ZFM Country

Iowa native, Hailey Whitters is returning to her roots with the release of her third studio album “Raised”, which was inspired by her Midwestern hometown and the formative years she spent there.

The latest single off her recent album “Plain Jane” will give you a very clear picture of Hailey and who she is.

Written by Hailey along with Cary Barlowe and Hillary Lindsey, there are some great lyrics that portray her as an imperfect human who has a lot of flaws, yet one who has learned to own them and use it to her advantage in a way.

ABOUT HAILEY WHITTERS:

This Iowa-born, Nashville-based rising country star scored her breakthrough moment in 2020 with the release of her self-funded debut album “The Dream”, which was praised as “the year’s deepest country album” (The Washington Post) and went on to appear on more than 15 year-end best of lists including #1 on both Stereogum’s “10 Best Country Albums of 2020” and Garden & Gun’s “Best Southern Albums of 2020” list. The subsequent deluxe album “Living The Dream” found Whitters’ self-fulfilling “The Dream’s” prophecy and enlisting her friends and collaborators Brent Cobb, Jordan Davis, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Little Big Town, and Trisha Yearwood to appear on five new songs, leading NPR’s Fresh Air to call her “one of the most interesting voices in country music.” In 2021 alone, Whitters toured with Luke Combs and Midland, was named the inaugural Opry NextStage Artist of the year, scored her first CMT Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“Fillin’ My Cup” feat. Little Big Town) and received her first GRAMMY nomination for Song of the Year for “A Beautiful Noise,” which was written by Ruby Amanfu, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Alicia Keys, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry and Hailey Whitters, and performed by Alicia Keys and Brandi Carlile. On March 18, 2022, Whitters released her third studio album “RAISED” via Pigasus / Songs & Daughters / Big Loud, which features her debut single at country radio “Everything She Ain’t”. Ranking among the most added upon its impact, the track was also named one of Rolling Stone’s “Best Songs of 2022 So Far”. With her debut headline Heartland Tour and performances at Tortuga Music Festival and Stagecoach Festival under her belt, the rising star boasts over 100 million streams across her catalogue and will hit the road all summer with Jon Pardi and Lainey Wilson on his Ain’t Always The Cowboy Tour.

Nashville-native singer-songwriter ERNEST had a record year after dropping his first full-length album ” FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM)” to critical acclaim in March 2022, which saw him earn his fifth, sixth, and seventh #1’s as a songwriter while his debut single “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen simultaneously reached RIAA platinum certification. Most recently honoured as one of Variety’s coveted 2022 Hitmakers, the CMA Triple Play Award winner was also selected as a 2023 MusicRow Next Big Thing artist. Selling out his first ever headline tour across college towns this past fall, he rounded out a stacked year of touring on the road with labelmate Morgan Wallen as part of his record-breaking Dangerous Tour.

Now, the charismatic entertainer who “single-handedly discovered a way to unite old-school country enthusiasts with listeners that enjoy mainstream music” (CMT) is set to continue his “stunning return to country music’s traditional essence ” (The Tennessean) with deluxe album “FLOWER SHOPS (THE ALBUM): Two Dozen Roses”. Building upon the project and recognized as a top release of the year by Holler. and The Tennessean, ERNEST adds 13 more original songs to the collection “filled with retro country truth and relentless heartbreak” (Taste of Country).

“I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new music,” shares ERNEST. “It’s even more of the real, honest storytelling that the album was built on, and continues the character’s love story right where it left off with ‘Some Other Bar.’ It’s very reflective, I think everyone will be able to relate to a part of the story in some way. I’m really proud of it!”

The lyrical innovator creates a playful poetic, almost nursery-rhyme-like melody on his new single “Miss That Girl”. Featuring an up-tempo beat with a lot of poetic-refrain style lyrics. The verses are mostly acoustic guitar, as the narrator calls on some of his vices to help him through a heart wrenching break up and keep him from “missing that girl.”

Resuming his role as the tragic hero, “Miss That Girl” is accompanied by a video directed by Justin Clough with a treatment conceptualized by his wife, acclaimed creative Delaney Royer, the video was shot in Columbia, Tennessee and gives life to the track that yearns for relief from heartbreak.

ABOUT ERNEST:

Nashville’s most unpredictable hit maker ERNEST is “The Charmer” (MusicRow), a triple threat talent and one of Music City’s on the rise artist/writers that’s changing the status quo. As a chart-topping songwriter, he fuses influences ranging from Eminem to George Jones, creating a twist-heavy verse style that’s become his signature, proving its mettle, and earning him six #1 hits to date. The eccentric free spirit and 2022 CMA Triple Play Award winner launched his debut single to country radio “Flower Shops” feat. Morgan Wallen in January to 88 first week stations, the #1 most added single of the week, and is Top 20 and rising now. His debut full-length album of the same name – Flower Shops (The Album) – is out now, showing off the more classically country side of his craft. ERNEST appeared alongside 90s country legend David Lee Murphy and labelmate Ben Burgess on HIXTAPE: Vol. 2 track “Red Dirt Clouds” last fall, and his podcast Just Being ERNEST is in its third season, hosting guests like Keith Urban, Diplo, Jason Aldean, Bobby Bones, and Craig Wiseman , with many more to come.

Let’s be honest living life is hard, but being a female can make it even more difficult! That’s why KC Johns latest single “Dodging Bullets” is an anthem for all woman paving their own road in life. It’s infecious guitar riff and lyrical message will leave your listeners drumming on their steering wheel with their confidence soaring. “Dodging Bullets” was chosen as KC’s latest single as a recommendtion from Sony and Concord Music after performing the song during an artist showcase in Nashville, TN. Both A&R teams fell in love with the track, and they couldn’t have helped KC pick a better single for where she is at in her career.

KC Johns is an artist who always has the future in mind and never lets a moment go to waste. “Dodging Bullets” is a track that portrays KC’s determination to make her life a success and it’s an ideal that many female listeners can relate to! We are excited to have the chance to become part of your programming! A number of KC Johns previous singles, including “Whiskey Break”, “Confused” and “Famous” have gotten great coverage from stations all over the world through PlayMPE and “Dodging Bullets” is one more to add to the collection!

One has toured with Taylor Swift, has 12 x Golden Guitars and 11 x CMC awards to his name; the other is a 5 x Golden Guitar nominee and has played bass with some of Australia’s most revered acts. Combined they share over 50 million streams and today, Adam Brand and Matt Cornell join forces to deliver the rousing new single, ‘Our Church’.

Since departing the Baby Animals over a decade ago for a gig with Adam Brand, Matt Cornell has walked the path of country music. The pair quickly became thick as thieves. When a global pandemic threatened to demolish that path, their comradery gave them resilience.

“Before ‘Our Church’ was a song, it was our weekly catch up with a couple of my close brothers during covid,” recalls Brand. Both being ‘foodies’ who frequently share their culinary skills with social media fans, it was only natural to host the catch ups at cafés all over QLDs Gold Coast.

“We found it was helping us deal with the mental anguish of our industry being on its knees, the work & money we had lost. In particular, I was really struggling,” adds Cornell. “But I found solace in my mates, in our little catch up every week. I’m not a religious man, but I decided to call it Church.”

The song had its origins at a song writing hub in Brisbane – Song Culture. “On the final day, the last writing session was with Gavin Carfoot, Linc Phelps, Brook Chivell & Jake Whittaker. We discussed writing a song about mates, mates who are very close, kinda like a brotherhood” says Cornell. “That’s when I proceeded to tell the boys about Church.”

Cornell sent the acoustic demo to Adam Brand the very next day, whose immediate response was “let’s record this song, let’s do a duet.” Brand also later contributed some powerful lyrics to the song’s back half. “If you go to war, I go to war, brothers & sisters we’re in this together.”

You can feel the emotion in ‘Our Church’ from the very first line sung by Cornell. His voice, brimming with raw emotion, gallops atop a slowly building bed of guitar and synth; soon to explode into the song’s anthemic chorus. Produced by Jared Adlam, both music and lyrics blend together eloquently.

After drag racer Sam Fenech recently lost his life on the track, the boys’ song became a fitting tribute. “Adam’s great friend Wade Aunger, after hearing ‘Our Church,’ thought it would be a very moving tribute” shares Cornell. The video honouring the late racer, using ‘Our Church’ as its soundtrack, featured on several motorsport social media pages and received over 100k views.

The single’s official music video, shot and directed by Golden Guitar winner Jay Seeney, is a heart-warming tribute to the true-life story. The video starts out with Cornell making a plea to Brand, saying “he’s struggling,” that’s when Brand springs into action and rally’s the troops, and all the boys rush to Cornell’s aid to get around him. The song’s fellow writers and attendees of Song Culture were invited to record vocals on the track, which also made for some fun cameos in the video.

Adam Brand and Matt Cornell are not just guys who play in a band together. They’re not just mates. They’re brothers. They’re also both powerhouse performers in their own right, with their recent shows on the Tamworth Country Music Festival Toyota Park main stage proving a hit with thousands of festivalgoers.

This much needed collaboration is about more than music. This is about shining a light on mental health. This is about comradery and hope. This is their church.

Emerging Australian singer songwriter Lily Grace celebrates her journey to Nashville with the release of her single, ‘Follow My Road’, available everywhere today.

Written by Lily with Chaise Flanders and Kirsti Manna, and produced by award-winning Michael Flanders, the lyrics bring a confident narrative to this rising singer-songwriter’s story as she ventures from Australia to Nashville with an upbeat, catchy tempo to compliment.

“I wrote ‘Follow My Road’ to empower people to follow their dreams and set out on their own path. This song is about being independent and not needing to be reliant on anyone else; a man, a parent, etc. It’s important to know your own values, attitudes and beliefs and put these first. Stay true to yourself, your emotions and trust that you’re the captain of your own ship,” Lily shared.

In 2022, Lily was the supporting act for Vance Joy at Riverstage in Brisbane, playing to a crowd of over 10,000 and most recently performed at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

She released her single “The Two of Us Meet,” which has now garnered over 1 million streams on Spotify alone, debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Australia Country Chart and landed her on Spotify’s New Music Nashville, CMT’s Australia Playlist and climbed to CMT Australia Top 30 as well.

Lily was awarded the People’s Choice Award and was a top three finalist for Breakout Artist of the Year in the 2022 Gold Coast Music Awards.

She was awarded Best Video for ‘Annie June’ in the Australian Country Music People’s Choice awards and was a finalist in several categories including Best Female Vocalist and Most Promising Future Star.

Earlier in 2022, she was nominated in 9 categories of the 2022 Tamworth Songwriters Association Awards and won awards for both Country Song of the Year and Country Rock Song of the Year.

The demand for her music in the U.S. has drawn her to Nashville, where she spent over 6 weeks doing radio interviews, television appearances, podcasts, songwriting, recording and performing in 2022.

The future of this young artist certainly looks bright.

Pete Cullen has done it all. From sleeping in tour vans, playing dive bars around the country, to performing on some of the biggest stages alongside the biggest names in the country. But in today’s musical landscape this is often the resume of those experiencing ‘overnight’ success.

Recently securing distribution through Australian and Nashville based company MGM, Cullen brings his overnight pedigree and delivers magically on his new single ‘Heart Of Steel’, produced by Nash Chambers.

‘Heart Of Steel’ pays homage to the countless Australians who keep Australia moving. The truckers.

“My mate Danny’s old man, Frank Whyatt was a trucker” states Pete. “Danny would tell me he’d be gone from home for weeks. There were no mobiles or internet back then, so Frank used to pull the horn a few kilometres from home and Danny would race his family down the street to meet him.”

Cullen makes the obvious connection between trucking life and country music, but takes a different road than the one usually ending in heartbreak.

“Truckers and musicians share a common thread. You leave your loved ones behind. Life on the road can be fun and exciting. But when the crowd goes home and you’re coming down there’s only one place you want to be … home!”

Like a big truck engine, the rhythm section stirs. The guitar chimes – like only a country guitar can – and the pedal steel arrives. ‘Keep a light on for me, I’ll be home before you know, may you have the sweetest dreams, while I chase the white lines home’. The ingredients for a country music classic are all here. The band, the voice, the writing, the passion.

But don’t be deceived. Of course, there’s heartbreak on the road. But this is a love story. The photographs on the dashboard, the yearning for home.

“Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of performing at Followmont Transport functions and the thing that they all have in common is that they always talk about looking after your family.”

‘Heart Of Steel’ is a refreshing addition to not only the Australian country music landscape, but, to the genre as a whole. It’s exciting, it twangs, and amongst all, has big heart.

Here’s To The Ones – The Wolfe Brothers pay homage to our women.

The Wolfe Brothers new single is a song that is both special and personal to brothers Nick and Tom Wolfe. With this single release the Tasmanian based duo delivers a song of respect and gratitude to all women, an ode that is a well overdue musical “tip of the hat” to the women who nurture, protect and inspire the males of our country – the mothers, wives, partners and friends.

Tom Wolfe explains the origins of the song this way. “On Feb 17th we are going to be releasing a brand new song ” Here’s To The Ones”. We are not going to tell you it is the party anthem of 2023, or the next summer hit or put up a bunch of TikTok posts asking you if we should release it. We are releasing it because we consider this one of the more important songs we have ever written and recorded.”

“The original spark of an idea for this song began at a mates farm in Paratta, Tasmania a few years back. After watching him work literally sun up to sun down he said some words that truly stuck with us. When speaking about the love he has for wife he said, “that’s the backbone of our country, the ones who feed the ones who feed the country”. It was an incredible sentence. I had never thought about it or heard anyone say it like that before.”

“We started thinking about this statement and how it applies in our own life and how incredibly lucky we are to do what we do. There is no way that any of what Nick and I are doing now would have happened without some incredibly supportive women.”

“At the end of 2022 we lost our family patriarch, our biggest supporter, our incredible mum. She consistently put others first for her entire life as a teacher, friend and mother. We could have never achieved any of this without her.”

“One of the lines in the song is “There’s so many songs ’bout a guy working hard it’s about time the girls got one too” sort of says it all.”

This song is for our mum, our wives Ally and Tani. But also, for all of the incredible women who are as selfless, caring and loving as they are! You all are the greatest…Here’s to the ones!”

This song is the second single from The Wolfe Brothers new album “LIVIN’ THE DREAM” due for a 14th April release. It follows their recent multiple week #1 smash hit, the album’s title track, “Livin’ The Dream”.

Australian Country artist Tori Darke is excited to announce the release of her highly anticipated new single “Dodged a Bullet”.

The emotionally charged track showcases Tori’s powerful vocals and relatable lyrics, which will be a hit for country fans across the globe. Tori has been making waves in the Australian country music scene for many years with her authentic sound, personally penned lyrics and mesmerising on stage presence.

With “Dodged a Bullet”, she delivers a poignant portrayal of the aftermath of a toxic relationship. “I wrote this song about the realisation that I had dodged a bullet by getting out of a toxic relationship,” says Tori. “I hope that it can resonate with anyone who has been in a similar position and serve as a source of strength and empowerment.”

The raw and honest lyrics of “Dodged a Bullet” are paired with a catchy and infectious melody, making it a standout track from Tori. “I really wanted to capture the feeling of relief and gratitude that comes with getting out of a toxic situation,” explains Tori, “I poured my heart and soul into this song, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.”

With her powerful voice and relatable lyrics, Tori has become a favourite among fans by sharing her enthusiasm and love of Country Music.

“Dodged a Bullet” is just the beginning of what’s to come in 2023 and the near future. Produced by Andrew Cockrane of Red Engine Recordings, who Tori last worked with on her #1 ARIA charting album “Silver Lining”.

Australian country singer Brook Chivell unleashes a new single ‘Put ‘Em Up’ and it’s set to light up the airwaves. Due for release on February 20th, this song is a perfect blend of country and rock, featuring a groovy beat that will have you moving your body in no time.

Produced by Jared Adlam at Machine Lab, the dynamic single showcases Brook’s unique style and vocal range. With its catchy lyrics and groovy tempo, ‘Put ‘Em Up’ is sure to be a hit with Brook’s dedicated fan base.

“I’m so excited to finally release this single. It’s been a long time coming and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it. I think it’s a great representation of who I am as an artist, and I hope it will be a real crowd-pleaser”. Brook Chivell

Brook’s contemporary country rock sound combined with powerhouse vocals has seen him open for artists such as Adam Brand, Morgan Evans, McAlister Kemp, Travis Collins and The Wolfe Brothers. He’s performed at some of Australia’s most iconic Country Music Festivals including Deni Ute Muster, Gympie Music Muster, Sydney Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival as well as touring nationally.

Brook Chivell’s single ‘Put ‘Em Up’ is out at radio and digital services on Monday 20th February.

Australian singer/songwriter Casey Barnes has just achieved what is known as the holy trilogy in country circles.

Casey won the ARIA for Best Country Album at the end of 2022, then started 2023 scoring the Top Selling Australian Album of the Year and then the prestigious Toyota Album of the Year gong at the Golden Guitar Awards in Tamworth.

“That’s pretty rare,” Casey says of the hat trick. “I remember stopping and thinking ‘OK, this has actually happened, be grateful.'”

Gratitude is something Casey Barnes is very familiar with. He’s an overnight sensation nearly 20 years in the making. He’s perfected the hustle and patience required to make it in the music business, respected in the industry for his hard work and dedication.

“For quite a long time it felt like you’re taking a few steps forward but then you get a knock back but you keep going again. It happens in stages. However, in the last 12 months everything feels like it’s clicked into place. We’ve opened the floodgates; everything seems to be going right. And you get that new injection of excitement and coming off the back of the ARIA win and the Golden Guitars, you want it to go to that next level. There’s that expectation and excitement.”

Casey Barnes starts 2023 with his biggest success just ahead of him as he enters a new musical chapter. The first taste of that era is the wildly-catchy new single “Summer Nights “. For a songwriter who has documented everything from unconditional love to unthinkable grief, right now, it’s time to party. Written with Melbourne hitmaking team MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), it’s a celebration of great times fuelled by beer, whiskey and your favourite song turned up loud.

Summer Nights is the future soundtrack to your next party – and it’s also purpose-built for small clubs and huge festivals.

“I wanted to write something universal,” Casey says. “That’s what people come to see you for. They’re working their arses off all week in a job they may not really love, so on the weekend they just want to let their hair down with their best friends, not take life too seriously and have some fun.”

Casey may be staring down the most exciting period of his career, but after years of hard work, he knows timing is also critical.

“If a lot of the stuff happening for me right now had happened seven or eight years ago, I probably wasn’t ready. Since then, I’ve become a better songwriter and on the live front our band can mix it with the best artists out there. I’ve learned a lot about the industry and I’ve got the right people around me”.

“You’ve got to do the hard yards and earn your stripes in the music industry, which is how it should be. It’s taken me a while to get to this point. People want to see if you are the real deal, if you are taking it seriously and not just sticking your toe in. Similar to the market in Nashville, you can’t just fly in and fly out, you have to be committed to it. Once they realise that, they take you seriously and things start to happen.”

One song that made things happen for Casey is “God Took His Time On You”, from the ARIA winning album “Light It Up”. The 2022 single opened doors for Casey in Australia and the US, with heavy radio play and over six million streams on Spotify alone. After successful shows in the US late last year, Casey returns to the US in June this year for shows across the country and the CMA Fest in Nashville. Casey has also just returned from writing with some of Nashville’s most successful songwriters as he continues to hone his craft.

“Every person you get in a room with there’s a different energy, so I’ve came back with some really great songs and they’ve bought out different musical sides of me and different lyrical topics. It’s important as you grow as an artist you don’t want the next album to sound the same as the last album, you want to evolve.”

And he’ll keep connecting with fans, whether it be on Tik Tok (“my two daughters gave me some tips on how to use it”) or an upcoming tour.

“I feel like I’ve played the long game by not giving up and now all that hard work is paying off.”