Month: May 2024

In the realm where melodies meet magic, 2 time Golden Guitar winner and star of The Block – Kirsty Lee Akers strides forth in her Cowgirl Era, a spirit woven with threads of the wild frontier.

Welcoming the dawn of 2024, Kirsty unveils her latest ode, “Girls Are Why The West Is Wild.” A song for the cowgirls, the untamed hearts and the daring souls who roam free.

Penned in Nashville alongside hit songwriters Kirsti Manna and Bill DiLuigi, this anthem marries grit with grace. “In June of last year, I attended a co-writing session in Nashville. Arriving a little early, I found Bill DiLuigi already there. Although we had just met, it was clear that Bill had done his homework and understood me as an artist. While waiting for Kirsti to join us, Bill shared an idea he had, which I instantly loved. Before long, we had a chorus ready. When Kirsti arrived, she quickly added her touch of magic,” Kirsty shares.

Once again, Kirsty steps into the producer’s role alongside co-producer Paul Bain to breathe life into this track. With the banjo strings harmonizing with Kirsty’s vocals, creating a blend reminiscent of Dolly Parton and Lainey Wilson, each listener is sure to remember the moment when they first heard “Girls Are Why The West Is Wild.”

“Girls Are Why The West Is Wild” is now available for streaming on all platforms.

Felicity Dowd, a rising star in the folk and country music scene, releases her latest single, Give and Take, on May 3. This track embodies a unique blend of Van Morrison’s 70s soul, folk, and country influences, with a touch of gospel, promising listeners an uplifting musical experience.

Born out of Felicity’s desire for autonomy and self-care as a young woman navigating life’s challenges, Give and Take carries a message of resilience and empowerment.

“I wrote this song last year while sitting outside my caravan, having a jam session under the gazebo,” she said.

“It just came out naturally, stemming from a need to stand up for what I deserve and take care of myself.”

The track’s infectious melody and catchy hooks make it a favourite in Felicity’s repertoire. Its debut performance at the Gympie Music Muster last year resonated with the audience, showcasing Felicity’s ability to connect through her music.

“It is a song that’s different from anything I’d done before, but the response was amazing,” she said.

“The vibe was really good, and it felt like a shared moment of positivity and resilience.”

In a time where the music industry faces financial challenges, Give and Take serves as a beacon of hope and encouragement.

“I’d been reading about the struggles in the music industry, and it feels like everyone is struggling at the moment. But this song is about learning from our mistakes, growing in independence, and believing that brighter days are ahead.”

With Give and Take, Felicity invites listeners on a journey of self-discovery and optimism, reminding us all that even in challenging times, we have the power to create positive change.

Get ready to experience the best of what Tori Forsyth has to offer as she cements her place in country music with the release of her third studio album All We Have Is Who We Are. Fresh from her triumphant win at the 2024 QMusic Awards, where she took home the Best Country award for her lead single ‘Sometimes feat Shane Nicholson’, this alt-country sensation is now gearing up to bring her incredible live show to the East Coast for her upcoming album tour starting this month.

Tori’s last six months have been crammed with touring highlights. She locked down a coveted tour slot with American superstar Jackson Dean, performed to packed audiences at the Gympie Muster, BIGSOUND and Groundwater Country Music Festival. In addition to her win at the 2024 QMusic Awards for Best Country, the Sunshine Coast local also earned critical acclaim with ‘Sometimes’ nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year at 2024 Toyota Golden Guitar Awards and announced today, ABC Country Radio crowning the album Feature Album.

When asked to describe her third album All We Have Is Who We Are, Tori Forsyth says just one word: “exhale”.

It’s been a long road to All We Have Is Who We Are, an album that travels from the darkness into the light, ready to embrace the future.

It’s been a swift rise to fame for the singer-songwriter, who broke out with the Golden Guitar-nominated debut album Dawn of the Dark in 2018. Gritty and powerful, it introduced Tori as one of the country’s finest vocalists and songwriters. Not one to follow a predictable path, Tori’s second album Provlépseis (2021) was a stunning swerve away from traditional country – a bold and bruising rock record that pushed her out of her comfort zone and became a fan favourite.

But two years ago, Tori found herself at a crossroads. It was a time marked by chaos and uncertainty, and Tori began to think she didn’t have anything to give anymore; she wasn’t sure who she was as an artist, 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 song. It was, in Tori’s words, a “big old identity crisis”.

After months of pushing through the fog, Tori settled on a new vision. If she didn’t enjoy it, if she didn’t love the process with everything she had, she would simply walk away. “As soon as I said that, I started to laugh again,” Tori says. Suddenly, with no pressure or urgency resting on her shoulders, the songs began flowing out of her. “I felt like I was holding my breath for years,” Tori reflects. “And then I could finally breathe.”

Just like that, All We Have Is Who We Are began to take form. The album was sculpted by nature, with Tori spending months living in a treehouse in Queensland listening to country music and working on her parents’ horse stud. The musical touchstones were varied: Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Nashville bluegrass outfit The SteelDrivers, with some ’90s Jewel thrown in for good measure.

As a result, All We Have Is Who We Are feels like it was created from the earth. Its 10 tracks are earthy and strong, whether it’s the tender and acoustic songs like closer ‘Good Enough’ or the driving and propulsive opener ‘All We Are’.

The low-slung ‘Made Your Bed’ is another highlight, with curls of pedal steel falling over Tori’s vocals as she ponders the space between the high road and the low road. ‘The Alchemist’ rocks and rolls back and forth, featuring one of Tori’s finest vocal performances on the record, while the rumbling ‘Not In Control’ is a plea to higher powers for safety within a storm. Later on the album, on the blistering ‘Aces and Eights’, Tori admits over a hurricane of guitars that she’s just trying to figure shit out, trying to find the person she knows she can be.

One of the album’s strengths is its versatility, and just as there are moments of rushing power and drive, there are moments of stillness. The striking ‘Didn’t Mean A Thing’ sees Tori accepting ownership for hurting someone, and the resolute ‘Past and Present’ attempts to shake off the quicksand trappings of the past.

‘Good Enough’ is the album’s most delicate and introspective moment. It’s a spinning wheel, Tori says, of feeling like you’re not getting anywhere. Of feeling completely inadequate. “I chip away at diamonds through the rubble and the rough / I’m wondering when good will be good enough,” Tori asks, underscored by a ringing guitar and lilting harmonies. Fittingly, the closing song on the album is the open-hearted and hopeful ‘Happy’. The only dream now, Tori admits as piano sways into the distance behind her, is to be happy. After years of turbulence and uncertainty, Tori’s dream has become much more simple.

All We Have Is Who We Are was crafted with love. Tori once again enlisted the services of her longtime touring bandmates Reece Baines on drums, Matthew Newton on guitars and Zachary Miller on bass. Together with guitarist Thom Mak and Andy Mak on keys in the studio, the musicians bring stunning richness and depth to Tori’s full-hearted songs. In-demand producer Scott Horscroft (Paul Kelly, Silverchair) led the recording at the renowned Grove Studios on the Central Coast.

“I have never felt so good in putting together an album before in my life,” Tori says with a smile. “I really wanted to leave that darkness behind and go forward lighter and happier.”

Recently announced, All We Have Is Who We Are Album Tour is set to hit the road in May. Don’t miss the opportunity to see Tori and her band at the following upcoming album shows

Brittany Maggs’ new release “White Boots” is co-written and produced by Alex Mather and embodies the spirit of country music and always being yourself.

In January 2024, Brittany took the song to the next level by involving Nashville session players whose credits include Keith Urban, Morgan Wallen, Carrie Underwood, Megan Moroney and many other industry greats on her new track to
truly bring that country sound.

With its upbeat tempo and infectious energy, “White Boots” is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a stand against the theory that what you wear defines if you are country or not. “It should never matter what colour my shoes are or if my hat is dirty or clean, none of this defines how country I am. If you think that what you wear defines country then you aren’t listening to the music well enough” says Brittany, she wants to make it known that she will wear her White Boots everywhere and will not stand for anyone who thinks it is a trend to make fun of women wearing them.

‘White Boots’ is out today and distributed by Sound On TikTok.

www.brittanymaggs.com

Jake Whittaker Releases Heartfelt Single Next You’re Gone

Australian country singer-songwriter Jake Whittaker is back with a soul-stirring new single titled Next You’re Gone, released on May 1.

Co-written with collaborator and producer Jared Adlam, Next You’re Gone delves deep into the aftermath of a breakup, capturing the raw emotions and longing for a lost love.

“Jared and I wrote this together, with Jared coming up with the title Next You’re Gone,” Jake said.

“It’s a break-up song that tells someone else’s story because neither of us have had a break-up since before we were legal drinking age. It’s about that feeling when someone leaves you, but you still hold onto hope that they’ll come back, even as you drown your sorrows at the bar.”

Despite the song’s melancholic theme, Jake emphasised its relatability.

“My listeners will be able to relate to this song,” he said.

“Sometimes you just need to have a blowout and let your emotions out.”

With Next You’re Gone, Jake continues to building his audiences and connect with his listeners on a personal level.

“I just like to write music that can connect with someone,” he said.

“I want to write music that people like, that speaks to their experiences and emotions.”

Next You’re Gone is now available on all major streaming platforms

With a contemporary sound steeped in country music tradition, Tammy Moxon reveals the uplifting single, ‘Ready Now’. The new track arrives ahead of her forthcoming album, Fighting Chance – out May 31 and available to pre-order now.

“I love what Tammy does she writes great, sings great and is not scared to be country,” says Australian songwriting pillar, Allan Caswell. Her latest single, ‘Ready Now’, bounces to an ensemble of country music’s time-honoured staples – cheerful mandolin and jangly guitar tones. Yet it maintains a strong contemporary edge, courtesy of producer Shane Nicholson (Lyn Bowtell, Beccy Cole).

“Shane took this song to another level,” says Tammy , praising the multi-golden guitar winning maestro. “He really honed in on the Bluegrass sound, but he made this song a hybrid – combining bluegrass and contemporary country.”

It serves as the perfect platform for Tammy’s down-to-earth writing style. “I wrote Ready Now in that initial 3-month covid shut-down period, when I needed something to cheer me up.” Inspired by a Celtic beat in a TV show, she wrote the tune in a blitz. “I couldn’t sleep until it was written. I wanted to write something that could really lift a crowd’s spirit when played with a band.”

Fans of the sweet-toned songbird may recognise the location in the ‘Ready Now’ video clip. “This was filmed at a caravan park in Rollingstone (40mins north of Townsville). The park let us use different locations on their land to film 4 music videos over 3 days,” reveals the singer-songwriter. Shot by Justin Reid, the video captures the song’s unbound joy. “We paraded the laneways of the caravan park with streamers, funny glasses and whatever instruments we could carry.”

Tammy has notched some incredible credits on the road, warming stages for The Bushwackers, Bill Chambers and Lee Kernaghan. 2024 still has plenty more in store for the performer, appearing at Charters Towers Country Music Festival, Birdsville Races, Gympie Music Muster and William Creek Outback Fly-In.

Tammy Moxon is truly a standout in Australian country music. Radio stalwart, John Nutting praises “a traditional voice that blends modern country in a way that makes this lady unique… and totally original.” The catchy and uplifting ‘Ready Now’ is a shining example of this rising star’s incredible craft.

‘Black Shirt’ is a cheeky double meaning song. Country fused with Blues makes a magic riff, with lyrics which will be stuck in your head. A meeting with a saucy woman who is dangerous, that leads to more trouble. Pete wrote the song and played all instruments. Pete is releasing his music song by song in the modern music world, more than releasing Albums. ‘Black Shirt’ is very catchy and you may be caught singing it out loud in public.

www.peteobrienmusic.com

BRITTANY ELISE RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘GIRL IN THE MIRROR’ FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Just in time for Mother’s Day, country powerhouse singer-songwriter Brittany Elise will release a heartfelt new single, Girl in the Mirror on Friday, 10 May.

The Gympie Muster Australia Talent Search Winner and Toyota Star Maker Australia Finalist wrote the new track in Nashville, Tennessee alongside hugely successful songwriters Chaise Flanders, Australian Pop Artist and Kirsti Manna, who co-wrote Blake Shelton’s No.1 hit Austin .

Girl in the Mirror, the latest addition to Brittany Elise’s growing music career is written about her mother who has been her biggest supporter.

“My mum and I have always had a very close relationship, she’s my best friend. From a very young age she knew I had musical talents and always encouraged me to reach for the stars. Girl in the Mirror is really my way of thanking my mum for everything she has done for me in my life,” Brittany Elise said.

“Growing up mum used to write sticky notes to me with encouraging words and quotes on them and I used to display them on my mirror, even when I moved away from home. The sticky notes would be a reminder of my goals and gave me self-confidence even in the tough times. It was like mum was with me, believing in me no matter what every single day and this really inspired the song. I still have sticky notes from mum today, but they have extended out to my music room!”

The production of Girl in the Mirror came to life in a Nashville studio working alongside award-winning producers Michael Flanders and Caleb Flanders.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how this song came together. The incredible musicians I worked with really created something special. My mum was in Nashville when I was recording this song and I’ll never forget the moment I played it to her for the first time. We both burst into tears, it was such a special moment,” Brittany Elise said.

It’s been a huge start to 2024 with Brittany Elise’s last single Lucky being added to high rotation on multiple national radio stations when it was released in March. She was also named a Finalist in the ICMA Awards for Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. She is currently preparing for tours in the United States and Australia later this year.

Brittany Elise has been making waves both in Australia and the United States, opening for US artists Craig Wayne Boyd, The Voice US Winner and Morgan Myles, The Voice US Runner Up, as well as with Australian artists James Johnston, Amber Lawrence, and Darlinghurst. In December 2023 she completed a 30-show Something About This Town Australian Tour. Her festival appearances in 2023 included the 50th CMAFest in Nashville Tennessee, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, Deni Ute Muster, NQ Rock’n Country, Airlie Beach Music Festival and Brisbane Ekka. Other highlights also include sold out album launches and singing the National Anthem at a National Rugby League game.

Brittany Elise has released Top 10 debuting singles, Get This Party Started, Something About This Town, Like Me That Way, Feel the Fire, Sunshine Hurricane and Find Your Music , with two songs hitting #1 on the Australian AMRAP radio charts, as well as being added to various editorial playlists on both Spotify and Apple Music, and high rotation on countless national radio stations.

www.BrittanyEliseMusic.com