ZFM Country

Nashville-via-Sydney singer-songwriter Imogen Clark is getting high octane and back to the nitty gritty with her new album ‘Choking on Fuel’. After a breakneck year of non-stop touring, returning to her roots armed with an acoustic guitar, Imogen is rolling out a record that captures the intensity, vulnerability, musical dexterity and vocal power that characterizes her compelling live performances.

“I spent last year on the road around the world, playing headline shows but also touring with Robyn Hitchcock, Steve Poltz, BOWEN * YOUNG and Andrew Farriss”, Imogen explains. “So many people have messaged me or commented on my social media to say that they would love to have an album that captured the spirit of what I do live, and that’s what this is”.

The album puts Imogen’s rich, devastating vocals front and center, foregrounding her deft, cutting lyrics and affecting melodies. The record runs the emotional gamut from the wry, incendiary All Hard Feelings (with 70s style backing vocals from co-writers Sinead Burgess and Blake O’Connor, who also tears up a blistering slide guitar solo), a high-octane harmonica solo on The Art of Getting Through from the legendary Mickey Raphael, the sexy bluegrass raveup of Sebastian (where Imogen is backed by Aussie grassers Midnight Chicken) to the raw, powerful anthem The Last of Me (with My Morning Jacket’s Bo Koster on propulsive piano), the road not taken nightmare of Squinters (a co-write with Steve Poltz powered by Bryan Sutton’s nuanced acoustic guitar), a fiery Nebraska-esque anthem If I Want In (featuring ARIA-winner Ella Hooper) to the delicate, timeless wisdom of If Your Heart Never Breaks (featuring gorgeous harmonies from co-writer Jim Lauderdale and a dexterous and beautiful guitar from the iconic Tommy Emmanuel).

An unexpected closing note comes with a radical reinterpretation of the classic Sheryl Crow / Jeff Trott anthem ‘If It Makes You Happy’, reimagined as a vulnerable duet with Imogen’s tourmate and Americana UK Live Act of the Year Kezia Gill. Aussie fans will expect to see it on the setlist when Imogen and Kezia head down under for a co-headline tour in October.

“I’ve gotten to know and write with Jeff Trott since I’ve been living in Nashville,” Imogen explains. “After hearing him explain how he began writing this song late one night on the piano, it sparked the idea of approaching the song from that point of view. Having Kez sing it with me added so much extra magic to this version of one of my all-time favorite songs”.

Current Golden Guitar Winner for Female Artist of The Year and Single Of The Year (A Little More Country); Max Jackson now has 3 x Golden Guitars to her name after also securing the Winner of Best New Talent in 2024. Now Max Jackson releases her brand new single, A COUNTRY HEART CAN; the song having its debut performance on Channel 7’s Farmer Wants A Wife.

As Max describes the new single, ” I come from a long line of deep rooted love, love with grit, love that has survived the toughest of days on the land and still woken up with excitement for every sunrise and what it will bring. Learning from my grandparents, parent, those I grew up around and now from my own relationship, I wanted to write a country love song that was less about the diamonds, gold, flowers and superficial things and more about the kind that get’s its hands dirty building a life.

When I was asked to perform on the 2025 season of Farmer Wants A Wife, it felt like the perfect time to bring out this song idea that had been begging to be written for a long time. So one night knowing that I didn’t have time to bring in co-writers, I pulled out an old acoustic guitar and poured by heart into this one.. and, it just flowed.

A COUNTRY HEART CAN has quickly become my favourite song that I’ve ever written and I hope that it helps a lot more people out there, put the love they have for their partner into words.”

A COUNTRY HEART CAN was penned by Max and produced by Rod McCormack. Following on from the single release, Max Jackson heads off to Nashville to perform at their illustrious CMA FEST. Standby for news on more tour dates

About Max Jackson:

From humble beginnings in the small country town of Coonamble NSW (Pop. 2750), to winning Australia’s biggest country music competition (Toyota Star Maker). Max has played National & international Country Music Festivals including CMA Fest in Nashville. The 3 X Golden Guitar Winner and TCMF Ambassador is only just beginning.

After the success of her radio-charting singles “Never Have I Ever” (#6 Australia) and “Dirt” (#16 Australia), Elyse Saunders returns with one of her most personal releases yet. “Mending Heart” embraces the raw, reflective journey of picking up the pieces after heartbreak. The award-winning Canadian-Nashville artist continues to build a catalogue of emotionally resonant and compelling country, and with its infectious melody, soulful vocals, and diary-like lyrics, “Mending Heart” is striking a chord with listeners.

Produced by award-nominated producer Adam Newcomb, “Mending Heart” channels the emotional depth and relatability of artists like Megan Moroney and Kelsea Ballerini, blending sliding steel guitar with a modern pulse. The track sparked industry buzz ahead of its release, earning a spotlight premiere on Nashville’s digital outlet The Women of Country, known for featuring top rising and established female stars in country music. Since then, the single has received major support on SiriusXM’s Top of the Country radio chart, amassed over half a million global streams, and marked Elyse’s digital Billboard debut on the iconic Nashville Sign-further cementing her growing presence in Music City.

“We have songs about falling in love and songs about heartbreak, but I wanted to write about the middle-that emotional, freeing place where you’re finally starting to pick yourself back up, knowing something better is ahead. I really poured myself into this one, especially in the studio. I love making songs that are fun and full of energy, but it’s just as important for me to create music that can heal others the way it heals me. “

ABOUT ELYSE SAUNDERS:

Rising country star Elyse Saunders is the 2024 CMA Ontario Female Artist of the Year and a multi-award-winning artist with nearly 5 million streams. Known for her powerhouse vocals and standout song-writing, she’s made waves with hits like “Never Have I Ever”-a top 30 on Canada’s Country Billboard Charts and #6 on Australia’s National Airplay Charts-and “Dirt,” a top 10 SiriusXM Top of the Country single. Her music videos receive full rotation support on CMT Australia, with spotlight features on CMT Nashville. She’s also been selected as the “face-out” cover photo artist on several editorial playlists across Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify. Splitting her time between Nashville and Canada, she’s built a reputation for electrifying performances at major festivals like Boots & Hearts and Sunfest, sharing stages with icons like Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean. Her new single, “Mending Heart,” is setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting 2025.

Golden Guitar nominee Abbie Ferris is back with ‘Bad for Business’, the lead single of her forthcoming EP and a raunchy slice of 90s country-rock.

Written in Nashville with Brian White (Jason Aldean) and Jason Sever (Luke Bryan) and recorded between Nashville and Australia with longtime producer Michael Carpenter, the sexy, hard-driving track was inspired by Abbie’s love of Brooks & Dunn’s classic hits. It was only natural that she recruited the legendary Brent Mason, whose guitar hooks and solos powered every 90s country hit from Brooks & Dunn to Alan Jackson to Shania Twain and many many more.

“I’ve been obsessed with 90s and early 00s country” says Abbie. “Early Miranda, Brooks & Dunn, that sound where the guitars are loud and rowdy and you feel the humans making it, and you want to go to the gig and hear it live. That’s the vibe I brought into the writing session with Brian and Jason and what we’ve captured on the track”.

The song is accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek video shot at Sydney’s hottest honky-tonk, Jolene’s, where Thomas Rhett and Wyatt Flores recently hung out while touring Australia, and where Abbie has played a popular residency show for the past year.

The release of ‘Bad for Business’ is the kick off to another era for Abbie, with an EP set for release later in the year and a busy year of touring to come. Already in Nashville, Abbie will officially showcase at the world’s biggest country music festival CMA Fest next week, as well as performing at The Aussie BBQ and Sounds Australia’s Australia Sounds Like… event. Once back in Australia, Abbie will hit the road with Kingswood for their Midnight Mavericks tour in July, with more touring and festivals through the remainder of 2025, including Savannah in the Round.

Abbie kicked off the year with a bang – a Golden Guitar nomination into a Countrytown Awards nomination, KIX Live in the Park into CMC Rocks QLD, touring with Travis Collins and now officially showcasing at CMA Fest, a milestone reflecting how far her star has risen and her growing acceptance within the Nashville music community.

“I feel like I’ve come so far but I’ve got so many dreams still to chase”, she says. “I’m a stockman’s daughter, I come from a town of 600 people. I know how to work hard and keep my feet on the ground, but I’ve also got my head in the sky and I never want to stop trying to take all of this to the next level.”

Words of encouragement from Lainey Wilson “keep holding on to what makes you stand out” when she met the superstar after they shared the bill at CMC Rocks helped push Abbie to embrace her raucous, emotional, scrappy sound – raunchy guitars, propulsive drums, lyrics that tell her story from small-town farmgirl to traveling the world, finding strength after heartbreak and delivering it all with the smoky passion in her voice.

“I want my music to make people feel powerful, to help them heal from heartbreak, to be a woman young girls can look up to as someone making a path for themselves in a crazy world,” she says. “I want the energy I feel from the crowd when I’m up there on stage to come back to those people through my records, and I never want to stop trying to take all of this to the next level”.

A true music legend and trailblazer, Charley Pride enjoyed one of the most successful careers in the history of country music and helped to break color barriers when he became the first black superstar within the genre. An inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame (in 2000) and proud member of the Grand Ole Opry, Pride sold tens of millions of records worldwide and toured regularly on an international basis with his extraordinary repertoire of hits. A three-time GRAMMY® award winner and 2017 GRAMMY® “Lifetime Achievement Award” recipient, Pride garnered no less than 43 chart-topping US country hits, including “All I Have To Offer You Is Me,” “Is Anybody Goin’ To San Antone,” “Mississippi Cotton Picking Delta Town” and “Kiss An Angel Good Morning’ ” a massive #1 crossover hit that sold over a million singles and helped him take home the Country Music Association’s (CMA) Entertainer of the Year award in 1971 and Top Male Vocalist awards of 1971 and 1972.

Surprisingly vigorous and the picture of good health at 86 years of age, Pride had intended to continue performing and recording for as long as his voice would allow. But sadly he fell ill in late November 2020 and passed away on December 12, 2020 due to complications from COVID-19, barely a month after an unplanned final curtain call at the CMA Awards where he was honored with the CMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

In addition to his own repertoire of legendary hits, Pride’s body of work often featured “covers” of songs that were originally popularized by other artists. The upcoming retrospective COVER STORY collects twenty-two (22) such songs that Charley recorded between 1991 and 2020 including (8) recordings that are enjoying their first official release in North America and two (2) previously unreleased recordings — “Ring of Fire” and “Heartaches by the Number.”

“Ring of Fire” is, of course, Johnny Cash’s ubiquitous 1963 classic that is generally considered to be one of the greatest country songs of all time. Rediscovered in Pride’s Dallas studio archives on a 2 inch multi-track reel simply marked “R.I.N.G”, the recording was originally committed to tape in September 1992 but only recently mixed and finalized under the supervision of Pride’s most recent creative partner, artist/songwriter/producer Billy Yates.

Legendary songwriter Harlan Howard’s “Heartaches by the Number” was originally made famous by Ray Price (a #2 country hit) and Guy Mitchell (a #1 pop hit) in the late 1950s. The recording presented on COVER STORY represents Charley’s only known studio version. More excitingly, it is the first recording to surface from Pride’s final January 2020 studio sessions with Yates. During his latter years, Pride often liked to kick off new studio sessions with a favorite classic country song to warm up his voice, build rapport with the studio musicians and set the tone for the rest of the sessions. “Heartaches by the Number” fulfilled that role during those final 2020 recording sessions.

REBEL YELL from the perspective of JOEY HENDRICKS

Courtesy of Warner Chappell Music Nashville & daschent®

Press:

“YOU’VE NEVER HEARD REBEL YELL LIKE THIS BEFORE.. 11/10!!”

-Terry Crews (from The Longest Yard with Courtney Cox and Adam Sandler)

Rebel Yell (visualizer):

^created in collaboration with Runway AI

‬ABOUT JOEY HENDRICKS

‭Since moving from Anacortes, Washington to Nashville in 2017,‬‭ artist/songwriter Joey Hendricks has heard his thought provoking‬‭ songs surrounding love, loss, addiction and familial struggles sung by‬‭ artists Lady A, Bryan Martin, Chayce Beckham and Nate Smith or‬‭ released through his own musical endeavors. Hendricks, continues to‬ craft music with fellow songwriters Lori McKenna, Aaron Ratierre,‬‭ Alysa Vanderheym, Luke Laird, Micky Ekko, Daniel Ross, Barry Dean,‬‭ Dan Layus, Austin Niveral, Jeff Trott, Andy Skib, Jordan Fletcher while‬‭ releasing music throughout 2025 for himself along with his new‬‭ project, verygently, who landed an agency deal with Wasserman Music‬‭ having not ever played a show and signed a record deal with‬ NashVerse/Warner Music after being a band for less than a year. To‬‭ say the least, the future is looking bright for Joey Hendricks.‬

2 x Golden Guitar’ Female Artist of the Year’ finalist & country powerhouse, Hayley Jensen, is touring internationally and turning up the heat with a fiery new country pop anthem, “Giddy Up Cowboy” , out now on all streaming platforms.

Written by Jensen alongside hitmaker Nolan Wynne and Sarah Buckley from chart-topping group The Buckleys and produced by multi-award-winning M Squared Productions(Casey Barnes, Kaylee Bell, Taylor Moss), “Giddy Up Cowboy” is a feisty and infectious track full of country swagger. The ultimate “boy, bye” anthem-for nights when you see the red flags and choose the higher ground.

“We wrote “Giddy Up Cowboy” for moments when temptation looks good, but freedom feels better. It’s about trusting your instincts and not settling for anything less-the soundtrack to walking away like a badass.” – Hayley Jensen

Hayley is the Official Feature Artist for PBR Australia(Professional Bull Riders Australia) this year, a perfect match for the rebellious spirit of “Giddy Up Cowboy”, and is bringing her electrifying performances to some of the biggest arenas and entertainment centres across the country, including the Newcastle Showground, Sydney ICC, Cairns Convention Centre, Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre & Townsville Entertainment Centre.

Fresh off the back of chart-topping hits ‘Dirt Rich’, ‘Outskirts’ (#3 CountryTown) & ‘Stomping Ground” (over670k streams) Jensen is gearing up for the release of her highly anticipated new album later this year.

The new single caps off a run of major successes for Jensen-this year alone she claimed two Independent Country Music Awards (‘Best Single’ & ‘Video’ for ‘Stomping Ground’), her track ‘Outskirts’ soared to #3 on the CountryTown charts and along with ‘Stomping Ground’, scored serious airplay across North America on SiriusXM.

Her critically acclaimed ARIA #1 Country album Breakin’ Hearts spawned a string of hits across country radio, CMT, Spotify, Apple Music, and SiriusXM. Now, with a new album on the way later this year, and a jam-packed international touring schedule-including a UK Festivals Tour, headlining in London, Birmingham, Wales &Manchester, and appearances at CMA Fest Nashville, including at Luke Combe’s bar ‘Category 10’, Jensen’s unstoppable momentum is showing no signs of slowing down.

“Giddy Up Cowboy” available now via MGM Distribution on all major streaming platforms.

Multi-platinum, award-winning artist Lainey Wilson delivers her highly anticipated new single, “Somewhere Over Laredo.” Written by Wilson, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson and Andy Albert, the track celebrates the timeless classic “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” through a fresh country lens, delivering an innovative new take on the song while honoring its enduring depth.

ABOUT LAINEY WILSON

Country music trailblazer Lainey Wilson continues to take over the world, capturing the hearts of music fans, the excitement of the industry and the recognition of her peers, while keeping her boots firmly planted on the ground. Her monumental rise continues with major milestones, including her induction into the Grand Ole Opry, co-hosting the 58th Annual CMA Awards with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, headlining the Dallas Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Halftime Show as part of The Salvation Army’s 134th Red Kettle Campaign and her nearly sold-out Whirlwind World Tour, which is currently underway and spans across Europe and North America.

Wilson’s latest studio album, Whirlwind, earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards and was hailed byThe Tennessean as “the best release of her career.” Whirlwind debuted at #8 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart and #13 on the U.K. Official Albums Chart, marking Wilson’s first top 10 and top 15 entries, respectively. Produced by Jay Joyce, Whirlwind provides a daringly honest exploration of Wilson’s life and journey around the globe. A diverse yet sonically cohesive collection of songs, the album bends genres while remaining true to her Western roots.

The Grammy-winning, CMA and ACM Entertainer of the Year is a prolific, sought-after songwriter who has scored eight No. 1 hits including “4x4xU,” “Wildflowers And Wild Horses,” “Watermelon Moonshine” and the 2x PLATINUM Certified “Heart Like A Truck,” in addition to award-winning collaborations with Cole Swindell (“Never Say Never”), Jelly Roll (“Save Me”) and HARDY (“wait in the truck”). Wilson has also become a triple threat within entertainment as a singer, songwriter and actor. She made her acting debut in season 5 of Paramount’s hit series Yellowstone and wrote and recorded “Out of Oklahoma,” an original song for Universal’s blockbuster Twisters. Beyond her artistry, Wilson’s on-stage performances triumph from sold-out tours across America, Australia and Europe to highly coveted music festivals such as Stagecoach, Lollapalooza and Watershed.

Get Ready To Feel The Rush With Cassidy Rae’s New Song ‘Dopamine’

The brand-new track from one of country’s most energetic young talents, Cassidy-Rae, is a song that doesn’t just play, it floods your brain.

‘Dopamine’ is the kind of song that hits like a chemical rush … bold, raw, and totally addictive. Love isn’t just a feeling in this one, it’s a full-blown high.

The hook? Instant craving. The vibe? Like falling fast and loving every second!

It’s country, but it burns like adrenaline. You’ll be singing along before the chorus ends. ‘Dopamine’ isn’t background music … this one is a full-body experience. Buckle up. Cassidy-Rae just delivered a rollercoaster ride we call love – and it hits like dopamine.

Cassidy-Rae is an artist to watch with mesmerising vocals, an electrifying stage presence, and authentic performances on guitar and keys. Her talent has earned her accolades like the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Award for Best Female Vocal, ICMA New Female Country Artist, and Gympie Muster Talent Finalist. From winning Sutherland’s Entertainer of the Year, to achieving back-to-back number one iTunes charting singles, she’s a rising star with an unstoppable momentum.

“I love the power and storytelling of country music” states Cassidy-Rae. “It’s ability to transcend all barriers and connect from one heart to another – I love country music because everyone feels like family. I fall in love with music every day for its heart, its passion and its soul. Throughout my entire life, it has always been a comfort and a source of joy. That’s what I inspire to do with my music … connect hearts and share the joy.”

ROBBY JOHNSON’S UPBEAT COUNTRY ANTHEM FEATURED ON THE RADIO OF THE GRAND OLE OPRY

“If Barstools Could Cry” is an instant catchy classic.

~Mikey, Host of Classic Country Breakfast.

“If Barstools Could Cry” is the most fun, upbeat breakup song that I’ve ever heard. It’s definitely a must-have in your music library.

~Laurel Davis, KCKM, Monahans, Texas.

Robby Johnson’s new track is already making waves across the country music landscape. Johnson recently stopped by the legendary WSM Radio (Grand Ole Opry) to chat with Eryn Cooper. Listeners from all around the world had a chance to hear Robby’s new song, “If Barstools Could Cry.” Additionally, the single has been featured on several prominent playlists including Spotify’s ALL NEW COUNTRY, CMT’s THE ROUNDUP, and Whiskey Riff’s NEW MUSIC FRIDAY, further cementing Johnson’s rising star status in the country music scene.

“I think a lot of people can relate to the regret of letting the right one slip away-especially when you’re too caught up in being young, reckless, and not realizing what you had until it’s gone,” shares Johnson. If Barstools Could Cry really taps into that moment of reflection, when the noise fades and the weight of what you lost finally sinks in.”

Never one to hit the brakes, Robby Johnson is constantly in the studio, crafting new music and refining his signature sound. With an unwavering drive and passion for storytelling, he’s already hard at work on his next project, ensuring that fans won’t have to wait long for more fresh, exciting tracks.

The Nashville-based singer-songwriter has amassed over 10 million views on YouTube and is approaching 8 million streams. His debut single broke into the TOP 20 on country radio, with its music video winning CMT Pure’s 12 Pack Countdown multiple times. Known for a live show that combines the energy of Garth Brooks with the swagger of Keith Urban, Johnson’s music has been featured on Sirius XM’s The Highway, Crook & Chase Countdown, and Country Top 40 with Fitz.