ZFM Country

PATSY & DAVE | JAMES BLUNDELL – “I’m Suddenly Old”
Written by David Baird and Patsy Toop, “I’m Suddenly Old” is a warm, harmony-driven reflection on life’s passing seasons — delivered with heart, humour and unmistakable Australian honesty.Recorded around three-way harmonies throughout, the track pairs acoustic warmth with an instantly memorable chorus:“Woke up this mornin’ I’m suddenly old;The years paint my face with stories untold…”From the opening verse — “Lines on my face, a map of the years” — the song leans into lived experience rather than lament. It’s not about growing old quietly; it’s about embracing the miles travelled. Dreams chased, love found, kids grown, adventures taken — and a quiet pride in every wrinkle earned.Produced in collaboration with James Blundell, the track blends country storytelling with adult contemporary appeal. The organic instrumentation and layered harmonies create a nostalgic yet uplifting feel — perfect for country and AC formats.“I’m Suddenly Old” is reflective, relatable and quietly anthemic — a song that connects instantly with anyone who’s ever blinked and wondered where the years went… and smiled anyway.

FIRE UP! AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST-SELLING FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST HAYLEY JENSEN UNLEASHES RED-HOT COUNTRY-ROCK BANGER ‘BURN IT DOWN’ AHEAD OF DEBUT PERFORMANCE AT CMC ROCKS QLD

Australia’s highest-selling female country artist and 5 x Golden Guitar Finalist Hayley Jensen ignites a bold new era with her explosive country pop/rock anthem ‘BURN IT DOWN’, available to pre-save from Friday 6 March 2026 and officially released on all DSPs on Friday 20 March 2026.The fiery new single drops just in time for Jensen’s debut performance at CMC Rocks QLD, Australia’s largest international country music festival, marking another milestone in a career that continues to surge both at home and abroad.‘BURN IT DOWN’ signals the start of a powerful new chapter following the release of Hayley’s second ARIA #1 Country Album, ‘Country Soul’, in late 2025 on her independent label. ‘Country Soul’ became the highest-selling female country album in Australia, ranking #2 overall across the genre behind James Johnston, and continues to feature weekly in the ARIA Top 5 Australian Country Album Chart.Hayley is also the most nominated artist at the 2026 Countrytown Awards for commercial success, earning five nominations for Female Artist, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Tour of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.‘Country Soul’ delivered a string of radio hits and fan favourites including ‘Country Soul’, ‘Giddy Up Cowboy’, ‘Outskirts’ and ‘Stomping Ground’, all of which held prominent positions in the Countrytown Top 50 Commercial Radio Charts. With career streams surpassing 8.9 million, Jensen has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s most compelling contemporary country acts.Now, she’s turning up the heat.Produced by award-winning producer Liam Quinn (Guy Sebastian, Peach PRC, James Johnston, Rachel Fahim, Sara Berki) and co-written with Australian country-rock breakout Josh Setterfield and Canadian songwriter Craig Brooks, ‘BURN IT DOWN’ pairs gritty guitars and driving percussion with a stadium-sized chorus built for festival singalongs. The track is a fearless anthem about drawing a line in the sand, silencing doubt, and turning every “no” into fuel – delivering a high-voltage declaration of self-belief with blazing momentum.“‘BURN IT DOWN’ is about taking everything that tried to hold you back and turning it into rocket fuel! It’s about the moment you stop playing small, stop holding back, stop asking for permission, and choose to rise up in your own power. I want it to be an anthem of fearless resilience – giving everyone who hears it the feeling that they are unstoppable!” says Jensen.The single is primed to become a live favourite, with fans set to experience its full-throttle energy when Jensen takes the stage at CMC Rocks QLD, kicking off a massive 2026 festival season that includes Meatstock Toowoomba and Gippsland, Triple B Rodeo Series, RegFest Echuca, Neville Country Muster, Barra & Boots Festival, Man From Snowy River Festival and appearances at PBR Australia events, with more major announcements to come.Jensen’s momentum extends internationally, including in Canada, where she is one of the few Australian artists to gain traction at country radio, including airplay on SiriusXM across North America. She has performed at Calgary Stampede and Dauphin’s Countryfest, toured the UK with headline shows in London, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham, and in 2025 achieved a career milestone debut performance at Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe during CMA Fest.Blending country grit with pop polish and a rock edge, ‘BURN IT DOWN’ signals a bold sonic evolution and further cements Hayley Jensen’s position at the forefront of Australian country music.The fire’s been lit. Now watch it spread.

At just 20 years old, Lake Macquarie country-rock firebrand Nikisha Priest hits a new peak of confidence with ‘Ace of Spades’ – a powerful rock track with country hues, built for anyone choosing independence and grit.
 
‘Ace of Spades’ doesn’t arrive with a tidy origin story – it arrives like a sign. The first spark hit in the most gloriously unglamorous way possible: a Maccas carpark, Motorhead on the speakers, and a moment of curiosity that turned into fate.
 
“I was listening to ‘Ace of Spades’ by Motorhead in the Maccas carpark (I know very classy) and I was just thinking to myself how cool the topic of the song was. I looked it up on Spotify and there weren’t many songs with the same title, so I thought how cool it would be if I wrote a song called ‘Ace of Spades’. As I decided I would write this song I had a white car parked right next to me and as I turned my head this car had an Ace of Spade sticker just slapped on the side of the car door.   I took it as a sign that this song had to be written.”
 
What followed was a deep dive into the playing card’s symbology and what emerged was a compelling message of rebirth and individuality. “This song is all about leaving what’s not meant for you behind, being unapologetically yourself and choosing your inner strength! I hope this song brings you comfort and leaves you feeling empowered!”
 
It’s that mix of instinct and intention that makes ‘ Ace of Spades’ hit so hard – a song that feels like transformation mid-stride. With dark shimmer in the lyric and a backbone of country-rock attitude, Nikisha turns symbolism into self-belief: walking away, not looking back, and letting the “new beginning” bite.
 
Produced by Simon Johnson, the track was shaped with a hands-on, anything-is-possible energy in the studio – the kind of environment where bold ideas don’t get watered down, they get turned up.
 
“When I’m creating songs, especially when it comes to bringing it to life in the studio, my creative side goes crazy and Simon is exceptional at bringing the visions to life no matter the task, I always feel like I can voice my opinions and really dive into creating the music and he is right there with me with that same passion.”
 
The visual world of ‘Ace of Spades’ keeps that same momentum. With a visualizer by Jeremy Minett of Eyes and Ears Creative, the release expands into a full-throttle statement – captured at Full Throttle Ranch, a location that matched the song’s edge and atmosphere.

Ahead of his debut appearances in Australia next week, country’s hottest rising star Tucker Wetmore continues his red-hot run with the release of his breezy new track ‘Sunburn’ available now via Back Blocks Music/MCA/Mercury Records. Built on a sun-soaked groove, the song captures the spark of a beachside romance that burns bright and fast. Written by Ryan Hurd, Jaxson Free and Daniel Ross and produced by Chris LaCorte, “Sunburn” finds Wetmore leaning into his laid-back charm, blending vivid storytelling with an easy melody that feels tailor-made as summer approaches.
 
The new music comes at the perfect time for Australian audiences, as he is about to embark on his debut appearences across Australia and New Zealand. He will appear at CMC Rocks Festival in Ipswitch next weekend, before travelling around the country on Jordan Davis’ ‘Ain’t Enough Road’ arena tour. Full dates below;
 
 
“Brunette” continues to propel Wetmore onto a global stage, recently topping the U.K. Radio Country Airplay chart for three consecutive weeks. In the U.S., the rip-roaring hit has already cracked a spot in the Top 15 on the Country Airplay chart. A standout from his debut album What Not To, the track has already notched more than 225M U.S. streams, earning praise from Holler, who dubbed it a “ powerful pop country anthem perfect for speeding along to and pounding the dash,” while Country Central called it “just downright giddy.”
 
 Wetmore’s momentum followed a banner year in 2025 that included back-to-back No. 1 singles, a history-making debut album ( What Not To), ACM and CMA Awards recognition and a year of touring across the U.S. and abroad. In December, he released “Proving Me Right,” his first new music since What Not To, before ringing in 2026 with a milestone national TV performance on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest.
 
ABOUT TUCKER WETMORE:

With a warm vocal cut from the woods of the Pacific Northwest and an easy instinct for modern grooves, Tucker Wetmore has emerged as one of country’s most dynamic new stars. An ACM and CMA Awards-nominated singer-songwriter and headline performer who has already surpassed two billion career streams, the chart-topper has taken just a few years to leave a lasting mark. Raised in Kalama, Washington, the piano-playing student of country, rock, reggae and more wrote his first song after a college football injury, reaching Nashville in 2020. Kicking off his career with back-to-back ARIA Platinum “Wine Into Whiskey” and 2x Platinum debut No. 1 “Wind Up Missin’ You,” Wetmore landed on Billboard’s all-genre Hot 100 in 2024 with both tracks, showcasing a serene, sawtoothed-country buzz. After two features on the Twisters soundtrack, his first Grand Ole Opry appearance and a sold-out headline tour debut, Wetmore released his debut album What Not To to wide acclaim in 2025, wrapping hard-won life lessons in laid-back singalongs, and soul-scouring balladry, and the album made history as the biggest country album debut from a new artist in 2025. After notching his first two No. 1s at Country radio in 2025 with “Wind Up Missin’ You” and “3,2,1,” his current single “Brunette” is climbing the Top 15 at Country radio now. Already a veteran of major tours alongside Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Jordan Davis and more, Wetmore spent this summer on the road with superstar Thomas Rhett before launching The Brunette World Tour in 2026 with dates across the U.S., U.K. and EU as he remains a standout “one to watch” by Billboard, MusicRow, VEVO, Spotify and the Opry.
 

I’m Not God’ serves as the seeding track and first piece of music from Tori’s next chapter.
The first official single and radio focus track will be shared with you on April 17, following Tori’s appearance at Universal Music Australia’s All Country Showcase on March 17.

One of Australia’s most revered and compelling, alt-country singer-songwriters, Tori Forsyth returns with an unapologetically emotionally raw and defiant new single ‘ I’m Not God’ out today, the first drop of new music from the forthcoming fourth new album.

 
‘I’m Not God’ marks Tori’s first new music since the release of her 2024 acclaimed album, ‘ All We Have Is Who We Are’, which was nominated for Best Country Album at the 2024 ARIA Awards.
 
With a voice that cuts straight to the core and writing that balances raw confession with poetic restraint, Tori Forsyth has carved out a singular place in modern country and alternative folk, with this new music seeing Tori pushing the boundaries of her sound and storytelling into a bolder new era – undeniably an artist who refuses to compromise – following instinct over expectation, truth over trends, and heart over hype
 
‘I’m Not God’ was written entirely by Tori, produced by Scott Horscroft (Spacey Jane, Birds of Tokyo, The Presets) and recorded in Sydney at Grove Studios. The confrontational new single “is a story of sheer persistence – about staying true to yourself in an AI-driven world, and in any moment where you’re forced to back who you are and what you stand for,” Tori explains. “ This song really sets the tone of the new record, set for release in 2026. Every single song on this next album has real humans dedicating blood and sweat to a body of work.”
 
Accompanying ‘ I’m Not God’ is the captivating music video clip that features Tori in an empty hall performing solo on stage with just a piano – her commanding and magnetic vocals and mastery for storytelling lock you in on the first note, making every lyric, every note an absolute demand for attention. The video is directed by Bradley Murnane (Last Shop, Yardsticks, The Boy Who Cried Mud), shot in Sydney and captures the first take with all its rawness and intensity.

ABOUT TORI FORSYTH
Tori has amassed over 18 million+ streams, toured extensively throughout Australia and internationally, with performances at Gympie Muster Festival, BIGSOUND, Groundwater Country Music Festival, and shared stages with artists such as Kasey Chambers, and Jackson Dean. Her songwriting has been recognized with major industry accolades, including Golden Guitar wins and nominations, and her work continues to resonate deeply with fans who see themselves reflected in her honesty. Tori’s third studio album, ‘ All We Have Is Who We Are’, earned Tori widespread acclaim, a QMA Country Award for the single ‘Sometimes’, an ARIA nomination for Best Country Album, and a Golden Guitar Award nomination for Best Alt-Country album.
 
Having recently supported 2026 Golden Guitar Award Winner Wade Forester on his Australian headline tour Tori has been announced to perform at the Hollergirl Music Festival in Kentucky USA , this June . Alongside this announcement Tori is also getting ready to lock in more Australian show dates soon.

AMY SHEPPARD AND THE WOLFE BROTHERS TEAM UP   FOREPIC NEW COUNTRY DUET ‘FOOL OUTTA ME’- OUT NOW

Australian country heavyweights Amy Sheppard and The Wolfe Brothers today release their powerful new duet ‘Fool Outta Me’, a bluesy and emotionally haunting ballad that examines the end of a relationship from both sides. Written together in Tasmania, the song unfolds as a striking “he said / she said” conversation between two people reflecting on the same breakup. While the man admits the mistakes that led to the relationship’s collapse, the song offers space for both voices to be heard, revealing the complicated truth that heartbreak rarely belongs to just one person. Built around smoky production and deeply emotive performances, ‘Fool Outta Me’ blends classic country storytelling with contemporary polish, delivering a track that is as intimate as it is radio ready. The duet format allows both artists to inhabit the emotional centre of the song, turning the narrative into a conversation rather than a confession. Amy Sheppard is best known globally as co-lead singer and songwriter of Sheppard, whose catalogue has amassed billions of streams worldwide. Alongside her work with the band, she has built a thriving solo country career, earning multiple Top 5 singles and her first #1 on the CountryTown Charts with ‘Small Town Rumours’. Sheppard is also an ARIA Award and Golden Guitar winner, and one of Australia’s most-played female artists on country radio. Her personal journey has also resonated strongly with fans, with her IVF experience widely documented in Australian media. Last month, Amy and her husband welcomed their first child, Frederick, marking a joyful new chapter in her life and career. The Wolfe Brothers are one of the most successful acts in Australian country music history. The band has earned 15 Golden Guitar Awards – including 2026 Album of the Year and Group of the Year – along with 32 additional nominations and five Top 10 ARIA Albums. Their catalogue of chart-topping releases and electrifying live performances has cemented them as a cornerstone of the genre. Both artists continue to reach major audiences on stage. Amy has recently performed on the main stage at CMC Rocks and delivered headline performances at Savannah in the Round and Groundwater Country Music Festival – including a widely celebrated set while in the late stages of pregnancy. With strong radio support and growing international attention, both Amy Sheppard and The Wolfe Brothers remain central figures in Australia’s thriving country scene. The collaboration arrives at a particularly exciting moment for both acts, with both nominated for Album of the Year at next week’s CountryTown Awards, while Amy is also nominated for Female Artist of the Year and The Wolfe Brothers for Group of the Year. ‘Fool Outta Me’ captures the vulnerability and complexity that sits at the heart of great country songwriting – two voices, two perspectives, and one story that lingers long after the final note. QUOTE – AMY SHEPPARD“Writing ‘Fool Outta Me’ with The Wolfe Brothers felt incredibly natural because we all wanted to explore the truth of what really happens when a relationship falls apart. From the start, it was special knowing this song would live as a true duet, because they co-wrote it with me and brought so much heart and honesty into every line. Instead of pointing fingers, we leaned into the grey areas – the miscommunication, the regret, the things you wish you’d said differently. There’s something creatively powerful about slowing everything down in a ballad and letting the emotion breathe, and I’m so proud we get to share this story together.” QUOTE – THE WOLFE BROTHERS“Writing ‘Fool Outta Me’ with Amy was one of those rare sessions where everything just clicked straight away. We loved being able to tell both sides of a story and let the song live in that emotional middle ground, rather than choosing who was right or wrong. Turning it into a true duet made it even more powerful, because it feels like a real conversation between two people who still care. It’s honest, vulnerable, and exactly the kind of song we’re proud to stand behind.”  

A wave of momentum is building around Canadian country artist Olivia Mae Graham with the release of her latest single, “I’m Not Sorry.” The single arrives from her debut album ‘Nobody,’ which is now nominated for Album of the Year at the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Graham has also earned six first-ballot nominations, including Female Artist of the Year and Breakthrough Artist of the Year, while the single has already surpassed 33,000 streams in its first two weeks.
Written about the art of letting go, OMG delivers one of her most poignant lyrics to date: “When hanging on becomes holding back.”
“Music like yours needs to be the centre of everyone’s day.”— Michelle Lee On Air“‘I’m Not Sorry’ perfectly sums up that unsettling calm when something meaningful ends without chaos.”—  Canadian Beats Media
The accompanying music video offers a clear vision of OMG’s artistry and hands-on approach to storytelling. Directed, filmed, and edited by Olivia Mae Graham herself. ‘I’m Not Sorry’ is another example of the creative vision that sets Graham apart. Recent Milestones
· 6 First Ballot Nominations – Country Music Association of Ontario Awards
· 33,000+ streams in the first two weeks
· Music video filmed, directed, and edited by Olivia herself
· Spring 2026 tour announcement coming soon
· Upcoming performance at Rockin’ Wheel and more to be announced

Riding the momentum of her previous single ‘Bad Routine’ – which hit #41 on the Countrytown Hot 50 airplay chart – Bianca Joulianou returns with ‘ Cowboy Casanova’, a feel-good rush of classic-meets-modern country rock that captures the thrill of falling hard and fast.
 
Dynamic and electrifying, Bianca continues to carve out her space in Australian country music with a unique voice. On ‘Cowboy Casanova’, she leans into grit-laced guitars, driving drums and an undeniable hook, delivering a love song that feels both timeless and right on cue for now.
 
Produced by Jake Davey – known for his work on the audio desk or behind the camera lens with artists including Taylor Moss, Saralyn and Melanie Dyer – the track blends raw energy with polished restraint. Bianca says the recording process unlocked something new in her artistry.
 
“Working with Jakey Davey in the studio really brought this track to life. He knew how to harness the raw grit of the guitars and drums while keeping the vocals front and centre, so the emotion hits hard. The process felt like capturing lighting in a bottle, Jake pushed me to dig deeper, and the energy we created together made the song exactly what it needed to be”.
 
The song itself marks a daring creative shift. “Cowboy Casanova is a song that I never thought I would write, a bold new step that marks something entirely new for me as an artist. The writing process came so naturally to me, once I got the idea of the rhythm in my head, the words kind of just fell out on the paper”.
 
There’s an ease to ‘Cowboy Casanova’ – a sense of abandon – but beneath the swagger is intention. Bianca balances classic country storytelling with a modern rock edge, drawing comparisons to the confident femininity of artists like Ella Langley and Stevie Nicks, while keeping her voice distinctly her own.
 
A 2025 Semi-Finalist for Listen Up Music’s ‘The Songwriting Prize’, Bianca has quickly become one of the most compelling emerging voices in the scene. She has opened for artists including Rachael Fahim, Dylan Wright, Shannon Noll and Diesel – sharpening her live show in front of some of the country’s most loyal audiences.
 
Outside of music, Bianca works as a mental health support worker, helping people rediscover a sense of purpose and passion in their lives. That perspective – witnessing firsthand the power of creativity and reconnection – feeds directly into her songwriting. Whether it’s a bold, high-energy anthem or a vulnerable confession, there’s always a beating heart beneath the sound.
 
With ‘Cowboy Casanova’, Bianca Joulianou doesn’t just follow up ‘Bad Routine’ – she levels up. It’s confident, catchy and charged with a spark that feels impossible to ignore.

A Band of Rain are a two-piece alt-country folk band from the Deep South – Melbourne. Songwriters Katrina Nolan and Stuart McCullough met through an online dating site and decided to form a band to annoy Katrina’s children. To that end, it’s been a raging success!Recognised at the Australian Songwriters’ Awards in 2025, A Band of Rain has been described in a recent publication as a ‘Skyhooks meets Johnny Cash and June Carter’. Duets are a tricky business. Two star-crossed lovers start by warbling sweet nothings as they gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes. But before you know it, they’re wading through more corn than Kevin Costner in his baseball field.A Band of Rain is aiming for something a little more fun.  Not many country duets mention ‘jorts’. Or shopping bags. And we’re pretty confident that there’s never been a duet that refers to ‘coddle’ – a traditional Dublin stew made with boiled sausages!Upbeat and joyful, I LOVE YOU WHATEVER is a country duet in the style of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, with a modern relatable twist.  

‘You Need a Cowboy’ is Victoria Crosby’s bold, boot-stomping leap into the country-pop/country-rock lane ̶ a high-energy anthem for anyone who’s ever dated a bloke who looks good on paper but hopeless when real life hits. With sharp, funny storytelling and a driving beat, Victoria draws a clear line between soft-handed city boys and the kind of real cowboy who actually shows up when it counts. It’s flannos, dust, dog boxes, deep-drawl vocals and a whole lot of attitude delivered with Victoria’s signature heart and a fiery new sound. Fun, catchy and instantly sing-along ready, ‘You Need a Cowboy’, is a radio-friendly crowd-pleaser built for windows-down driving and every summer playlist.