Month: November 2024

MAK & SHAR DELIVER A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO THEIR LATE FATHER WITH NEW SINGLE ‘UNTAMED HEART’

Country pop sibling duo, Mak & Shar, follow up their loved-up hit, ‘Best Thing’, with the cheerful single, ‘Untamed Heart’ – a touching tribute to their late father.

“Untamed Heart was written for our dad who passed away back in 2006,” shares older brother, Shar. “When we were young, he used to play guitar and sing for us, and we definitely wouldn’t be the musicians we are today if it wasn’t for him.”

Recorded at Mak & Shar’s home studio in picturesque Mudgee, the duo played every instrument on the track. Honing their production skills over the years, the boys aren’t afraid to push boundaries. “There’s literally a trumpet in this song,” chuckles Mak. “A trumpet in a country song on paper sounds so wrong, but it worked out so much better than we thought!”

Although the song’s inspiration comes from a place of loss, its lyrics meditate on positivity. “He said son we’re never apart / You can never break my untamed heart.” Couple that sentiment with the boys’ inspiring production – pounding drums and majestic trumpet lines – and you get a catchy, can’t-help-but-dance track.

Mak & Shar’s cheery take on country pop has proved to be a hit with fans thus far. Their previous single, ‘Best Thing’, climbing to #7 on the Country Radio Charts and receiving additions to Apple Music’s ‘Aussie Country’, ‘Country Risers’, ‘New Music Daily’ and ‘Little Bit Country’ editorial playlists.

The boys have toured across the country, from CMC Rocks to Tamworth Country Music Festival. They’ve warmed up stages for Aussie icons, Guy Sebastian and Troy Cassar-Daley and even tackled the theatre stage together, appearing in Quambadook; a story about the life of country star John Williamson, which galvanised Mak & Shar’s love for country music when they were just starting out.

Mak & Shar’s ‘Untamed Heart’ is a heartfelt tribute that balances emotional depth with infectious energy. The single not only highlights their strong production skills and fearless experimentation, but also resonates with listeners through its universal themes of love and resilience. With an impressive track record and a growing fanbase, Mak & Shar continue to solidify their place in the country pop landscape.

Country duo Zac & George are back with a brand-new single, “Boys From The Country”. This song, crafted in the heart of Nashville, TN, is more than just a tune; it’s an anthem celebrating small-town roots, hard work, and the authentic values of country life.

Written alongside Nashville’s own #1 Country Radio songwriter, Jaron Boyer, and good friend Lynn Wilbanks, “Boys From The Country ” embodies a youthful, feel-good vibe with a swampy, roots-inspired twist. The track, a mix of storytelling and rhythm, is produced by MSquared in Melbourne and driven by Zac & George’s vision of big guitars, tasty licks, and an open, dynamic beat – perfect for a backroad tailgate party.

“Boys From The Country” captures a genuine, earthy spirit that resonates with fans of country living and anyone who values a down-to-earth lifestyle. ” This song means a lot to me. The first line really hits home, as it’s about Mum’s home cooking – something I always look forward to when I go back to the farm,” George shares.

The song’s hook, “Don’t be jealous when the girls like the boys from the country,” is a playful nod to the charm and good manners that come with a country upbringing. “There’s a lyric about hay bales being as good as gold. It came from a moment when George was in awe of a field full of round bales – they were like gold to him,” Zac adds.

With themes of land, family, and youth, “Boys From The Country” is a toe-tapping, feel-good anthem that embodies the soul of small-town life. Following the success of previous releases like “Bar Stool” and “Be Like,” this new single promises to be a hit on country radio and playlists alike.

Catch Zac & George’s high-energy performance at the upcoming CMC Rocks Festival as they perform on the Main Stage early next year, where “Boys From The Country ” will surely become a crowd favourite.

Sam Hunt Delivers Moving New Track “Liberty”

Sam Hunt delivers a stirring new track with “Liberty,” out now. Rooted in a dream of the future, Hunt envisions what life can look like with days focused on and filled with perseverance, purpose, and family. Hunt played a portion of “Liberty” acoustically on his socials last year after writing the tune with Zach Crowell, Chris LaCorte, Shane McAnally, and Josh Osborne. Fans have called for the full version ever since first hearing Hunt sing:

Baby, give me liberty or give me death

Forty hours and a day of rest

Autumn leaves on these county roads

Grab a hand, y’all bow your heads

A bunch of kids, little fertile ground

Raise ’em up right, pass it down

Fences keep the cattle in

But they can’t hold the souls of men

Fences keep the cattle in

But they can’t hold the souls of men

Listen to Sam Hunt’s “Liberty” HERE

“Liberty” is the first track following Hunt’s recent Locked Up EP. Locked Up features Hunt’s 10th career No. 1 hit “Outskirts” along with “Country House,” playing on country radio now. Hunt recently wrapped his Locked Up Tour with over 20 dates across the U.S. and Canada. Hunt has been announced as a headliner for several festivals including Gulf Coast Jam 2025, Country Jam 2025, and Canada’s Boots And Hearts Music Festival 2025. Hunt also recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of his culture-shifting, 4x Platinum-selling debut album, Montevallo. For more Hunt info on music, touring, and news, visit SamHunt.com.

ANAIS CAMPBELL RETURNS WITH NEW SINGLE ‘HAD ENOUGH’

Anais Campbell burst onto the scene at just 17 years old, armed with a groundbreaking EP crafted in country music mecca, Nashville TN. After briefly stepping away from the spotlight to navigate life in her early 20s, Anais is back with the hooky not-so-drinking song, ‘Had Enough’.

Layers of rubbery acoustic guitar merge with airy synth tones to form the backbone of Anais’ innovative single. The songbird’s silky vocal quickly takes centre stage, as she delivers a twist on the classic party trope.

“It’s a drinking song for the not-so-drinkers,” explains the singer-songwriter. “One more drink / What’s the difference now / I think I’ve had enough,” she sings, closing out the song’s catchy chorus.

Kix Country Network’s Justin Thomson praises the young singer’s originality, saying “There is nobody else who sounds like Anais. Her unique style is refreshing. I look forward to what the future holds.”

‘Had Enough’ is a joyful summer singalong, anchored by a forward-thinking sound – courtesy of Melbourne based producer, Ben Oldland (Genes, Tyde Levi, Sidney). “Being in the studio was so fun, I felt right at home!” recalls Anais. The song’s lyrics emerged from an afternoon the pair spent in the studio and quickly snowballed into the finished track.

Beginning her career less than decade ago, Anais has already kicked major goals. After recording her debut EP in Nashville, the singer-songwriter followed it up with ‘Drink Me Down’, a single tracked in London.

She’s cut her teeth at veritable venues and festivals like Tamworth Country Music Festival , Cairns Festival, Tanks Arts Centre, Brisbane EKKA and Tropics Muster (QMF). In recent years Anais stepped away from the stage to focus on songwriting, striking up fruitful collaborations with fellow Queenslander, Brad Butcher, and newcomer, Robbie Mortimer.

With ‘Had Enough’, Anais Campbell showcases her ability to push the boundaries of country music. After a brief hiatus, she returns more mature, poised, and ready to carve out a distinctive space in the country music landscape.

SARA STORER’S NEW SINGLE ‘LAYERS’ TACKLES THE HIDDEN STRUGGLES OF BULLYING AND SOCIAL MEDIA PRESSURE ON TODAY’S YOUTH

Acclaimed singer songwriter, and 22 x Golden Guitar and ARIA Award winning Sara Storer today releases the second single, ‘Layers’, from her upcoming 8th solo album set for release in 2025.

Not one to shy away from calling out injustice when she sees it, Sara has long been an advocate for the marginalised and bullied, listening to their stories and weaving them into her songs.

Sara penned ‘Layers’ after being told about the bullying of a young girl in her community. Like most teens, she had been impacted by the perfect TikTok lives of her peers. Young people are consumed by a social media world which bombards them with images of impossible perfection, and we are now seeing the damaging effects of constant social comparison on their emotional and mental health.

Amid growing calls for social media age restrictions, Sara’s latest single, ‘Layers’, speaks to the harm inflicted on teenagers by social media and the rising concern of parents and the community for the future of our young people.

Produced by multi award winning Matt Fell, the song, as Sara tells it, is a tale parents and teens are living daily:

“This song isn’t going to change the world but too often I hear of another young girl battling the pressures of social media. All the good work parents do in building solid foundations of self-love, self-confidence, fearlessness and uniqueness all destroyed by unrealistic brain washing by social media.

Perfection: girls already have it! Then there’s a tough day at school because someone said something that gave them a little bit of self-doubt. Unfortunately, today, there’s no escaping social media. It follows teens home and reinforces those damaging ideas – once restricted to the school yard- well into the night.

Girls don’t get a break! And this torture eventually erodes the core love they have for themselves. Doubt creeps in. Social media overrides all the good the parents have done. It’s in front of them on a screen 24 hours a day constantly reinforcing perfect, perfect, perfect. What is left? A young girl with severe mental health issues and an unfair start in life.”

‘Layers’ cuts through the veneer of social media perfection and asks us to see that beneath it all “there’s a girl who wants just the same things as you.”