Refreshed and refocused, Sunshine Coast artist Tori Forsyth ushers in a new era with the release of her new single ‘Sometimes’. Her first release in two years, ‘Sometimes’ is a song that marks a strong intention for the 3 x Golden Guitar Award nominee, that is to seek out and pursue what she loves, and to settle for nothing less.
With plenty of new music on the way, ‘Sometimes’ is a return to the unique alt-country sound that first launched Tori’s music career. Driven by her arresting vocals, and featuring friend and country music icon Shane Nicholson, the new single is a delicate and tender reflection on the ending of a relationship, without malice or resentment, simply bittersweet.
“Sometimes’ is a breakup song.” Tori openly shares, “The only one on the record, the only one I have ever written, the only one I intend to write. Plain and simple, sometimes out of nowhere, your heart gets broken. But you pick up the pieces and move on and sometimes, most of the time, something beautiful is on the other side.”
‘Sometimes’ is produced with Scott Horscroft (Charlie Collins, Brooke & Adam Eckersley) and is recorded at The Grove Studios with her full band of Reece Baines (drums), Matthew Newton (guitars) and Zachary Miller (bass), and joined by Mak Brothers , Thom (guitar) and Andy (keys)
Eight years after emerging from regional NSW seemingly fully formed with the release of her evocative single ‘New Wall’ and the acclaimed EP Black Bird, Tori’s highly anticipated 2018 debut album Dawn of the Dark was hailed as one of the standout country album releases of the year. It planted Tori at the forefront of alternative country music, underpinning her incomparable songwriting and gritty and expressive vocals.
Not one to follow the crowds, Tori’s second album Provlépseis (2021) was an unexpected swerve away from traditional alt-country and into a more bold and bruising rock record that pushed her out of her comfort zone. Released during a period of uncertainty and world closures, the album and its singles ‘Be Here’ and ‘Down Below’ continued to resonate with loyal fans. Big streaming numbers followed, with Tori currently boasting over 15 million artist global streams on Spotify alone.
But 18 months ago, the boundary pushing artist found herself at a crossroads. Living on her parent’s farm in rural QLD, Forsyth began to think she didn’t have anything to give anymore; she wasn’t sure who she was as an artist and what her musical future looked like. The songs weren’t coming, and for the first time in a long time Tori wasn’t putting pen to paper, sifting through her feelings, and distilling them into songs that strike at people’s hearts. It was, in Tori’s words, a “big old identity crisis”.
The fog lifted when Tori settled on a new vision: to only pursue what she loved and to stick true to her values. Suddenly, with no pressure or urgency resting on her shoulders, the songs began flowing out of her. The new songs were sculpted literally and figuratively by nature, with Tori spending months living in a treehouse listening to music from the likes of Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Nashville bluegrass outfit The SteelDrivers, with some ’90s Jewel, all while working on her parent’s horse stud and literally covered in trees.
It explains why ‘Sometimes’ feels real, warm and lived in, and no surprise why Tori chose to film the official video, directed by Bradley Murnane from Spill Films, on her parent’s property with her full band.
With a newfound freedom and lightness propelling her forward into a new chapter, once again Tori Forsyth is ready to take her place at the forefront of Australian country music. Following her BIGSOUND performances, Tori will be supporting US country artist Jackson Dean in Melbourne and Sydney with more news of live shows to come.