Month: February 2023

The ever-evolving story of Kingswood births a new chapter with the release of their long-awaited new studio album, “HOME”.

Having teased the record in recent months with dynamic singles including “Good Whiskey”, “Burning Holes” and “One Too Many Times”, Kingswood set it up early that this album would feature the band’s most cohesive and representative material to date.

Incorporating myriad sonic influences and a reinvigorated approach to their musicianship, “HOME ” is more than just another step forward for the ARIA and APRA nominated group – it is a realisation of the last few years of tireless work and exploration of new sounds.

Title track “Home” also serves as the album opener – a perfect way to set the tone of the record to follow. Like previous singles, “Home” lets the songwriting dynamic of Alex Laska and Fergus Linacre shine; open lyricism meeting deft musicality at every turn.

“Home is an age-old tale of young love being forced to broach the harsh face of life, a duality of which we all contend with at some point”.

“Old roots meet new, whereby the branching can create opprobrious chasms. These chasms however lead to repair, growth, flourishing, the cycle of the ever blossoming flower, the very fuel of life itself, where all beginnings have an end, and appropriately all ends have a beginning. Home can represent a place in time and space or it can be the very moment, the air that allows one to breathe life into consciousness. It’s the rising sun of the album, a sonic manifestation of Kingswood’s own new dawn.” – Alex Laska, Kingswood

Recorded on a ranch in Wongawallan, QLD at Fallguy Studios, “HOME” saw Kingswood work with Nashville based engineer Eddie Spear (Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlisle) on final mixing and mastering; putting the final touches on this musically rich 12-track body of work.

The elevation of the band’s sound – from the “Microscopic Wars” era through to “After Hours, Close To Dawn” and more recently, “Juveniles” – threads beautifully throughout “HOME”. Tales of sorrow meet stories of late night recklessness. An undistilled passion springs forth from this record; whether it’s in the sonic builds of tracks like “Mother Did Say” and “Movin’ On”, or the way emotional nuance strikes on “God & Gun” and “Riches”.

Kingswood retained the grit without losing the heart of the music with “HOME”; for the band, this was a record that was a necessity for them to make.

“A renaissance of all that ever fuelled the Kingswood machine. The album was born of necessity in a time where the human condition was put on trial and out of the ashes grew the phoenix that we call ‘Home’. What originally began as an escapist experiment; a veil of fiction that was created to alleviate a lack of social interaction and observation, bore the spirit of truth, wrapped in a marvellous mythology that was created by us and embodied our innermost thoughts and feelings.

“Home represents the pillars that make this band what it is and embodies everything that makes us powerful and whole. Step into a world, created for us to accompany lament, joy, sorrow, love, yearning, anger, passion and above all hope. Call it what you will, Home is a burgeoning of guitars, harmony, reckless abandon with sheer will at the steering wheel, reflecting the beautiful surrounds of ranch life at the base of Mount Tamborine, with a good dose of good whiskey and a home away from home in Nasvhille, Tennessee to provide the finishing touch.” – Kingswood

The release of “HOME ” follows on from a successful return to touring for Kingswood. The band spent a large portion of 2022 touring their acclaimed third studio record “Juveniles” (and it’s inspired companion album, “Reveries”) internationally; completing a 30+ date tour that took Kingswood to crowds in Nashville, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia before bringing them home to Melbourne.

2023 has already begun in a massive way for the band, as they currently take their music around Australia on a record breaking 120+ date tour. Customising their own tour bus for the journey, KINGSWOOD are traversing each corner of the country, rolling into town with their electric live show, ready to burn. With tour dates set to take them through into June

Iowa native, Hailey Whitters is returning to her roots with the release of her third studio album “Raised”, which was inspired by her Midwestern hometown and the formative years she spent there.

The latest single off her recent album “Plain Jane” will give you a very clear picture of Hailey and who she is.

Written by Hailey along with Cary Barlowe and Hillary Lindsey, there are some great lyrics that portray her as an imperfect human who has a lot of flaws, yet one who has learned to own them and use it to her advantage in a way.

ABOUT HAILEY WHITTERS:

This Iowa-born, Nashville-based rising country star scored her breakthrough moment in 2020 with the release of her self-funded debut album “The Dream”, which was praised as “the year’s deepest country album” (The Washington Post) and went on to appear on more than 15 year-end best of lists including #1 on both Stereogum’s “10 Best Country Albums of 2020” and Garden & Gun’s “Best Southern Albums of 2020” list. The subsequent deluxe album “Living The Dream” found Whitters’ self-fulfilling “The Dream’s” prophecy and enlisting her friends and collaborators Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Little Big Town, and Trisha Yearwood to appear on five new songs, leading NPR’s Fresh Air to call her “one of the most interesting voices in country music.” In 2021 alone, Whitters toured with Luke Combs and Midland, was named the inaugural Opry NextStage Artist of the year, scored her first CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“Fillin’ My Cup” feat. Little Big Town) and received her first GRAMMY nomination for Song of the Year for “A Beautiful Noise,” which was written by Ruby Amanfu, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Alicia Keys, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry and Hailey Whitters, and performed by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile. On March 18, 2022, Whitters released her third studio album “RAISED” via Pigasus / Songs & Daughters / Big Loud, which features her debut single at country radio “Everything She Ain’t”. Ranking among the most added upon its impact, the track was also named one of Rolling Stone’s “Best Songs of 2022 So Far”. With her debut headline Heartland Tour and performances at Tortuga Music Festival and Stagecoach Festival under her belt, the rising star boasts over 100 million streams across her catalogue and will hit the road all summer with Jon Pardi and Lainey Wilson on his Ain’t Always The Cowboy Tour.

Nashville-native singer-songwriter ERNEST had a record year after dropping his first full-length album ” FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM)” to critical acclaim in March 2022, which saw him earn his fifth, sixth, and seventh #1’s as a songwriter while his debut single “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen simultaneously reached RIAA platinum certification. Most recently honoured as one of Variety’s coveted 2022 Hitmakers, the CMA Triple Play Award winner was also selected as a 2023 MusicRow Next Big Thing artist. Selling out his first ever headline tour across college towns this past fall, he rounded out a stacked year of touring on the road with labelmate Morgan Wallen as part of his record-breaking Dangerous Tour.

Now, the charismatic entertainer who “single-handedly discovered a way to unite old-school country enthusiasts with listeners that enjoy mainstream music” (CMT) is set to continue his “stunning return to country music’s traditional essence ” (The Tennessean) with deluxe album “FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses”. Building upon the project and recognized as a top release of the year by Holler. and The Tennessean, ERNEST adds 13 more original songs to the collection “filled with retro country truth and relentless heartbreak” (Taste of Country).

“I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music,” shares ERNEST. “It’s even more of the real, honest storytelling that the album was built on, and continues the character’s love story right where it left off with ‘Some Other Bar.’ It’s very reflective, I think everyone will be able to relate to a part of the story in some way. I’m really proud of it!”

The lyrical innovator creates a playful poetic, almost nursery-rhyme-like melody on his new single “Miss That Girl”. Featuring an up-tempo beat with a lot of poetic-refrain style lyrics. The verses are mostly acoustic guitar, as the narrator calls on some of his vices to help him through a heart wrenching break up and keep him from “missing that girl.”

Resuming his role as the tragic hero, “Miss That Girl” is accompanied by a video directed by Justin Clough with a treatment conceptualized by his wife, acclaimed creative Delaney Royer, the video was shot in Columbia, Tennessee and gives life to the track that yearns for relief from heartbreak.

ABOUT ERNEST:

Nashville’s most unpredictable hit maker ERNEST is “The Charmer” (MusicRow), a triple threat talent and one of Music City’s on the rise artist/writers that’s changing the status quo. As a chart-topping songwriter, he fuses influences ranging from Eminem to George Jones, creating a twist-heavy verse style that’s become his signature, proving its mettle, and earning him six #1 hits to date. The eccentric free spirit and 2022 CMA Triple Play Award winner launched his debut single to country radio “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen in January to 88 first week stations, the #1 most added single of the week, and is Top 20 and rising now. His debut full-length album of the same name – Flower Shops (The Album) – is out now, showing off the more classically country side of his craft. ERNEST appeared alongside 90s country legend David Lee Murphy and labelmate Ben Burgess on HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 track “Red Dirt Clouds” last fall, and his podcast Just Being ERNEST is in its third season, hosting guests like Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, and Craig Wiseman , with many more to come.

Let’s be honest living life is hard, but being a female can make it even more difficult! That’s why KC Johns latest single “Dodging Bullets” is an anthem for all woman paving their own road in life. It’s infecious guitar riff and lyrical message will leave your listeners drumming on their steering wheel with their confidence soaring. “Dodging Bullets” was chosen as KC’s latest single as a recommendtion from Sony and Concord Music after performing the song during an artist showcase in Nashville, TN. Both A&R teams fell in love with the track, and they couldn’t have helped KC pick a better single for where she is at in her career.

KC Johns is an artist who always has the future in mind and never lets a moment go to waste. “Dodging Bullets” is a track that portrays KC’s determination to make her life a success and it’s an ideal that many female listeners can relate to! We are excited to have the chance to become part of your programming! A number of KC Johns previous singles, including “Whiskey Break”, “Confused” and “Famous” have gotten great coverage from stations all over the world through PlayMPE and “Dodging Bullets” is one more to add to the collection!

One has toured with Taylor Swift, has 12 x Golden Guitars and 11 x CMC awards to his name; the other is a 5 x Golden Guitar nominee and has played bass with some of Australia’s most revered acts. Combined they share over 50 million streams and today, Adam Brand and Matt Cornell join forces to deliver the rousing new single, ‘Our Church’.

Since departing the Baby Animals over a decade ago for a gig with Adam Brand, Matt Cornell has walked the path of country music. The pair quickly became thick as thieves. When a global pandemic threatened to demolish that path, their comradery gave them resilience.

“Before ‘Our Church’ was a song, it was our weekly catch up with a couple of my close brothers during covid,” recalls Brand. Both being ‘foodies’ who frequently share their culinary skills with social media fans, it was only natural to host the catch ups at cafés all over QLDs Gold Coast.

“We found it was helping us deal with the mental anguish of our industry being on its knees, the work & money we had lost. In particular, I was really struggling,” adds Cornell. “But I found solace in my mates, in our little catch up every week. I’m not a religious man, but I decided to call it Church.”

The song had its origins at a song writing hub in Brisbane – Song Culture. “On the final day, the last writing session was with Gavin Carfoot, Linc Phelps, Brook Chivell & Jake Whittaker. We discussed writing a song about mates, mates who are very close, kinda like a brotherhood” says Cornell. “That’s when I proceeded to tell the boys about Church.”

Cornell sent the acoustic demo to Adam Brand the very next day, whose immediate response was “let’s record this song, let’s do a duet.” Brand also later contributed some powerful lyrics to the song’s back half. “If you go to war, I go to war, brothers & sisters we’re in this together.”

You can feel the emotion in ‘Our Church’ from the very first line sung by Cornell. His voice, brimming with raw emotion, gallops atop a slowly building bed of guitar and synth; soon to explode into the song’s anthemic chorus. Produced by Jared Adlam, both music and lyrics blend together eloquently.

After drag racer Sam Fenech recently lost his life on the track, the boys’ song became a fitting tribute. “Adam’s great friend Wade Aunger, after hearing ‘Our Church,’ thought it would be a very moving tribute” shares Cornell. The video honouring the late racer, using ‘Our Church’ as its soundtrack, featured on several motorsport social media pages and received over 100k views.

The single’s official music video, shot and directed by Golden Guitar winner Jay Seeney, is a heart-warming tribute to the true-life story. The video starts out with Cornell making a plea to Brand, saying “he’s struggling,” that’s when Brand springs into action and rally’s the troops, and all the boys rush to Cornell’s aid to get around him. The song’s fellow writers and attendees of Song Culture were invited to record vocals on the track, which also made for some fun cameos in the video.

Adam Brand and Matt Cornell are not just guys who play in a band together. They’re not just mates. They’re brothers. They’re also both powerhouse performers in their own right, with their recent shows on the Tamworth Country Music Festival Toyota Park main stage proving a hit with thousands of festivalgoers.

This much needed collaboration is about more than music. This is about shining a light on mental health. This is about comradery and hope. This is their church.

Emerging Australian singer songwriter Lily Grace celebrates her journey to Nashville with the release of her single, ‘Follow My Road’, available everywhere today.

Written by Lily with Chaise Flanders and Kirsti Manna, and produced by award-winning Michael Flanders, the lyrics bring a confident narrative to this rising singer-songwriter’s story as she ventures from Australia to Nashville with an upbeat, catchy tempo to compliment.

“I wrote ‘Follow My Road’ to empower people to follow their dreams and set out on their own path. This song is about being independent and not needing to be reliant on anyone else; a man, a parent, etc. It’s important to know your own values, attitudes and beliefs and put these first. Stay true to yourself, your emotions and trust that you’re the captain of your own ship,” Lily shared.

In 2022, Lily was the supporting act for Vance Joy at Riverstage in Brisbane, playing to a crowd of over 10,000 and most recently performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

She released her single “The Two of Us Meet,” which has now garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify alone, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Australia Country Chart and landed her on Spotify’s New Music Nashville, CMT’s Australia Playlist and climbed to CMT Australia Top 30 as well.

Lily was awarded the People’s Choice Award and was a top three finalist for Breakout Artist of the Year in the 2022 Gold Coast Music Awards.

She was awarded Best Video for ‘Annie June’ in the Australian Country Music People’s Choice awards and was a finalist in several categories including Best Female Vocalist and Most Promising Future Star.

Earlier in 2022, she was nominated in 9 categories of the 2022 Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards and won awards for both Country Song of the Year and Country Rock Song of the Year.

The demand for her music in the U.S. has drawn her to Nashville, where she spent over 6 weeks doing radio interviews, television appearances, podcasts, songwriting, recording and performing in 2022.

The future of this young artist certainly looks bright.

Pete Cullen has done it all. From sleeping in tour vans, playing dive bars around the country, to performing on some of the biggest stages alongside the biggest names in the country. But in today’s musical landscape this is often the resume of those experiencing ‘overnight’ success.

Recently securing distribution through Australian and Nashville based company MGM, Cullen brings his overnight pedigree and delivers magically on his new single ‘Heart Of Steel’, produced by Nash Chambers.

‘Heart Of Steel’ pays homage to the countless Australians who keep Australia moving. The truckers.

“My mate Danny’s old man, Frank Whyatt was a trucker” states Pete. “Danny would tell me he’d be gone from home for weeks. There were no mobiles or internet back then, so Frank used to pull the horn a few kilometres from home and Danny would race his family down the street to meet him.”

Cullen makes the obvious connection between trucking life and country music, but takes a different road than the one usually ending in heartbreak.

“Truckers and musicians share a common thread. You leave your loved ones behind. Life on the road can be fun and exciting. But when the crowd goes home and you’re coming down there’s only one place you want to be … home!”

Like a big truck engine, the rhythm section stirs. The guitar chimes – like only a country guitar can – and the pedal steel arrives. ‘Keep a light on for me, I’ll be home before you know, may you have the sweetest dreams, while I chase the white lines home’. The ingredients for a country music classic are all here. The band, the voice, the writing, the passion.

But don’t be deceived. Of course, there’s heartbreak on the road. But this is a love story. The photographs on the dashboard, the yearning for home.

“Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of performing at Followmont Transport functions and the thing that they all have in common is that they always talk about looking after your family.”

‘Heart Of Steel’ is a refreshing addition to not only the Australian country music landscape, but, to the genre as a whole. It’s exciting, it twangs, and amongst all, has big heart.

Here’s To The Ones – The Wolfe Brothers pay homage to our women.

The Wolfe Brothers new single is a song that is both special and personal to brothers Nick and Tom Wolfe. With this single release the Tasmanian based duo delivers a song of respect and gratitude to all women, an ode that is a well overdue musical “tip of the hat” to the women who nurture, protect and inspire the males of our country – the mothers, wives, partners and friends.

Tom Wolfe explains the origins of the song this way. “On Feb 17th we are going to be releasing a brand new song ” Here’s To The Ones”. We are not going to tell you it is the party anthem of 2023, or the next summer hit or put up a bunch of TikTok posts asking you if we should release it. We are releasing it because we consider this one of the more important songs we have ever written and recorded.”

“The original spark of an idea for this song began at a mates farm in Paratta, Tasmania a few years back. After watching him work literally sun up to sun down he said some words that truly stuck with us. When speaking about the love he has for wife he said, “that’s the backbone of our country, the ones who feed the ones who feed the country”. It was an incredible sentence. I had never thought about it or heard anyone say it like that before.”

“We started thinking about this statement and how it applies in our own life and how incredibly lucky we are to do what we do. There is no way that any of what Nick and I are doing now would have happened without some incredibly supportive women.”

“At the end of 2022 we lost our family patriarch, our biggest supporter, our incredible mum. She consistently put others first for her entire life as a teacher, friend and mother. We could have never achieved any of this without her.”

“One of the lines in the song is “There’s so many songs ’bout a guy working hard it’s about time the girls got one too” sort of says it all.”

This song is for our mum, our wives Ally and Tani. But also, for all of the incredible women who are as selfless, caring and loving as they are! You all are the greatest…Here’s to the ones!”

This song is the second single from The Wolfe Brothers new album “LIVIN’ THE DREAM” due for a 14th April release. It follows their recent multiple week #1 smash hit, the album’s title track, “Livin’ The Dream”.

Australian Country artist Tori Darke is excited to announce the release of her highly anticipated new single “Dodged a Bullet”.

The emotionally charged track showcases Tori’s powerful vocals and relatable lyrics, which will be a hit for country fans across the globe. Tori has been making waves in the Australian country music scene for many years with her authentic sound, personally penned lyrics and mesmerising on stage presence.

With “Dodged a Bullet”, she delivers a poignant portrayal of the aftermath of a toxic relationship. “I wrote this song about the realisation that I had dodged a bullet by getting out of a toxic relationship,” says Tori. “I hope that it can resonate with anyone who has been in a similar position and serve as a source of strength and empowerment.”

The raw and honest lyrics of “Dodged a Bullet” are paired with a catchy and infectious melody, making it a standout track from Tori. “I really wanted to capture the feeling of relief and gratitude that comes with getting out of a toxic situation,” explains Tori, “I poured my heart and soul into this song, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.”

With her powerful voice and relatable lyrics, Tori has become a favourite among fans by sharing her enthusiasm and love of Country Music.

“Dodged a Bullet” is just the beginning of what’s to come in 2023 and the near future. Produced by Andrew Cockrane of Red Engine Recordings, who Tori last worked with on her #1 ARIA charting album “Silver Lining”.

Australian country singer Brook Chivell unleashes a new single ‘Put ‘Em Up’ and it’s set to light up the airwaves. Due for release on February 20th, this song is a perfect blend of country and rock, featuring a groovy beat that will have you moving your body in no time.

Produced by Jared Adlam at Machine Lab, the dynamic single showcases Brook’s unique style and vocal range. With its catchy lyrics and groovy tempo, ‘Put ‘Em Up’ is sure to be a hit with Brook’s dedicated fan base.

“I’m so excited to finally release this single. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. I think it’s a great representation of who I am as an artist, and I hope it will be a real crowd-pleaser”. Brook Chivell

Brook’s contemporary country rock sound combined with powerhouse vocals has seen him open for artists such as Adam Brand, Morgan Evans, McAlister Kemp, Travis Collins and The Wolfe Brothers. He’s performed at some of Australia’s most iconic Country Music Festivals including Deni Ute Muster, Gympie Music Muster, Sydney Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival as well as touring nationally.

Brook Chivell’s single ‘Put ‘Em Up’ is out at radio and digital services on Monday 20th February.

Australian singer/songwriter Casey Barnes has just achieved what is known as the holy trilogy in country circles.

Casey won the ARIA for Best Country Album at the end of 2022, then started 2023 scoring the Top Selling Australian Album of the Year and then the prestigious Toyota Album of the Year gong at the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth.

“That’s pretty rare,” Casey says of the hat trick. “I remember stopping and thinking ‘OK, this has actually happened, be grateful.'”

Gratitude is something Casey Barnes is very familiar with. He’s an overnight sensation nearly 20 years in the making. He’s perfected the hustle and patience required to make it in the music business, respected in the industry for his hard work and dedication.

“For quite a long time it felt like you’re taking a few steps forward but then you get a knock back but you keep going again. It happens in stages. However, in the last 12 months everything feels like it’s clicked into place. We’ve opened the floodgates; everything seems to be going right. And you get that new injection of excitement and coming off the back of the ARIA win and the Golden Guitars, you want it to go to that next level. There’s that expectation and excitement.”

Casey Barnes starts 2023 with his biggest success just ahead of him as he enters a new musical chapter. The first taste of that era is the wildly-catchy new single “Summer Nights “. For a songwriter who has documented everything from unconditional love to unthinkable grief, right now, it’s time to party. Written with Melbourne hitmaking team MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), it’s a celebration of great times fuelled by beer, whiskey and your favourite song turned up loud.

Summer Nights is the future soundtrack to your next party – and it’s also purpose-built for small clubs and huge festivals.

“I wanted to write something universal,” Casey says. “That’s what people come to see you for. They’re working their arses off all week in a job they may not really love, so on the weekend they just want to let their hair down with their best friends, not take life too seriously and have some fun.”

Casey may be staring down the most exciting period of his career, but after years of hard work, he knows timing is also critical.

“If a lot of the stuff happening for me right now had happened seven or eight years ago, I probably wasn’t ready. Since then, I’ve become a better songwriter and on the live front our band can mix it with the best artists out there. I’ve learned a lot about the industry and I’ve got the right people around me”.

“You’ve got to do the hard yards and earn your stripes in the music industry, which is how it should be. It’s taken me a while to get to this point. People want to see if you are the real deal, if you are taking it seriously and not just sticking your toe in. Similar to the market in Nashville, you can’t just fly in and fly out, you have to be committed to it. Once they realise that, they take you seriously and things start to happen.”

One song that made things happen for Casey is “God Took His Time On You”, from the ARIA winning album “Light It Up”. The 2022 single opened doors for Casey in Australia and the US, with heavy radio play and over six million streams on Spotify alone. After successful shows in the US late last year, Casey returns to the US in June this year for shows across the country and the CMA Fest in Nashville. Casey has also just returned from writing with some of Nashville’s most successful songwriters as he continues to hone his craft.

“Every person you get in a room with there’s a different energy, so I’ve came back with some really great songs and they’ve bought out different musical sides of me and different lyrical topics. It’s important as you grow as an artist you don’t want the next album to sound the same as the last album, you want to evolve.”

And he’ll keep connecting with fans, whether it be on Tik Tok (“my two daughters gave me some tips on how to use it”) or an upcoming tour.

“I feel like I’ve played the long game by not giving up and now all that hard work is paying off.”

Jake Whittaker debuts with country anthem, ‘Round Here’.

Escaping the city life to the country and taking a breath is all wrapped up in Jake Whittaker’s debut single, ‘Round Here’.

Written with producer, songwriter and musician Jared Adlam, Jake said they wanted to write a “banging song” for the album he planned, and this came from that session.

“I get sick of sitting in traffic and the business of day-to-day life, so ‘Round Here’ is about all those things that build up and tick you off and you escape them by getting out to the country life and taking a breath,” he said.

“It’s also about the fact we don’t need the extra things just to show off for social media.”

The South-East Queensland artist said he wanted to enter the world of country music with an upbeat grooving country rocky song to leave listeners feeling good.

“I’m really excited about this release because I’ve been looking forward to this transition into the country for a long time,” he said.

Jake came from a soul, blues and funk background, but said he’d always loved country and was now being true to himself, citing his major influences as Brothers Osborne, Zac Brown Band, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs.

“This has been two years in the process for me writing with people and working closely with Jared Adlam,” he said.

“For it all to finally come to fruition, I’m just keen to get some songs out, play some shows and have fun – it hasn’t been a rushed process.

“I feel it’s the truest to myself I’ve been so far and the most me in terms of music.”

With the release of Round Here, Jake said he wanted listeners to simply enjoy it and to get some new listeners to his music.

“This is the kickstart for me and this is who I am,” he said.

“The plan is to start doing single launch shows and collaborate with other artists and be able to work together on some shows.”

Off the back of winning her fifth Golden Guitar, Tamworth’s own Ashleigh Dallas wants to ‘Take A Minute’ to savour the moment with her new single.

“Taking a minute is something most adults need to do,” she said.

“I’ve found myself saying to my daughter, Harriet, that I’ll be with her in a minute, but this song is about allowing yourself to have a minute, whether that be to enjoy the simple things or let life unravel and find your feet again.”

As well as having a strong message, ‘Take A Minute’ is also the end result of one of Ashleigh’s professional dreams coming true: writing a song with Mike Carr.

“I’ve always wanted to write with Mike and our schedules, timing and locations never lined up, so to have this opportunity to write with Mike over Zoom was great.”

Ashleigh headed into the songwriting session with the concept and loved the collaborative nature of writing with Mike, one of Australia’s premiere singer-songwriters.

“I had the concept, just found myself unable to get to that space where I could finish the song by myself,” she said.

“I’m really grateful that Mike was keen on the idea and we got this song out of it.”

‘Take A Minute’ continues the theme of Ashleigh’s Golden Guitar-winning album, ‘In The Moment’, which netted her and her producer father, Brett, Traditional Country Album of the Year in January.

“We’ve come off this record, called ‘In The Moment’, about being as present as you could be and this song embraces that message even more,” Ashleigh said.

“I hope the listeners take that minute for themselves as well – this is a subtle reminder for people to take a breather.”

The Tamworth artist said each album makes her want to stretch herself even further.

“I want to be vulnerable and keep sharing the truth behind stories; country music is about the story and connection,” she said.

“This is at the heart of every creative project I go into.”

James Keith understands the power of positivity and it fuels him like firewood to a flame.
It’s a theme that runs through the heart of his high energy brand of Country Rock.

James discovered a passion for music working on his family’s vineyard in Orange, NSW.

“Dad would have vinyls and CDs which we would play all day long.” However, before a career in
music he followed in his father’s footsteps – Peter Mortimer; a professional rugby league
player, alongside uncles Steve and Chris Mortimer – and donned the jersey for Manly.
It was back in his hometown that James holed up with producer, Craig Honeysett, at Dotted
Eight Studios to craft his debut album, ‘Life Is Good Today’. Pounding drums, blistering
guitars and anthemic choruses became the keystones that support James’ autobiographical
tales of positivity and persistence.

The ‘Say I Do’ video clip, approved for CMT’s locals only and New Country Playlists, features a ‘real life’ marriage proposal.

‘Life is Good Today’ has been James’ mantra ever since a trip to Nashville, TN in 2011. “All
the cover bands kept playing this song with the lyrics “life is good today” which really
resonated with me.”

James’ songs brim with unbridled positivity and optimism. “I look at the positive to every
situation and want my music to bring people joy not dwell on negatives.” That’s James in a
nutshell – ask anyone – his three children, his four brothers or his father; all of whom are the
inspiration behind the family orientated debut album.
Life is Good Today is set for release in 2023.

COURTNEY KEIL RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘LETS PRETEND’ + ANNOUNCES FORTHCOMING DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE

Heralded as “one of the most exciting talents in Australian country music” by Beat Magazine, and recently crowned ‘Best Female Vocal’ at the 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, Courtney Keil has once again lived up to her reputation with the release of her latest single, ‘Let’s Pretend’. The track precedes the release of Courtney’s long awaited album The Good Kind (out February 24) and is available for pre-order now.

‘Let’s Pretend’ was born from an early morning zoom co-write between Courtney, acclaimed Nashville-based songstress Sally Barris, and producer Rod McCormack. The trio have proved to be a reckonable creative force, crafting the latest of the NSW Central Coast based singer’s catchy bops.

The result of their latest collaboration is an emotive tale about risking it all for true love. ”Let’s Pretend’ is a vulnerable, heartfelt conversation between a mother and daughter about meeting someone new and hoping he is the one,” explains Courtney. Its verses wrestle a parent’s hard-learned wisdom with the unbridled optimism of youth. “Sometimes you just have to pretend that it will all work out.”

The mid-tempo, slow burn is saddled with tones from the country music playbook, both new and old. “[It was] recorded in The Music Cellar on the Central Coast (by Rod McCormack), woven together with some of my favourite classic country sounds,” recalls Courtney. Yearning electric guitar riffs collide with the unmistakable sound of dobro to provide a subtle bed for Courtney’s honey-dipped vocal. The sound is reminiscent of a 90s ballad, à la Faith Hill or Shania Twain, yet also possesses a sensibility akin to modern day hits.

Since releasing her gripping debut single ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’ within the maw of COVID-19 in 2020, Courtney has enjoyed a swift ascent. The aforementioned single garnered a semi-finalist position in the International Songwriting Competition (ISC) and was named in the Top 40 of the Vanda and Young Global Songwriting Competition, while 4 of her singles hit #1 on the iTunes Country Singles chart. All of her singles have featured on Apple Music editorial playlists, and she has consistently achieved chart positions on the Country Hot 50 airplay chart, the most recent being ‘Hard Place’, which took out the #21 spot.

Beyond the streams, Courtney has been popping up on stages around Australia. She’s opened for Aussie favourites, The Whitlams, supported Andrew Swift and Angus Gill and performed at a string of shows in Gina Jeffreys and Tania Kernaghan’s Girl Night Out Tour at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, NQs Rockin’ Country and Savannah in the Round. Courtney will launch her upcoming debut album, The Good Kind, with a live show on February 23 at The Sunken Monkey, Erina.

Courtney Keil has once again delivered a heartfelt track worthy of spinning on repeat. While it falls in line with Courtney’s joyful brand of hopeful love songs, her performance on ‘Let’s Pretend’ is markedly more vulnerable. Listeners certainly won’t have to pretend to fall in love with this instant classic.

The inspiration for ‘Time Rolls On’ came from noticing a beat up old Akubra (bushman’s) hat hanging on the wall above the stage at The Dag sheep station in Nundle, New South Wales. As soon as Brendan noticed it on the wall, he started to wonder about the journey the well-worn hat had been on, and who it had journeyed with.

Award winning singer songwriter, Brendan McMahon, grew up in the small town of Kapunda near South Australia’s Barossa Valley. He discovered his love of music at the tender age of 15 after being “awed and floored” seeing Jimi Hendrix play on television; amazed by the sounds that Jimi could pull from a guitar and captivated by the iconic performer’s showmanship. Borrowing money from his mother (and paying it back at $2 a week) he promptly bought himself a $60 guitar and amp rig from a mate.

Initially wanting to be a glam-rock superstar in the 80s and 90s (think Van Halen, Kiss, Def Leppard), McMahon later transitioned to the more storytelling driven tunes of songwriters such as Paul Kelly, Harry Manx, Richard Thompson and Garth Brooks, artists that continue to inspire him today.

Spending his late teens and early twenties as a lead singer/lead guitarist in rock cover bands playing across Adelaide and country Victoria, McMahon honed his skills the hard way – in front of demanding Australian pub and club crowds. In 1998, and now bitten by both the song writing and performance bug, McMahon released a 7-track EP called ‘Picture This’ with his band The Cunning Stunts.

In 2015 and 2016, Brendan released the solo albums ‘Falling To Earth’ and ‘Marker 7-58′ under the moniker of Satellite Gods, and in doing so was fortunate enough to collaborate and work with some renowned Australian musicians including Peter Maslen (Boom Crash Opera), Jason Vorherr (Darryl Braithwaite), Bob Spencer (The Angels), Simon Hosford (Vanessa Amorosi) and Wilbur Wilde (Ol’ 55).

After supporting artists such as Boom Crash Opera, Russell Morris, Wendy Stapleton and The Chantoozies in Australia, Brendan released the LP ‘On This Fine Occasion’ in 2017, which received great reviews both locally and internationally.

In 2019, McMahon, who now calls Melbourne home, released ‘In The Moment’ – his 4th solo album. Maturity, reflection and drawing on his personal experiences, his inspired yet refined lyrics again take listeners on a captivating journey.

Recorded with Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording Studios, and again drawing upon Australian music royalty in its creation – namely Dave Leslie (Baby Animals), Danny Spencer (Jimmy Barnes Band), Brett Kingman (James Reyne Band), and Peter Maslen and Jason Vorherr, plus a string trio from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Sarah Curro, Gabi Halloran and Paul Zabrowarny), this powerful album embraces the essence of story-telling and leaves you thinking about the songs long after the last track finishes.

November 2020 saw the release of ‘No Rush Today’, an album that debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes country music chart on release. McMahon feels his 5th solo offering cemented him in the Country Rock space. The album delivered 3 top 10 AMRAP singles, ‘Jack’, ‘Sugar Cane Man’ and ‘Wired To The Moon’ along with strong charting on many other Australian charts including a No.4 position in France with ‘Sugar Cane Man’.

Once again, the collaboration of Soggy Dog Studios (Steve Vertigan) and McMahon, along with the incredible session musicians from previous albums, has delivered an album of stories about personal journey, travel experiences and people.

June, 2022, marked the release of ‘As The Road Unfolds’, the most successful record to date. It debuted as the highest selling Australian album on the iTunes Country chart. It has also delivered no less than seven chart topping singles – ‘Jenni J’, ‘When I See You Tonight’, ‘I Feel A Change’, ‘Skin & Bone’, ‘Gundry’s Track’, ‘Back Roads’ and ‘President Reynaldo’.

Australia’s favourite husband and wife duo, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley, today release ‘Country Music, You And Beer’, the new single from their highly anticipated second album.

“Country Music, You and Beer is a celebration of the simple things in life, it’s a light-hearted tip of the hat to 3 of our favourite things and will hopefully be a part of the soundtrack that plays while our fans enjoy a tin or 2 with the people they love.” shares Brooke McClymont.

The pair remain on a high following last week’s triumphant wins at the 2023 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards. Taking home three awards from their four nominations, Brooke and Adam topped the night winning the Song of the Year for their single ‘Star of the Show’, Apple Music Single of the Year for their song ‘Memory Lane’ and the award for Country Music Capital News Group or Duo of the Year – bringing their total of Golden Guitar Award wins to 20 across their career. Their daughter, 10-year-old Tiggy Heart Eckersley also became the youngest person in history to be recognised with a Golden Guitar Award, sharing the Song of the Year win with her parents and Dan Biederman as fellow songwriters.

‘Country Music, You And Beer’ is the follow-up to the upbeat single ‘Roll On Baby’, and will be the third single to be released from their forthcoming new album.

Releasing their debut album as the duo, Adam & Brooke in 2018, the #1 ARIA Country Album was received rapturously within the country community, garnering accolades and awards all over. Last year, Brooke McClymont was voted as the runner-up on Network 10’s I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here! where she won the hearts on the show with her acoustic performance of ‘Star Of The Show’, which reached #1 on the iTunes Single and Video Chart after the episode of Brooke performing it for her camp mates went to air.

Brooke McClymont is one third of top-selling, award-winning Australian country music trio The McClymonts. With over 200,000 album sales, 40 million streams, two ARIA Awards, fifteen Golden Guitar Awards, one CMA (USA) Award, one APRA Award and five #1 ARIA Country Albums, the McClymonts are a dominant female group in Australian country music with major success from hits such as ‘Kick It Up’, ‘Wrapped Up Good’ and ‘I’ve Got This’.

Adam Eckersley has won two Golden Guitar Awards: the first in 2015 for New Talent of the Year; and then in 2016 in the Group or Duo of the Year category with The Adam Eckersley Band. Their 2014 debut album, The First Album, debuted in the Top 5 on the ARIA Country Chart, with The Second Album debuting at #7 the following year. Adam has also been recognised for his songwriting, winning the APRA Award for Country Work of the Year (2015), and receiving an Honourable Mention in the International Songwriting Competition in 2014.

A tribute to Australia’s pioneering farmers gets a modern country treatment in Jax Tonic’s new single, ‘Country Boy’, out February 3, revealing a new side to the singer-songwriter.

Although from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Jax dreams that the country boy is, in fact, himself.

“Country Boy is a tribute to farmers and their families, highlighting all the amazing work they do,” he said.

“I believe we should get right behind them and this song was written about a farmer and what they do in their life, their grit and their hard work ethic.

“It’s not only about the farmer, but about their family and their kids and everything they go through with being away from home at times and coming back. Deep down, I want it to be me.

“I have a hidden passion to want to be on the land.”

Jax does have country roots with his mother’s family from Forbes and often spends time with farming friends.

“As I get out and about and learn more about everything, it’s a tribute to what farmers do for our country – it’s got its ups and downs depending on the weather and other factors but they keep going,” he said.

“Country Boy highlights the old school farmers, while recognising the new people coming through, but with the theme that they ‘don’t make them like they used to’.

Being his second single release since launching his original music career, and hot on the heels of ‘On The Front Foot’, Country Boy aims to give listeners a sense of who they are.

“I want the listeners to get a sense of belonging to the whole country culture and way of life and a feeling of pride around that,” Jax said.

“Giddy up might be the “let’s go girls” of 2023!” – Entertainment Tonight

“Shania Twain knows how to make a pure pop country bop.” – Consequence

“Superstar status and genre-crossing appeal…an era-defining artist” – NME

“The triumphant return of a global icon” – Music Week

Today, five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history Shania Twain proudly presents her eagerly awaited new album, Queen of Me. Listen to Queen of Me-HERE. Fans can also shop https://officialstore.shaniatwain.com/ for signed LPs, CDs, box sets, exclusive picture discs, cassettes, and more. RUN, DON’T WALK!

Building anticipation for the SHANIA-SSANCE, the Queen herself heralded the record with a series of fan-favorite bops, including “Waking Up Dreaming,” “Last Day of Summer,” and “Giddy Up!” Each track incited widespread acclaim from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Variety, People, Consequence, NME, Music Week, and so many more.

Queen of Me has ALL the makings of another Shania classic. It’s confident. It’s catchy. It’s compelling from beginning to end all powered by the kind of anthems that transformed her into a multi-generational icon. The record is a limitless expression of pop that allows it to sit comfortably next to Twain’s many chart successors, enshrining it as the most upbeat, playful, and joyous of all her albums.

The album is sonically inspired by ’70s and ’80s funk and rock-just like the sounds she grew up with and considered her heroes. It’s a departure from the past and a strident step into an ever-improving future.

The album consists of 12 new tracks. In the stand-out friendship anthem “BEST Friend,” Shania affectionately gushes over her closest confidant as she emphasizes “you always take the blame and you know I’d do the same for you. No matter what, yeah I got you, and I know that you got me.”

The LP represents a deep and dynamic creative statement from this iconic voice – from the energetic opener “Giddy Up!” through the empowered title track “Queen of Me,” and the passionate finale “The Hardest Stone” – which was produced by Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots).

With Queen of Me, Twain proves once more that she’s got as much to offer as she ever has, and that she’s never going to run out of great ideas.

To celebrate this next era in style, she will also embark on a global Queen of Me Tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour marks the first time fans around the world will get to see the queen in all of her glory in nearly five years, following a highly successful Vegas residency run. Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Breland, Robyn Ottolini, Priscilla Block, Mickey Guyton, Lily Rose, Talk, and Tenille Townes will be joining Shania on select dates throughout the tour.

The Queen of Me Tour kicks off on Friday, April 28th at Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA and makes stops across North America and Europe in Vancouver, Denver, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, London, Dublin, and more before wrapping up on November 14th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

Additionally, Shania and Live Nation have announced that $1 of every ticket purchased to Shania’s “Queen Of Me” Tour will be donated to SKC. Established in 2010 by Shania Twain, SKC provides services that promote positive change in children’s lives in times of crises and economic hardship. SKC provides children with one-on-one consultations, academic support and group activities, as well as nutritious snacks and meal programs where needed, all while in the safe, confidence-building environment that is the Shania Kids Can Clubhouse. These children are learning the skills to cope with and overcome family hardships which, in turn, improves their ability to succeed in school. For more information about Shania Kids Can, please visit: www.shaniakidscan.com

The Long and Short Of Its highly successful single ‘A Little Love Will Fix You Up’ takes listeners instantly to a place of high vibrancy and bright energy, feeling whisked away to a world of positive reassurance that love will fix you up. The single release from duo members David Baird and Patsy Toop comes off of their highly acclaimed album ‘Midnight Choir’, which climbed to #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Albums Chart, as well as #3 on the ARIA Country Albums Chart and #6 on the ARIA Australian Albums Chart. This latest release has a feel good summer sound to it, and the comfort that this song places upon listeners is powerful, soothing, and needed in a medium people use so much, like music.

With over 161K streams to date, this single has hit new heights and numbers for The Long and Short Of It, and has put them on the map globally, garnering attention across the globe. “Sometimes it’s difficult to find the right person to love,” David Baird says, “But don’t give up because time will heal all and love is the ultimate tonic that will fix you up.”

The lyrics of this song ring true and assure anyone that much can be fixed with love. This song is the type that someone can cling on to and feel moved by, or even better, changed by. “When you feel your world will never ever be the same, there’s no way you could get over the break, stealing for a healing left you feeling that you can’t trust, oh, a little bit of love, a little love will fix you up.”

David and Patsy’s warm vocals are perfectly layered within the song and express the immense passion and emotion that are woven into the lyrics. The album was produced by Emmy Award-winning Music Producer Kenny Royster, who is notable for producing Luke Combs’ number-one hit, ‘Hurricane,’ and working with Michael Ray and Trace Adkins.

Continuing the success of the ‘Midnight Choir’ album, “‘A Little Love Will Fix You Up’ was written to inspire anyone to get over a heartbreak and find new love as a little love will fix you up,” adds Kenny.

It is widely known that any great songwriter must be able to effectively communicate emotion through their lyrics, and The Long and Short of It have surely mastered that skill, as proven through this new single. The duo continues to create traditional country music by penning relatable lyrics that are truly inspiring. The way that David and Patsy so seamlessly communicate feelings to their listeners through their authentic lyrics is rare. A true testament to the power of their songwriting, and the precision of it as well.

Just in time for Valentines Day. From the hugely successful ‘Jealous of the Sky’ album which has so far delivered three independent country #1’s in the US, UK and Europe. Australian music legend Marty Rhone’s renaissance continues with another great track from his first US country album recorded at Cactus Studios in the Hollywood Hills by record producer heavyweight David J Holman (Grease and Xanadu soundtracks, Gwen Stefani). A track written for Marty by Aussie country heavyweights Gina Jeffries and Rod McCormack for those for whom Valentines Day might be a bit special this year or those who just like a pulsating country rock song with a solid beat and loads of energy. There is also a music video which spreads optimism and warmheartedness. Thanks for listening and considering. Six decades as a recording artist has not diminished this Aussie legends ability to deliver.