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LILY GRACE’S DEBUT ALBUMTAKES ARIA #1 COUNTRY ALBUM AND #5 TOP 20 AUSTRALIAN ALBUMS

Independent songstress Lily Grace is celebrating her debut album release ‘Old Enough To Know Better’ taking out the #1 spot on ARIA Charts Australian Country Albums and #5 spot in the Top 20 Australian Albums (all genres). Released on August 23rd, Lily Grace penned the nine tracks for her debut album with some of Nashville’s finest to produce the country-pop-rock blend of tracks as part of a project that spanned 18 months. Her ARIA charting comes following an impressive week of media as part of the Gold Coast Music Awards and as headliner of the Gold Coast Show, seeing her featured on the Today Show, Seven News, Nine News, The Bulletin and Courier Mail newspapers.

The title track and feature track on the album is “Old Enough To Know Better,” where Lily playfully sings of staying young at heart and never wanting to be Old Enough To Know Better. The album, recorded in Nashville speaks to those who are chasing a dream, forging their own path or simply just trying to make sense of the world. Lily Grace collaborated with songwriters such as Greg Barnhill (‘Walkaway Joe’ by Trisha Yearwood, tracks by the Backstreet Boys, Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw), Kirsti Manna (‘Austin’ by Blake Shelton and ‘Loud’ by Big & Rich), Steve Dean (‘Watching You’ by Rodney Adkins, ‘Round About Way’ for George Strait, and ‘Walk On’ for Reba McEntire), and Becca Rae (‘Fix You Too’ by Megan Moroney and Kameron Marlowe) to write this project.

Rising Australian contemporary Country artist Sammi Palinkas is releasing her latest single “Sunset State of Mind”.

All about slowing down and admiring the beauty of a sunset, and used as a metaphor for life, “Sunset State of Mind” is an uplifting and empowering song that will bring a smile to your face, as you reflect on all the beautiful things life has to offer, when you slow down and take a moment to look around.

“Rod McCormack and I were bouncing around ideas for our next write, and I wanted to create something musically inspired by the late 90’s country era I love, and the likes of Faith Hill” Palinkas said. “We joined forces with Nashville-based writers Sam Gay and Templeton Thompson. After reminiscing on how busy life had been and the inability to find a moment to slow down, “Sunset State of Mind” was born. I’ve always had a fascination with sunsets and how they can make the busiest people stop for a moment to admire the beauty. “Sunset State of Mind” is a reminder for us to slow down and truly experience all of life’s joys whilst we’re able to, just like we’d experience a sunset. We don’t try and change, fix or judge a sunset, we take it all in, appreciate it with an open mind and heart, and accept what’s right in front of us. I love what that moment stands for. It’s a beautiful message and a great metaphor for life that I want to share with others. Musically we wanted to capture the real essence of that experience and for that reason it has become my happy song. The one I put on and grin from ear-to-ear for a second, just like I would in front of a sunset. I hope it brings happiness to everyone who hears it”. – Sammi Palinkas

Having already made waves in the country music scene, Sammi is putting the finishing touches on her 15-track debut album, with award-winning Producer Rod McCormack (Paul Kelly, The Wolfe Brothers & Lee Kernaghan). Her first Country single “Meet in the Middle” debuted at #3 on the Australian iTunes Country chart, #8 All Genre and charted on the official CountryTown National Airplay Chart. Follow up singles “You’ve Lived”, “Don’t Blink” and “Let Your Hair Down” all debuted in the Top 10 on the Australian iTunes Country chart, as did her Christmas single “From Me to You”. Most recently she released country power ballad “She’s Mine to Love” demonstrating her capability as both a singer and heartfelt writer, and “In a Country Song”.

Sammi Palinkas’ journey in music began at the age of three, fuelled by a diverse range of musical influences that include country greats like Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers and Loretta Lynn. From winning a national televised singing competition at the age of eight, to captivating audiences on stage and television, Sammi’s passion for music and performance has been evident throughout her life.

Her dedication to her craft has taken her across the globe, where she has collaborated with renowned songwriters and producers in cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville. With performances at major events like the VFLW Grand Final and ‘Big Hug Day’ as well as recognition from organisations such as NSAI and the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), Sammi Palinkas continues to solidify her place as one of Australia’s most promising country music talents.

“Sunset State of Mind ” is the second last single ahead of Sammi’s debut album and forms the next piece in her ever-growing catalogue.

Rising talent, Jimbo Stokes, has started the year with a bang! Off the back of a successful Tamworth Country Music Festival; Jimbo Stokes secured a partnership with ABC Music kicking off with the release of his first single, ” Got Me Good”; which impacted streaming and radio play.

Jimbo returns with his second single, the deeply personal, “All For You”. As Jimbo describes the song, “It’s about repaying those that had faith in you, particularly when you may have lacked it yourself. It can be hard sometimes to find the motivation to self-improve, but I think knowing it’s not just about you can really help. ‘All For You’ is raw and close to home, but I’m sure anyone who draws inspiration from loved ones, whether they’re family or past relationships can resonate.”

The Scone based country singer had his breakout year in 2023, which saw two singles rocket up the country music charts and assert himself as one to watch. The momentum continues this year with a series of singles planned and an EP slated for later in 2024.

‘FOREVER LEGEND’ is the story of a little boy’s desire and journey towards country music stardom…just like his dad.

The song is a direct result of Lyricist Bruce Mackay attending his first Country Music Festival in Tamworth earlier this year.

Aside from being “blown away” by the incredible talent wherever he looked, the number of “family” groups performing left an indelible impression on him. So much so, that upon his return Bruce wrote ‘End of the Beginning’ sung by Adrian Payne and more recently this release, ‘FOREVER LEGEND’ with Anthony Snape, both reflecting the generational pull of Country Music

WYATT FLORES’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FULL-LENGTH DEBUT WELCOME TO THE PLAINS OUT OCTOBER 18

NEW SINGLE “DON’T WANNA SAY GOODNIGHT” OUT TOMORROW WITH AN OFFICIAL VIDEO

EXTENSIVE FALL HEADLINE TOUR CONFIRMED

Rising country artist Wyatt Flores will release his highly anticipated full-length debut album, Welcome To The Plains, October 18 on Island Records (pre-order/pre-save here starting August 30). Ahead of the release, Flores’ new single, “Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight,” will debut tomorrow at 12:01am ET alongside an official music video. Pre-save the song here .

Produced by Beau Bedford (Orville Peck, Shane Smith & The Saints) and recorded between Los Angeles and Asheville, Welcome To The Plains details Flores’ journey as he balances the struggle of leaving his hometown of Stillwater, OK with the highs and lows of life on the road. Across these 14 tracks, including songwriting collaborations with Old Crow Medicine Show’s Ketch Secor and Aaron Raitiere, Flores delivers the grounded and sincere storytelling he’s celebrated for, seamlessly blending traditional country and folk sounds.

Reflecting on the project, Flores shares, “It’s an album about home and a search for happiness. It’s an album about Stillwater, Oklahoma, and all the other little towns that have raised people like you and me. It’s an album about my family, and the people and places in my life who have defined who I am today. This album is happy on one side and heartbreak on the other, and whoever you are, I hope you find something you love in here.”

In celebration of the new music, Flores will embark on his “Welcome To The Plains Tour” this fall, which includes his largest headline shows to date. Upcoming stops include Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium (two nights), Brooklyn’s Brooklyn Paramount, Los Angeles’ Fonda Theatre (sold out), Tulsa’s Cain’s Ballroom (two nights), Boston’s House of Blues, Atlanta’s The Eastern, Chicago’s Vic Theatre, Pittsburgh’s Stage AE, Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club and Fort Worth’s Billy Bob’s Texas among many others. See below for complete tour itinerary. Full details can be found at www.wyattfloresmusic.com/tour.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, the Mexican-American artist has established himself as one of country music’s most vital voices with his three previous EPs, including Half Life, which was released earlier this spring. Receiving widespread critical attention, The New York Times praised, “Wyatt Flores…Has a Superpower: Tapping Emotions,” while NPR Music declared, “a fantastic record…he is making a big splash out there” and Holler proclaimed, “Flores at his gloriously life affirming, existential best.”

Further adding to his breakout year, Flores is nominated for Emerging Act of the Year at the 2024 Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, was named one of Rolling Stone’s 25 “Future of Music” artists, selected as Amazon’s Breakthrough Artist of the Year, included in Spotify’s Hot Country Class of 2024 and CMT’s Listen Up class, and made his Grand Ole Opry debut earlier this year. Additionally, Flores has garnered over 325 million streams to date, saw his 2022 breakout single, “Please Don’t Go,” scale the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart and had his song “Before I Do” with Jake Kohn featured on the soundtrack for the new Twisters movie.

WELCOME TO THE PLAINS TRACK LIST

1. Welcome To The Plains
2. When I Die
3. Oh Susannah
4. Only Thing Missing Is You
5. Don’t Wanna Say Goodnight
6. Habits
7. Right Here with You
8. The Truth
9. Forget Your Voice
10. Angels Over You
11. Little Town
12. Stillwater
13. Falling Sideways
14. The Good Ones

Co-written on his recent trip to Nashville with Bill DiLuigi and Scott Barrier, “Home Town” is Will Day’s latest compelling offering. Taking a change of direction with this track, “Home Town” is a heartfelt, emotive ballad pulling on the heartstrings of the listener showcasing a more delicate side of Day’s vocals. Evoking a strong sense of imagery, “Home Town” tells the story of a person’s strong connection to the place they grew up in and whilst a lot hasn’t changed for both of them, there’s still one thing missing.

“On a recent trip to Nashville, I was fortunate to work with some amazing writers. “Home Town” was the first track written on the trip. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Bill and Scott, they’re amazing writers. I’m known for releasing country rockers, so I thought it was time for a ballad again as it’s been a few years. Jared Adlam has done a fantastic job on the production as usual. It’s a really emotive song that creates some strong imagery, so I’m looking forward to my listeners hearing it for the first time”

In further news, Will is excited to join the Groundwater Country Music Festival lineup on the Gold Coast this October. Known for his high energy performances and regular appearances at prestigious events such as the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, Texas (QLD) Country Music Festival, and Winton’s Way Out West Fest, Will is looking forward to returning to this major festival which includes artists such as Kasey Chambers, Adam Brand, Jayne Denham, Mel Dyer, Taylor Moss, Shannon Noll and international acts Tim Hicks, Jess Moskaluke, Jim Lauderdale and Gord Bamford.

Day’s music continues to resonate with fans across various platforms, earning significant radio airplay on KIX Country, ABC Country, Triple M Country, iHeartCountry Australia, and Australian Country Radio. His tracks have been featured on prominent Spotify playlists including Fresh Country, Fresh Country Finds, and New Music Friday, as well as Apple playlists like Aussie Country, 5th Gear, Today’s Country, Country Drive, and Back Porch Country. His music also has enjoyed recognition with a spot on Amazon Playlist Breakthrough Country (Canada).

In more exciting news, Will was recently announced as a finalist in the prestigious Nashville based 2024 Unsigned Only Competition for his previous single “Find Myself A Dirt Road”. A sister competition to the International Songwriting Competition, Unsigned Only attracts entries from around the world and this year had over 5,000 entries. Only 4% are fortunate enough to get placement in the finals and Day is the only Australian in the ‘Country Category’.

Will Day shows no signs of slowing down and continues to deliver his own signature style of country rock. His ability to blend upbeat, electrifying tunes with emotional, touching lyrics has made him a crowd favourite. Whether he’s commanding the stage with a lively country rock-infused track or serenading the audience with a soulful ballad, Day consistently delivers an engaging and memorable experience.

Australia’s newest country music sensation, Bella Mackenzie, has sparked a fire in country music fans and it’s going fully ablaze today with the release of her second single ‘WASTED’ featuring US country artist LECADE, and the announcement of her debut EP WILD THING dropping Friday November 22nd . The EP can be pre-ordered and pre-saved from here.

Bella proves real strength in her songwriting, unafraid to show her vulnerable side in ‘WASTED’. The burgeoning artist co-wrote her new single, with multi-instrumentalist and producer Jacky McCormack and LECADE. Written with strength and pride, the raw duet intertwines Bella and LECADE’S vocals seamlessly.

“WASTED is the struggle of two ex-lovers who run into each other downtown and can’t figure out if they still have that old spark or if it’s just the alcohol talking,” Bella shares.

LECADE says, “Working with Bella and her team was great. She is talented and I was excited to be part of such a cool song with her”.

‘WASTED’ is the follow up single to ‘COWBOY’ Bella Mackenzie’s first single through Island Records Australia. ‘COWBOY’ was instantly added to KIX Country, ABC Country, iHeartCountry, Nova Fresh Country and Triple M Country, peaking at #2 on the Australian Country Radio Charts. With over 500K global artist streams and 300K single streams for ‘COWBOY’ combined, the song was added to Spotify’s Fresh Country playlist, secured Apple Music’s Priority Songs with multiple editorial placements and the video added to RAGE and CTM Australia.

Bella Mackenzie will be performing at BIGSOUND next month, followed by Boots, Buckles & Beers Country Music Festival and Ridin’ Hearts Festival in the coming months.

Award-winning artist Natalie Jean has once again captivated audiences with the release of her latest country rock single “The What For”. Co-written by Natalie Jean and award-winning artist Nicki Kris, the song showcases the duo’s talent for crafting authentic music that resonates with listeners.

“The What For” produced by Alexi Von Guggenberg and Natalie Jean, is a powerful and relatable track that explores themes of freedom and having a good time. With its infectious chorus the song is sure to have everyone tapping their feet and grooving to the beat.

Natalie Jean’s unique sound and ability to connect with her audience shine through in “The What For”, making it a must-listen for fans of country rock music. The collaboration between Natalie Jean and Nicki Kris has resulted in a truly special and memorable track that is sure to solidify their status as respected artists in the industry.

Rick Rubin author of The Creative Act: A Way of Being says “Epiphanies are hidden in the most ordinary of moments: the casting of a shadow, the smell of a match igniting, an unusual phrase overheard or misheard. A dedication to the practice of showing up on a regular basis is the main requirement.”

When asked what the motivation was for this collaboration, Natalie said: “We were at a mutual friend’s party, and someone mentioned “The What For” and we didn’t know what that was. After some thought, we got a clue and thought it would be a great song”.

“The What For” is now available on all major streaming platforms. Don’t miss out on this incredible new release from Natalie Jean and Nicki Kris.

Natalie Jean is a Billboard, Itunes, Apple Music, Amazon Charting artist. Natalie is also an award-winning multi-nominated singer/songwriter performer.

www.natalie-jean.com

Nicki Kris is an award-winning Billboard Charting artist. Her songs have been featured in award-winning movies, TV shows, and on radio stations worldwide

Grant Joseph is an emerging country artist hailing from Trenton, Ontario. After years of establishing himself into his local country music scenes, he is now set to make waves with his first big single ’12-Pack (Dad Bods)’.

’12-Pack (Dad Bods)’ is poised to be the song of the summer, bringing a fun and happy vibe that’s sure to get everyone moving. The track celebrates the joy and confidence of embracing the dad bod, with catchy melodies and upbeat rhythms perfect for all summer playlists.

After being hospitalized with an injury in the spring that now prevents him from strenuous exercise, Grant took this as an opportunity to embrace the Dad bod this year. He is now celebrating across the country with all of those alike, making Dad bods the hottest ticket of the summer of 2024!!

’12-Pack (Dad Bods)’ has been accompanied with loads of fun and out of the box marketing across Grant’s socials and is now taking things up a notch adding a visual treat. Grant Joseph has teamed up with Happy Dad Hard Seltzer to bring you the newly released official ’12-Pack (Dad Bods)’ music video. Get ready for a fun and hilarious ride that perfectly captures the spirit of the summer of Dad Bods!

Scene favourite Chloe Swannell is celebrating the release of her much anticipated new single “Livin’ In The Country”. Due to drop on streaming services on August 30th, this upbeat track is full of catchy melodies and feet tapping beats, that will ensure country music lovers will be kicking up their boots.

“This was one of the first songs I ever wrote as a teenager. Growing up I wasn’t always the most popular and often wondered what it was like to get invited to the all the parties, so I wrote this song as a reminder to my young self. For me growing up and living in the country is the only place I will truly call home. I am so excited to be releasing this song as the title track for my debut EP”. Chloe Swannell

Hot on the heels of her second single “Unchained” charting at #10 on the AIR charts and #11 on iTunes Country Charts, the track was also featured on CMT’s “New Country” and “Locals Only” programs, ABC Country’s Saturday Night Country with Beccy Cole, and was featured on Apple Music playlists “Country Risers”, “Lil Bit Country” and “Aussie Country”. Chloe is excited to be working once again with producer Tarquin Halls-Corbett to create this upbeat country rock banger.

Chloe’s passion for music extends beyond her own career as the founder of a well-known music studio in the Central West of NSW. No stranger to the stage she has shared the spotlight with artists such as Beccy Cole, Amber Lawrence and Hayley Jensen, as well as performing at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2024 on the Fanzone Stage, Riverside Stage and special guest for Hayley Jensen at Moonshiners.

Chloe has announced her first string of shows beginning in September 2024 which celebrates her debut EP release “Livin’ In The Country” and her second appearance at the Tamworth Country Music Festival 2025.

The EP, also titled “Livin’ In The Country,” promises to be a celebration of country life with a collection of tracks that capture the essence of rural living and the joy of kicking off your boots.

Join Chloe Swannell in celebrating the release of “Livin’ In The Country” and experience the heart and soul of country music firsthand!

Chloe Swannell’s new single “Livin’ In The Country” is out at radio on Monday 26th August and all digital platforms on Friday 30th August.