Abbie Ferris, a rising star in the country music scene, is closing out a landmark year with the release of her deeply personal EP, You Don’t Live Here Anymore, out October 18 via Potts Entertainment/MGM.
A small-town girl from Mallala, South Australia, Abbie has navigated a whirlwind year that saw her performing at major festivals like CMA Fest and CMC Rocks QLD, making frequent trips between Australia and Nashville, and writing with some of Nashville’s top songwriters. Amid the career highs, she has been processing the emotional fallout from the end of a seven-year relationship, a journey captured in the EP’s six songs.
Each track reveals a chapter of Abbie’s story: from the raw chemistry of a troubled romance in Shut Up and Kiss Me, to the pursuit of dreams in Bright Lights of Tennessee, and the feel-good confidence of No You Didn’t. The EP also explores themes of healing, with tracks like Guilt Don’t Live Here Anymore, the bold rejection of toxic relationships in That Ain’t You, and finally, the heart wrenching closer The Last Song, which offers a powerful moment of closure.
Reflecting on The Last Song, Abbie says:
“I went through a massive breakup at the end of last year – a seven-year relationship. Almost every song I’ve written since then has been about that – heartbreak, anger, pretending not to care, acting like I was over it… but it was like I was stuck in that moment of heartbreak. When I wrote The Last Song, I’d been in Nashville writing for a few weeks and come up with some songs I loved, but I hadn’t gone deep enough to really deal with all these feelings and move forward. Then this song just poured out and it was like I could finally close the chapter and move on, not with bitterness, and not being beholden to the memory of this person and this relationship. It’s so hard to really draw that line in the sand and start a new era of your life when you’ve been part of a couple for so long, and I hope a lot of people hear themselves in this song and find the strength to move forward.”
All songs on the EP were written in Nashville, including collaborations with fellow Australians Danielle Blakey (Nate Smith) and Troy Kemp (McAlister Kemp). Produced by Michael Carpenter, the EP also features Lainey Wilson’s band member Sav Madigan on fiddle and mandolin. To celebrate the release, Abbie will perform two sets at Groundwater Festival this weekend.
Abbie’s journey from Mallala (population 600) to the international stage has been marked by tireless work and an undeniable passion for country music. Inspired by legends like Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, and Lainey Wilson, she’s carving her own path and is determined to leave a lasting impact.
“I want to take my music as far as I can, showing that a small-town South Australian girl can grow up and touch hearts around the world. My parents taught me to follow my instincts, and every time I connect with people through music-whether in the writing room, the studio, or on stage-it’s like everything else fades away. That’s the feeling I’m always chasing.”