Cassidy-Rae:https://cassidy-rae.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
One of the many great things about the Tamworth Country Music Festival is that it affords festival goers the chance to discover new artists of all ages, either busking or playing their own gigs or at someone else's. That's how I first saw the now 19-year-old Charlie Fittler when he was quite a few years younger than that, and I was impressed by his talent and also how much he clearly enjoyed playing music. Having released one single a few years ago, Fittler is now on the cusp of releasing his debut EP, with the first single, 'Dying Breed', out in the world. We spoke recently and Fittler is still enjoying music as much, if not more, than he did, amongst other things in his busy life.
More about Charlie Fittler: https://charliefittler.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Around three years ago Max Jackson released her debut album, Life of the Party, which was an outstanding collection of country-pop songs, and she has now released a new EP, Out Here. What happened in the interim was that Jackson won the 2022 Toyota Star Maker competition, announced during the delayed Tamworth Country Music Festival in April last year. Since then Jackson has, as the title of her lead single from the EP suggests, runnin', making the most of the opportunities that have come her way thanks to Star Maker and planning for life beyond it too. When we spoke recently I didn't even pretend not to be a fangirl, but for good reason: Life of the Party is one of my favourite albums, and it's been wonderful to see Jackson receive recognition for her skills and talents.
More about Max Jackson: https://maxjackson.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Melbourne-based, Aotearoa New Zealand-raised Kerryn Fields recently released the single and video 'Until You' - it's a love song that is also an example of the joy to be found on the album it comes from, Water. As the album's title suggests, Fields is interested in the elements - earth, water, fire, air, ether - and while her songs are not necessarily focused on them she certainly incorporates them in such a way that the album is infused with the natural world and her delight in it, even as it addresses heartbreak and displacement. Recently I spoke to Fields about the influences in her songwriting, about her wonderful voice and other things.
More about Kerryn Fields: https://www.kerrynfields.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
At the Toyota Star Marker Grand Final at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival in April, Loren Ryan took the stage as one of the ten finalists. She's local to the Tamworth area so the very loud cheers could have been for that when she took the stage - but after she finished the reception was undoubtedly for her performance, which was impressive and impassioned. Ryan did not win that night but she has achieved something few artists do in being selected again as a Grand Finalist, so she'll perform at next year's TCMF. Ryan is already focused on that performance, but she has also been recording and has released the country-pop single 'Bounce Back', so we spoke about that, about her fan-favourite version of Cold Chisel's 'Flame Trees' and her work translating songs into and writing in her language, Gamilaraay.
More about Loren Ryan: https://www.facebook.com/LorenRyanMusic/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
A few weeks ago I interviewed Matt Cornell about the 2023 Country on Keppel festival, for which he is a key artist. At the time he had laryngitis so we couldn't talk for long, but given Cornell's extensive CV - member of the Baby Animals, of Golden Guitar-nominated duo Cornell & Carr, and music director for Adam Brand for many years - there was more to talk about. So when he released 'Stick Around', his first solo single in several years, it was a good opportunity to find out more about his lifelong love of and working life in music.
More on Matt Cornell: www.mattcornellmusic.com.au
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Perth, WA duo Scarlet's Way is made up of singer Katey Gabel and guitarist Shayne Savic. Their musical backgrounds are different but their influences are broad and shared, and these have resulted in a powerhouse rock/blues/country sound that has been documented on the 2017 EP Open Road and now on the single 'Doin' it for Love'. Gabel and Savic write together and perform in various permutations apart from Scarlet's Way, and it all adds up to an intensely musical life. We talked about the new single, their writing process and other things.
More about Scarlet's Way: https://www.scarletswaymusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Chloe Styler is an artist with impeccable country-pop instincts and the songs to show it, having previously released singles 'When Your Light Burns', 'Patient Heart' and 'Sweden' between 2018 and 2020. She has now released a seven-track EP, Side A, with five irresistible originals and acoustic versions of two of those songs. As I discovered when we spoke recently, it's taken some time for Side A to find its way into the world - not only because the pandemic delayed it but because of how time away from performance affected her. Quite apart from being a great artist, Styler is a thoughtful, interesting person to interview, as you'll see.
Interview with Chloe Styler: https://www.chloestyler.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
At a certain point in my recent interview with Sydney-based artist James Keith about his new single, 'Life is Good Today', he said, 'You've only got one life - you've got to have a crack.' Keith has not only had a crack at music but thrown himself into it with passion and commitment, having played live for years even while working full time as a sportsman. 'Life is Good Today' is his first single, taken from his forthcoming album, and it's also his mission statement - this is a man who makes the most of every opportunity and determines to enjoy it as he does.
More about James Keith:www.jameskeith.au
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Tamworth local Ashleigh Dallas won the 2022 Golden Guitar for Female Artist of the Year and she will be attending the 2023 awards as a four-time nominee: for Female Artist of the Year once more, as well as Vocal Collaboration of the Year for 'Let the Girls Sing' with Kirsty Lee Akers and Amber Lawrence, and Toyota Album of the Year and Traditional Country Album of the Year for her album In the Moment. So it's fair to say that Dallas is a golden girl, which also makes it fitting that the latest single taken from In the Moment is its last track, the joyous 'Sunshine'. It was, indeed, a joy to talk to Dallas again about this song, and we spoke just after she'd returned from a songwriting camp at the Dag Sheep Station in Nundle so there's a bit of chat about that too. We always have a lot to talk about so this interview is a long one, but Dallas is always interesting and inspiring.
More about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Although we're meant to be past the worst of the pandemic and all the change is has wrought, that hasn't necessarily meant that everything is back to normal and hunky-dory. People are tired - perhaps a little fed up - and given what's been going on that's understandable. Yet part of what makes musicians, in particular, such an important part of every culture and now more so than ever is their ability to capture an experience, a memory, a place or a time so succinctly and convey it in a way that we can all have a few minutes of respite or joy or escapism - whatever the song brings. Victorian artist Brendan McMahon has created such an experience with his new single, 'New Country Morning', which is not taken from his 2022 album ... as the Road Unfolds as McMahon has been writing so many songs that he has already moved on from that album. 'New Country Morning' is optimistic and celebratory, and just the antidote we need to that tired, fed-up feeling. We talked recently about the song and what else is coming up for him.
More about Brendan McMahon: https://www.brendanmcm.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Christmas songs aren't for everyone, of course - not everyone celebrates that particular holiday. And even those who do may not turn on the Christmas tunes until at least Christmas Eve. But 2022 Golden Guitar winner - and four-time 2023 Golden Guitar nominee - Angus Gill makes a persuasive case for cranking up the Christmas music well in advance of 25 December with his new EP, The Gilly Season. Gill is one of the most prolific and entertaining singer-songwriters at work in Australian country music, and he also knows his music history, so he knew that creating a Christmas EP would mean coming up with something that hadn't been done before but which could immediately take its place alongside not only the canon of Australian carols as well as Mariah Carey. And, listener, he's cracked it (Christmas pun slightly intended) - for it is hard to resist a set of songs that begins with the line 'When you hear Bublé in the IGA ...' - at least, it is for this interviewer. It was great fun to talk to the man himself recently to find out all about The Gilly Season.
More about Angus Gill: https://angusgill.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Jemma Beech is a singer-songwriter now living in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales but for a while she lived in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, driving hours to play gigs in between driving dump trucks in the mines. Her experiences there shaped her as a performer and a songwriter, and since the 2018 release of her debut album That's Just Me she has been working on new music. Her latest single is the light-hearted 'You Fool', a sweetly self-deprecating take on a love song, and we spoke about that - and about dump trucks.
More about Jemma Beech: https://www.jemmabeech.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
When an artist loves what they do, you tend to hear it in the music - and from the sound of Jade Holland's new song, 'Oh My Heart', she really loves what she does. It's an infectious song that features Holland's powerful yet smooth vocals, turning a tale of heartbreak into an upbeat track that is a great successor to her previous single, 'Summertime, Sunshine and You'. The songs indicated a more pop direction to Holland's country music - her two albums have leaned more towards country rock - and it's one that suits her. Speaking to Holland recently it became clear that she does indeed love what she does and that the only way is up for this great entertainer.
More about Jade Holland: https://jadeholland.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Singer-songwriter Ella Powell lives on the Central Coast of New South Wales yet her music is taking her further afield - spending time on the road, which is no doubt inspiration enough for her new single, 'Drive', which has arrived just in time for the Australian summer when other people will be on road trips and looking for just the right music to play. As with previous singles such as 'Paper Town' and 'Along the Away', 'Drive' is melodically rewarding and instantly memorable. Powell has had a busy year releasing those other singles, and once 2023 begins she'll have a packed schedule once more, playing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, releasing music, and finding new fans. We spoke recently about 'Drive' and her plans for next year.
More about Ella Powell: https://www.ellapowell.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Melbourne/Naarm singer-songwriter Jason McDaniel has spent much of his life immersed in music, whether writing and performing his own or playing in bands with esteemed musicians such as Charley Boyter. However, McDaniel took a long break between releasing originals - his first album Man in the Black Hat came out in 1995 and it wasn't until last year that he released a second, Honky Tonk Life. He now has a new song, 'Tall Glass of Country and a Shot of Rock n Roll', and we spoke recently about that and his extensive musical experience.
More about Jason McDaniel: https://www.jasonmcdaniel.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Several years ago Sydney singer-songwriter Jax Tonic played live at a relentless pace, before taking a break from music. That break has now led him to record and release his debut single, 'On the Front Foot', which was inspired by his first meeting with his wife. Tonic has rediscovered his love of performing live and now, with his original songs to add to his set, is back on the front foot of his music, as we spoke about recently.
More on Jax Tonic: https://www.jaxtonic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Mandy Hawkes is a singer-songwriter from the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales who plays in a country-folk style and released the EP The Water Was Deep in 2017. Since then she has released three unforgettable singles, 'They Say Love', 'We Were Just Kids' and her latest, 'Black Dog'. Hawkes has a background rich in text and music, and a desire to explore, through her music, the question of what it means to be on this earth, and to make sense of it. Her songs reflect this thoughtfulness and, as her heart is fully in then, connect movingly with the listener. We spoke recently about the breadth of her life in music and about her new single.
More on Mandy Hawkes: https://www.mandyhawkes.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Melbourne/Naarm singer-songwriter Sarah Catania recently released her debut single, 'Venus and Mars', although it's something she's been working towards for a while, performing regularly in her home town (when lockdowns allow), working on her songwriting craft as much as possible and undertaking studies in Music Performance. It was a pleasure to chat to this passionate, dynamic artist whose first song promises many great releases to come.
More on Sarah Catania: https://sarahcatania.square.site/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
In July Emily Grace Taylor released her debut country music single 'Till the Day' - but it was by no means her debut as a recording artist: as San Mei she has released many indie-rock singles and EPs. But country music has always been in Taylor's life and her experience as a songwriter, musician and singer has led to her creating a wonderful new country single, 'On My Way to You'. We spoke recently about her life in music, her path to country music and what's ahead for her as an artist.
More on Emily Grace Taylor: https://www.emilygracetaylor.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
JD Reynolds is a country music artist who has set out to capture audience attention with her high-energy singles, including 'Whatever' and 'Rebound', and she has continued that trend with her new single, '8 Seconds'. That timeframe will be familiar to anyone who knows anything about the perilous sport of bull riding - and in this song Reynolds sets out to tell the story of the bull riders from another perspective: that of the loved ones who fear for them each time they ride. She told me the story behind the song, and about her lifelong love of music, when we spoke recently.
More on JD Reynolds: https://www.jdreynoldsofficial.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
South Australian sister duo Ella & Sienna released their new single, 'The City in July', in late October and saw it swiftly added to Apple Music's Aussie Country playlist. Their two previous singles, 'Next to Mine' and 'Saved' received widespread radio airplay and high rotation on ABC Country Radio. The sisters' finely honed country-pop instincts come not only from the music they listen to - which includes Taylor Swift - but their commitment to developing their own playing, singing and songwriting. We spoke recently about 'The City in July' and, of course, I had to throw in a question about Taylor Swift's Midnights.
For more about Ella & Sienna: https://ellaandsiennamusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com
When an artist in any field - music, writing, visual arts - is hugely successful in one genre or strand of their work, it is undoubtedly a risk to shift to something new. Creatively it may not turn out the same way, and the audience may not go with you. Amy Sheppard is a member of the chart-topping Australian band Sheppard and this year she has released a solo EP, Nothing But Wild, which is an instantly memorable collection of country pop songs which prove that her instincts about great songwriting and performance carry over from one genre to another - and fans agree, with the songs from Nothing But Wild racking up hundreds of thousands of streams. Recently we spoke about songwriting and country music and the pandemic delay of Nothing But Wild, amongst other things.
More about Amy Sheppard: www.amysheppardofficial.com
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Since March 2020 musicians have navigated their way through the relentless changes in the industry, often finding different ways of doing things than they were used to before and sometimes sticking with those. In the case of South Coast (NSW) singer-songwriter Michelle Cashman, the pandemic and its lockdowns coincided with her release of new music at a time when there were no shows possible to support it. Instead she created a community of listeners on Patreon. She's now released a wonderful acoustic album, Grace, and part of our recent discussion covered the role that community has played in the creation of Grace, and how they have supported her generally. That's in addition to talking about her life in music overall.
More about Michelle Cashman: www.michellecashman.com
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Dylan Wright and Matt Joyce are Sons of Atticus, a duo who cannot be said to based in any one place as its members now live in different places. But as anyone who sees them play live knows, this does not affect their musical affinity one bit. Sons of Atticus released the album Jacks Motel in 2021, single 'Sad Songs' earlier this year and 'Sore Eyes' recently. We spoke recently about how they came to play music together, about the band's name and their new song, and it would be hard to find a pair easier or more enjoyable to interview.
More on Sons of Atticus: https://linktr.ee/sonsofatticus
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Western Australian singer-songwriter Claudia Tripp has been releasing pop and country pop songs for several years. Her 2020 single ‘Attention’ charted at number 2 on the iTunes Country Chart and was nominated for WAM (Western Australian Music) Country Song of the Year. She performs regularly in Perth, and has a clear passion for her craft. Her latest single is 'I Only Miss You When I'm Drunk' - given the term 'drunk dialling' was invited in the current era, it's likely to be a song that a lot of people relate to, and it was clear when talking to Tripp that she is interested in creating songs that connect with people and which are also highly entertaining.
More about Claudia Tripp: https://www.facebook.com/claudiatrippmusic/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Jimbo Stokes is a singer-songwriter from the Hunter New England region of New South Wales who grew up near Tamworth and, therefore, quite aware of the country music that would take over the town every January. His mother, the late Bronwyn Stokes OAM, was a highly regarded GP and his debut single, 'Atlas', is about her - a moving tribute from a grieving son, and a powerful introduction to Stokes's singing and songwriting. Stokes's background is not in music, but his life is now in the arts, including as a visual artist. We spoke about this, and about the song.
More on Jimbo Stokes: linktr.ee/jimby.boy
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
New South Welshman Darren Colston rehas released several albums and in 2019 the single 'I Saw You Smile Today'. He's released three singles in 2022, the latest of which is 'Nothing I Can Do', which is a song born of heartbreak. In previous singles 'Old Town' and 'Hello Riverina' Colston sings vividly about rural life, demonstrating his ability to chart exterior as well as interior landscapes. We spoke recently about his life in music and his new music.
More about Darren Colston: https://darrencolston.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Last year South Australian singer-songwriter Matt Ward released his second album, If I Was in Dallas Tonight, the successor to 2019's Heartland. The album is a collection of vivid stories and memorable experiences, with Ward's wry perspective on the human condition making for songs that are relatable as well as entertaining. We spoke about the album and his 'Too Drunk to Two Step', as well as his musical background and other things.
More about Matt Ward: https://www.mattwardmusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
In 2019 Rachael Fahim released her debut album, Iconic, and that's a great word to describe the status she's working towards as a country-pop artist. With her impressive vocals and ability to deliver memorable songs that also entertain, Fahim has the knack of knowing not only what audiences what but what they need: entertainment that also has layers of meaning for those who want them. Fahim's most recent single is 'City Girls in the Country' and we spoke about that, about the idea of who is 'allowed' to make country music and other things.
More about Rachael Fahim: https://www.rachaelfahim.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Aurelle Brunjes is an artist from Dimbulah, FNQ, who has been performing for several years in her local area then made the decision to record her own music. She released her debut single, 'Magpie', last year and whose latest release is 'Stumbling', which is partly about her experience of living with Ménière's disease, which causes vertigo, amongst other things, and also about the nature of modern life. We spoke recently about all of her singles, her inspirations, and her musical background.
More on Aurelle Brunjes: https://www.facebook.com/RelleBrunjesMusic/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Matt Cornell has several roles within Australian country music: solo artist, musical director and band member for Adam Brand, one half of Cornell and Carr - and recurring artist at the Country on Keppel festival. While the festival on Queensland's Great Keppel Island was cancelled this year, there are plans to bring it back with a vengeance in 2023, and Cornell will make several appearances. We spoke recently about the festival and his legendary 80s show, and other things.
Information for Country on Keppel:https://greatkeppelislandhideaway.com.au/events/country-on-keppel-14th-16th-july-2023/
More about Matt Cornell: www.mattcornellmusic.com.au
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Last time I spoke to The Voice alumnus and Walla Walla (NSW) resident Danny Phegan it was about his song 'The Halfway Hotel'. Phegan has a full life, with several businesses and interests, and children as well, so there was lots to talk about. So much that there wasn't enough time, so it was great to have the chance to talk to him again about his new song 'The Fight Song' and to find out what he's been up to lately, including playing a few festivals.
More about Danny Phegan: www.facebook.com/dannypheganofficial/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Southern Highlands (NSW) singer-songwriter Sara Berki released an impressive debut single, 'Fallin Off the Heartline', earlier this year and announced herself as a great talent to watch. She has more than backed up that promise with her second single, 'Good Enough', and has been taking her music to audiences around the country as the support act on the recent McAlister Kemp tour. Berki has plenty more to come on the music and performance front, and we spoke recently about that.
More on Sara Berki: linktr.ee/saraberkimusic
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Arabana man Nathan May lives on Kaurna country in South Australia, where he performs regularly in local venues and also connects with songwriters and musicians around the country - his latest single, 'Fix It Up', was co-written by Colin Buchanan, produced by James Gillard and features guitar and banjo by Rod McCormack. The song has an interesting history, as I found out when talking to May recently - at least as interesting as his personal history and his ongoing dedication to music.
More about Nathan May: https://nathanmaymusic.bandcamp.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
The name Storer is familiar to many Australian country music fans, and beloved too. That's because Sara Storer has created and released so many memorable, special songs over the course of her seven albums, starting with Chasing Buffalo in 2000 and most recently with Raindance in 2019. Her brother Greg has been part of Sara's live show for much of that time, and released his own outstanding album, Backwater, in 2010. The siblings have now formed Storer together, along with other family members, and their debut single under this name is 'Show Me'. When I interviewed them recently I found out about their musical upbringing and their new work together. It was an absolute treat to talk to them both.
Storer tour dates in 2023: https://www.sarastorer.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
One of the advantages of now conducting interviews on video is that there's more opportunity for conversation to flow, and for artists to talk in detail about their work - over the phone, without the ability to properly converse, it can be hard to know how far to take a certain subject as I can't gauge if the interviewee is interested in it. That means we might often not have strayed too far from the initial subject of the interview. Interviewing Central Coast (NSW) artist Jamie Lindsay for the second time, about his new single 'Bring on the Summertime', meant being able to find out a lot more about his long career as a performing artist who plays dozens of times a year - about what that entails, how to sustain it, and how to maintain passion for your work. We did also talk about the new song and about songwriting, but for anyone who is interested in the detail of being a working musician, this is a must-watch/must-listen.
More about Jamie Lindsay: https://jamielindsaymusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
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Western Australian artist Catherine Traicos draws musical influences from a range of genres, including the classical music of her original training, and produces music that while not easily categorised can be classified as music that connects to both the heart and head of the listener. There is thoughtfulness and joy in Traicos's songs, and the title of her latest EP, Choose Your Own Light, leaves open the possibility that the EP itself may be that light. It also nods to Traicos's commitment as an artist to leave room for the listener to find themselves in her songs - and there is much to discover on this EP. When we spoke recently we talked about that classical music of the past as well as the creation of the EP in the present.
More about Catherine Traicos: https://catherinetraicos.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Queensland artist Billie Rose released an impressive debut EP, Company with Regret, in 2020, and this year she has released two equally noticeable singles, 'Black Dress' and 'Label Me a Killer'. Each of them has an interesting backstory, which we talked about in this interview, along with Billie's experiences playing live from quite a young age, her attendance at the Academy of Country Music and her songwriting process.
More about Billie Rose: billierosemusic.com
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Last year Melbourne-based, Canberra-raised singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Riley Catherall released a wonderful album, When I Go. Since then he's been on tour with Lachlan Bryan & the Wildes, in Australia and overseas. Catherall could easily have kept rolling out singles from When I Go while that was going on; instead, he recorded and has released a completely new song, 'Bark at the Moon'. It's a song that came about very quickly, as I learnt when we spoke recently.
More about Riley Catherall: https://rileycatherall.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
After winning two Golden Guitars earlier this year, one for Female Artist of the Year, Tamworth-based singer-songwriter Ashleigh Dallas has released her thoughtful, powerful fifth album In the Moment. In some ways it is a record of Dallas's diligence in her life and work: to do her best, to make the most of each day. In others it's simply a joyous listening experience, and a continuation of what fans have already loved about Dallas's work - her rich songwriting and heartfelt delivery of her songs. In this interview Dallas is generous with her insights into those songs and her songwriting process, and, as ever, a delight to chat to.
More about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Freya Josephine Hollick is a singer-songwriter from Victoria who has a distinct and distinctive identity within Australian country music. Her musical style has been described as cosmic country but that is merely a label for something that is definitely country music yet absolutely her music: an embrace of the structure of country as a pathway to greater creativity. Hollick writes songs that work on macro and micro scales, and nowhere is that better displayed than on her new album, The Real World, which is both a manifesto and an offering of love. Several singles from the album have already been released; the album itself will be available on 30 September 2022. I relished the opportunity to talk to Hollick about her inspirations and influences – of all sorts – for this exceptional album.
More about Freya Josephine Hollick: http://www.freyajosephinehollick.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Allan Cameron's career in music includes time spent playing with Keith Urban before the latter relocated to the USA, and recent membership of SaltbushSix, which included members of Urban's earlier band. Cameron hasn't released much music under his own name but that is now starting to change, and the recent release of the song 'Father's Eyes' shows him to be a nuanced and sensitive songwriter with a willingness and ability to connect with audiences. It was so interesting to talk to him recently and find out about his life in music.
More about Allan Cameron: http://www.allancameron.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
There's a particular power to the music of Sydney-based singer-songwriter Luke O'Shea that has been acknowledged by multiple Golden Guitar Awards as well as by the longevity of his career over five albums and countless shows. Australian audiences love O'Shea's way of telling stories and imparting information with humour and pathos and respect for his subjects, and no doubt they will love his new album, Next Big Thing, when it is released in January 2023. 'South East Queensland' is O'Shea's first single from that album and we spoke about that recently, as well as other songs and other things.
More about Luke O'Shea: https://lukeoshea.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
James Johnston has released a handful of singles and is already an unqualified success, with over 350 000 monthly listeners on Spotify and festival appearances and other shows lined up. He's also become a master of social media, using TikTok, in particular, to great effect - so much so that his recent single, 'Same Songs', came about entirely because of social media. The song was written and recorded with Kaylee Bell, but it was also a collaboration with both of their social media followings. When I spoke to James recently I wanted to find out more about this, because it heralds his openness to not only new collaborations but new ideas. This is part of his difference as an artist and, no doubt, why audiences are embracing him so much.
More about James Johnston: https://jamesjohnston.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
The latest single from Kelly Brouhaha is ‘Poets, Troubadours & Me’, but as I put to her when we spoke recently, that title implies that she is not a poet or troubadour – when she most decidedly is both, and more. Anyone who has seen Brouhaha perform will know the power of her words and her performance, and how adept she is at conjuring magic in a set, as well as on a recording, as she did in her most recent album, Unplugged. Brouhaha takes that magic on the road, permanently, as she lives on the road – we discuss that, and more.
For more about Kelly Brouhaha: https://www.kellybrouhaha.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Matt Scullion is a singer and a songwriter whose most recent album is Aussie As Vol. II. His songs are not, however, confined to his albums as he’s one of Australian country music’s most prolific songwriters and in-demand co-writers – his name constantly pops up on credits. In the case of his latest single ‘From the Ashes’, taken from Aussie As Vol. II, his co-writer was Col Finley, who himself has an extensive musical history. Finley recorded the song with Scullion, and was meant to join him for this interview but unfortunately couldn’t make it at the last minute. So I decided to take the opportunity to ask Scullion about his songwriting, and he had some fascinating things to say that are relevant for songwriters new and established.
More about Matt Scullion: http://mattscullionmusic.com/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/
Amber Lawrence is an artist from Sydney who has five Golden Guitars and has just released her seventh studio album, Living for the Highlights, and it’s safe to say that she is one of those artists who consistently produces music that is worth listening to. What’s also safe to say is that Living for the Highlightsis one of the most thoughtful and sometimes magical responses to the world we’ve all lived in over the past two and a bit years. When we spoke recently about her new album I wanted to take a different approach: song by song. It’s a longer-than-normal interview but Lawrence generously gave many insights into the writing of the album and the stories behind the songs. This is a record of a leading artist at work, and worth the time.
More about Amber Lawrence: https://www.amberlawrence.com.au/
More Australian country music interviews and reviews: https://sunburntcountrymusic.com/