ZFM Country

Victoria Crosby – Artist Bio for ‘Red Dome Dust’

Fresh off the release of her debut single North of the Range, Far North Queensland
singer-songwriter Victoria Crosby returns with Red Dome Dust – a foot-stomping tribute to mining towns, childhood memories, and her old man’s hard yakka. A true bush balladeer with a voice full of grit and heart, Victoria blends classic country with honest storytelling shaped by life in the outback. When she’s not running her community café The Hungry Pug, she’s writing songs about small towns, red dirt roads, and the people who live there. With a string of singles rolling out in 2025 and her debut album North of the Range on the horizon, Victoria is carving out a space in Australian country music – one dust-covered tale at a time.

Victoria Crosby is a country singer-songwriter and bush balladeer from Far North Queensland. Known for her rich storytelling and heartfelt vocals, she writes songs rooted in the land, history, and people of the outback. Her third single Flowers for Annie is a haunting tribute inspired by a real-life tragedy in the early 1900s bush settlement of Mungana. With echoes of traditional bush ballads and a deeply emotional delivery, Victoria honours Annie’s legacy with grace and reverence. This release follows the success of her debut North of the Range and her second single Red Dome Dust, and continues building momentum ahead of her debut album North of the Range, due in 2026.

GOLDEN GUITAR NOMINEE ABBIE FERRIS RELEASES MORGAN EVANS CO-WRITTEN SINGLE ‘ON MY WAY’. NEW EP ‘STOCKMAN’S DAUGHTER’ OUT SEP 19

Golden Guitar nominated singer-songwriter and rising country star Abbie Ferris has released her anthemic new single ‘ On My Way’. Co-written in Nashville with ARIA-winning country superstar Morgan Evans and Jeremy Dylan, the song is an infectious love letter to chasing your dreams.

“This song is my story, from growing up riding horses in a town of 600 people to playing my music on stage in Nashville” says Abbie. “As we were writing it, Morgan kept encouraging me to put more details in the lyrics about my own life, my family and what really drives me, and I’m so excited to put myself into a song like this that will hopefully inspire other dreamers out there”.

Propelled by legendary Nashville drummer Chris McHugh (Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood) and produced by longtime collaborator Michael Carpenter, the song is the follow up to Abbie’s raunchy hit ‘Bad for Business’. Both tracks will be featured on Abbie’s new EP ‘Stockman’s Daughter’, set for release on September 19.

It’s been a massive year for the South Australian native. A long way from Mallala, Abbie has spent the last eight months on the world’s biggest country music stages, from CMC Rocks to CMA Fest, touring with Kingswood and Travis Collins and winning fans around the world. In the weeks to come, she’ll hit festivals across Australia from Sunset Bash to Under the Gums to Savannah in the Round to Groundwater Festival, and things don’t look to slow down anytime soon.

ELYSE SAUNDERS DEBUTS “HEARTBREAK RODEO” AMIDST A CAREER-DEFINING SUMMER

WITH OVER 5 MILLION STREAMS AND FRESH CMA ONTARIO WINS, SAUNDERS UNLEASHES HER FEARLESS NEW SINGLE WHILE HITTING MAJOR FESTIVALS WITH BRETT YOUNG, BRETT KISSEL, KAMERON MARLOWE, BRYAN MARTIN, JAKE WORTHINGTON, AND JADE EAGLESON. “HEARTBREAK RODEO” IS QUICKLY CLIMBING CANADA’S TOP OF THE COUNTRY ON SIRIUSXM, NOW AT #3.

Country artist Elyse Saunders returns with “Heartbreak Rodeo,” a bold anthem inspired by her journey through love’s highs and lows-holding on when times get tough and riding through the hard moments together-showcasing her powerhouse vocals and sharp songwriting.

Quickly climbing Canada’s Top of the Country on SiriusXM, “Heartbreak Rodeo” is charting at #3 this August beside Jess Moskaluke and Dallas Smith. As part of its release to Australian radio, the official music video will also premiere worldwide, available on VEVO, Vimeo, Apple, and more.

Co-written in Nashville with Gold-certified songwriter Chris Buck and Danick Dupelle of the ACM Award-winning band Emerson Drive, the track nods to trailblazers like Dasha, Shaboozey, and High Valley, pairing punchy rhythms with emotionally charged lyrics that reflect Saunders’ authenticity and fire.

With nearly half a million streams and major TikTok buzz, the single fuels a milestone summer for Saunders, who joins Brett Young, Kameron Marlowe, Bryan Martin, Jake Worthington, Brett Kissel, Tebey, Jason Blaine, and Jade Eagleson on festival stages across Canada. She’s also showing a more intimate side with acoustic performances, capped by a full-band showcase at Nashville’s iconic Whiskey Jam.

“As a high school sweetheart in a long-term relationship, I know what it’s like to ride through the highs and lows and keep growing together. Life isn’t perfect – there will always be good and bad days – but you can get through anything if both people are willing to put in the work. I wanted this song to be a reminder that love takes effort, but when you’re truly in it together, it’s always worth the ride.”

ABOUT ELYSE SAUNDERS:
Rising country star Elyse Saunders is the 2024 CMAOntario Female Artist of the Year and a multi-award-winning artist with nearly 5 million streams. Known for her powerhouse vocals and standout songwriting, 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. Heartbreak Rodeo marks the next chapter of her fearless cross-border sound, built to resonate with audiences.

‘Six String Shooter’, Cody Walker’s second single to be released in as many months.
Cody follows up his debut single with an equally deep dive into the themes of life’s darker corners, mental health, pain, purpose and the story telling of the calm in the chaos.

An instrument that now looking back was wielded as a defensive weapon, ‘Six String Shooter’ speaks for itself, again blending a powerful, gritty voice, with soul soaked lyrics and distorted guitars, it challenges the idealism of what we are to do, when the devil on the left and the angel on the right, argue over that crossroads we are standing at.

AMY SHEPPARD ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘COUNTRY COUNTRY’, DEBUT ALBUM ‘BORN TO BE COUNTRY’ & FIRST NATIONAL HEADLINE TOUR

She’s conquered the pop world, become one of the most successful female Australian songwriters of her generation, and amassed billions of streams and millions of sales. Now, Amy Sheppard is ready to add bona fide country music superstar to her impressive list of achievements.

The blue-haired icon – best known as a singer-songwriter in Aussie pop powerhouse Sheppard – today released her new feel-good anthem Country Country. Written with her brother George Sheppard and long-time collaborator Danielle Blakey, the track celebrates the best things about country music and is inspired by the overwhelming acceptance Amy has felt from the country community since launching her solo career in 2022.

“Country Country is the biggest, boldest single of my country music career so far. It’s the ultimate road trip banger-made to blast with the windows down and your heart wide open. As I gear up to release my first full-length solo album, this song is a celebration of everything I love about the genre and the incredible community that’s embraced me since Nothing But Wild. It’s loud, proud, and unapologetically country.” – Amy Sheppard.

Country Country is the latest in a run of hit singles that will feature on Amy’s highly anticipated debut full-length album, Born To Be Country, announced today and set for release on October 10.

Preceded by Overthinking, Small Town Rumours, Backfire, Thing For You, Mr. Mistake, and Blue and Pink Confetti , the album showcases Amy’s exceptional songwriting – every track written or co-written by her. Reuniting with many of the collaborators from her #1 ARIA Country Album EP Nothing But Wild, the record explores themes of love, heartbreak, freedom, and strength, blending modern country sensibilities with the hook-driven energy fans know and love.

To celebrate the release of Born To Be Country, Amy will embark on her first national headline tour this November with her full band, hitting major cities for an unforgettable run of shows.

Since making the leap to country music in 2022, Amy has achieved six Top 5 hits on the CountryTown Hot 50 Airplay Chart, landed her first US Music Row Top 40 with Overthinking, collaborated with US vocal supergroup Home Free, Travis Collins, and The Wolfe Brothers and earned a CMT Video of the Year nomination at the Golden Guitar Awards.

Her evolution from pop hitmaker to chart-topping country artist has been embraced by fans and industry alike – cementing Amy Sheppard as a powerful force in Australian country music.

Here’s a great irony that’s testament to the musical depth and stylistic reach of Orianthi’s expansive artistry. Though the clever lyrics and spirited narrative of her fiery, kick-ass single “Attention” make it the perfect country/rock single, it seems every piece written about the famed singer, songwriter and otherworldly electric guitarist only refers to pop/rock legends she’s vibed with. Her name can’t be raised without reference to her longtime collabs with Alice Cooper, Dave Stewart and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora – and of course, Michael Jackson.

But check out these down-home truths about Orianthi’s country bona fides. MJ chose Orianthi after seeing her perform with Carrie Underwood as a featured lead guitarist at the 2009 Grammy Awards. She later performed with the country superstar at the Hollywood Bowl and again at the CMA Awards in 2016, where they played “Dirty Laundry.” Orianthi’s not only on the record in Rolling Stone calling herself a country music fan, but the multi-faceted 2018 album she did with Sambora under the name RSO included a handful of original country tunes. She said, “The great thing about country songs is the storytelling. They’re really moving and well-crafted, and that’s something Richie and I wanted to explore.” Famed country producer Dann Huff later produced their song “Walk With Me” for Delta Rae.

In 2016, Orianthi and Sambora played the pre-game show (ahead of fellow Australian Keith Urban) at the 2016 NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final at ANZ Stadium in Sydney. In addition, Orianthi cited modern country and blues as the main inspirations for her 2013 Stewart-produced album Heaven in This Hell, which was recorded at Nashville’s Blackbird Studio and mixed by John McBride. Orianthi later scored a hit on Disney Radio with the country single “Better With You,” also mixed by McBride.

Truly a fusion of classic styled power rocker and brilliantly rendered country songcraft, “Attention” finds the singer pointedly exposing an annoying ex lover’s habit of drunk texting to rile up her cooled passions. Penned by Orianthi, Don Miggs and Gregory Hansen, it’s her second track produced and mixed by the legendary Kevin “The Caveman” Shirley, whose extensive resume includes Joe Bonamassa, Journey, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Dream Theater and countless artists from his home country of South Africa and his later adopted home of Australia.

After an edgy, rhythmic guitar intro, Orianthi uses her silky, sultry vocal tone to bring us into a compelling scenario where she’s free from a complicated relationship and living life on her own terms now: “I ain’t at the Whisky/Waiting on you/Or staring at the ceiling/Sitting in a hotel room…” Then the groove, propelled by bassist Justin Andres and drummer Demian Arriaga, kicks up, and over more rhythmic, crunchy guitar energy, she tells her former significant other, “I’m sipping on tequila/With someone you knew/And you’re out on tour/Doing what you always do.” She doesn’t specify, but it feels like code for “screwing around like you did on me.”

As the track develops, Orianthi’s increasingly emotional vocals convey frustration and exasperation, then everything explodes on the killer hook where she really lets the guy have it: “You’re so predictable/You do it every time/Drunk checking on me/In the middle of the night/You know what you put me through/U just want attention.” She wraps the chorus with the mic drop line: “I’m done thinking about you,” which is followed by a cool melodic earworm of wordless background vocals. After another run through the hook, Orianthi repeats “I’m done thinking about you” over and over as her guitar wails behind her vocals for heavier emphasis.

“Attention” is perhaps best appreciated via its dynamic performance video, which shows a few close ups of her intricate guitarisma. With every new single, Orianthi reminds us that she’s still at the top of her game in every way, finding fresh, vulnerable yet attitude-filled musical stories to tell and allowing us to experience the guitar chops that have made her a modern-day musical hero. – Jonathan Widran

AUSTRALIA’S CHART-TOPPING FAMILY BAND, THE BUCKLEYS , ARE TURNING UP THE HEAT WITH EXPLOSIVE NEW SINGLE, “WHAT WERE YOUR DREAMS MADE OF.”

” What Were Your Dreams Made Of” is an infectious cocktail of honky tonk heart, rockabilly rebellion, and pure Buckley magic, the track is a high-energy anthem built for dance floors, festival stages, and country playlists alike. Frontwoman Sarah Buckley delivers powerhouse, velvet-smooth vocals alongside a fierce mandolin solo that refuses to be ignored.

Co-written with KINGSWOOD’s Alexander Laska and hitmaker Ned Houston, Sarah explains:

“If you’ve met any of us Buckleys then you’ll know we like to have a good time! My sister and I can definitely hold our own when it comes to throwing back a few whiskeys and have a lot of fun going toe-to-toe with the boys – this song was inspired by the guys we’ve come across who are a little thrown by just how well we do that! It’s fun, tongue-in-cheek and we imagine ladies (and gentlemen!) far and wide dancing and singing along to these lyrics that I’m sure many of us can relate to.”

“What Were Your Dreams Made Of” is the hotly anticipated follow-up to their hit single “See Your Folks Again”, which soared to #1 on both CMT and Australian Country Radio, and was warmly embraced by radio across the country following their electrifying CMC ROCKS performances.

The Buckleys are gearing up to hit major festival stages including Gympie Music Muster, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Outback By The Sea Festival, and the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival, where they will host their annual ‘Buckleys & Friends Family Jam Night’ – dubbed by Countrytown as one of the Top 10 Must-See Shows of 2025.

ABOUT THE BUCKLEYS:
The Buckleys have firmly established themselves as one of Australia’s most exciting young bands and dynamic live performers, known for their infectious charm and consistently fresh take on country music which has seen them achieve five top 5 charting singles, 4 x CMAA Golden Guitar nominations and droves of international acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone to American Songwriter Magazine, who stated The Buckleys “are so cool and authentic that the world has no choice but to sit up and take notice.”

Consisting of siblings Sarah Grace (lead vocalist/bass guitar), Molly (vocals, keyboard and mandolin), Lachlan (electric and slide guitar) and Dylan Buckley (Drums), the band have taken their electrifying live show to stages across Australia and the United States from Bluesfest Byron Bay to CMC Rocks , Tamworth Country Music Festival, CMA Fest, Mundi Mundi Bash, Savannah In The Round, Gympie Music Muster, Nashville’s iconic Bluebird Cafe, Music City Roots and more. An award-winning documentary on the band’s meteoric rise was also produced by Oscar-winning producer, Christopher Jenkins and directed by Grant James entitled ‘Take It As It Comes’. It achieved the Gold Award at the Independent Shorts Awards (Los Angeles, California) and was dedicated to the Chairman of Petrol Records and long-time manager of INXS, Chris Murphy, who signed The Buckleys in 2019.

Perth based Scarlet’s Way return with “I Can’t Help It”, a sultry Southern-inspired track dripping in velvet vocals and aching heartache. Dropping August 22nd, the single captures the raw emotion of a one-night stand that lingers longer than it should-where fleeting passion burns brighter than the loneliness of the days that follow.

Infused with the aching soul of Patsy Cline and a touch of modern noir, “I Can’t Help It” (co-written by Katey Gabel, Shayne Savic and Alex Seier) is the kind of song you pour a glass of red to, with the lights turned low. It’s a late-night torch song for anyone who’s ever found themselves lost in the pull of something that feels too good to walk away from-even when you know you should.

“We’ve been looking forward to getting this one out there! ‘I Can’t Help It’ had its beginning in Nashville back in 2018 when we went over for a month to write, see as many shows as we could-and buy as many boots as possible haha! We finally finished it in 2023 after digging through old voice memos on our phones and rediscovering song ideas we forgot we wrote. While driving across the Nullarbor after a 3-month tour of Australia, it resurfaced-and we knew it was time to finish it. We’re so excited to finally release it!” – Scarlet’s Way

Known for redefining modern country rock with a bluesy, Southern edge, Scarlet’s Way delivers a sound that fuses 70s live energy with modern storytelling. The duo has been setting stages ablaze across Australia’s biggest festivals. In 2024, they lit up The Deni Ute Muster, and in 2025, delivered a powerhouse performance on the Toyota Park Main Stage at the Tamworth Country Music Festival to rave reviews from industry tastemakers and fans alike.

Scarlet’s Way’s latest EP, Scarlet’s Way 3, launched to rave reviews at The Bayview Hotel in Gladesville, Sydney-marking yet another milestone in their skyrocketing career. With every note, the band transports audiences straight into the heart of rock ‘n’ roll rebellion, proving that the allure of live music has never been stronger.

Following their win for ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Group of the Year’ at the 2024 WA Country Music Awards, Scarlet’s Way is riding a wave of momentum, making them one of the most exciting and electrifying acts on the country-rock scene today. Catch Scarlet’s Way live in Western Australia over the second half of 2025 including a performance at the major Redfest event Mandurah Country Music Festival which also includes Brad Cox, Travis Collins, Taylor Moss, Hayley Jensen and more.

Scarlet’s Way’s new single “I Can’t Help It’ is out at radio and all streaming platforms on Friday 22nd August.

Award Winning Country Artist Cali Tucker’s single Last Name drops July 18, 2025

Cali Tucker, the award-winning country artist with a lineage steeped in Nashville tradition, is back with her new single, Last Name. Released on all digital platforms and radio stations worldwide (via MPE and CDX) on July 18th, Last Name has been streamed over 400,000 times, the fantastical Cinderella themed music video will be premiered on September 4th, and music critics are losing their mind over the single!

“Cali Tucker isn’t just riding the country music wave, she’s steering it” – Vents Magazine

“Nicely phrased vocal” – Music Row

“Tucker’s voice is … unadorned, with no filter, no fakeness. Just raw, emotional
storytelling” – HypeHub Magazine ​

“She sings with a depth and emotion that reflect her journey, something many artists
shy away from” – Zillions

“Vocally, Cali walks that tightrope between vulnerability and steel” -Groover City

“The vulnerability and reality in this song is what makes it special” -CocoMyrhh

“Shimmering … riveting textures and pulsing production elevating her soaring vocals throughout”

• Lock Magazine

“Tucker solidifies her place in modern country music, not because of where she comes from,

but because of who she is” -Apricot Magazine

Cali says, “I want people to know – whoever you want to be, whatever you want to do, it’s within your reach.” Though Cali is grateful for her circle of family and friends, she is deeply aware that not everyone has that same privilege. Through Last Name, her powerful, soul-stirring vocals deliver this message with authenticity and heart – making it a true anthem for everyone fighting to be seen, heard, and valued.

Cali shares, “I want people to know – whoever you want to be, whatever you want to do, it’s within your reach.”

As the daughter of 1970s hitmaker LaCosta Tucker and niece of the legendary Tanya Tucker, Cali embraces her family’s musical legacy while infusing it with a modern twist that resonates with today’s audience. From winning the Miss Teen All American title to gracing the Grand Ole Opry stage and headlining top Las Vegas venues, she has steadily built a career defined by artistry and resilience. Her time as a finalist on NBC’s The Voice-mentored by Blake Shelton-launched her into the national spotlight, setting the stage for her continued success.

Over the past year, Cali’s original music has amassed millions of streams across Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube while receiving airplay worldwide. People Magazine praised her as “a blend of sweet and sassy… addictive.” She performed the National Anthem for NASCAR’s Pennzoil 400 before a crowd of 80,000 racing fans and a televised audience of over three million. Meanwhile, her music videos-Country Couture and Urban Cowboy-have swept film festivals, earning multiple Best Music Video and Best Song awards. On June 28th, she made her debut to a near capacity crowd at Aliante Casino’s Access Showroom in Las Vegas and on July 19th, she electrified the stage with her iconic aunt for a special double-billed performance at Spirit Mountain Casino in Oregon.

With Last Name, Cali Tucker continues to prove that her name is one people will be talking about for years to come.