Aleyce Simmonds – Being A Mother

Aleyce Simmonds Embraces Deeply Personal Infertility Struggle.

“This is a song for any of you out there who have known this pain and this yearning. Not just to be a mother, but to know what it’s like to desperately want anything in life, to do everything within your power to achieve it and for whatever reason, it be just out of reach. I urge you not to wait, and not to give up. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. Don’t leave a single stone unturned or breath unaccounted for” – Aleyce Simmonds.

For as long as singer-songwriter Aleyce Simmonds can remember, she has dreamt of being a mother.

“Having the most incredible and selfless mother myself, a woman who has always without fail, given everything within her power for me, my two sisters Karlee and Sarah and our little angel brother, Joshua, certainly would have fuelled this fire,” she said.

“What shoes to fill, but my gosh have I wanted to try get close.”

Now that the Tamworth Golden Guitar winning artist is weeks from welcoming her first baby, Aleyce is highlighting her struggles with infertility and hoping to help others heal along the way with her new single, ‘Being A Mother’, out December 8.

“Life doesn’t always go as we plan,” she said.

“Between not meeting my life partner until later in life, a journey with endometriosis and adenomyosis amongst other things and a career where I toured the world making music, being a mother was something that wasn’t quite possible for me in the way that I hoped it would be.”

When Aleyce met her now husband, Nathan Love, she said she saw the pieces start to fall into place.

“I had met a man who would be a beautiful father and with whom, I couldn’t wait to start a family,” she said.

“We started trying quite early in our relationship because, when you know you know and, we had a special family member holding on to life with every little hope and we were desperate to give him another reason to hold on.”

However, a few years down the track, they were still unable to have the baby they so dearly wished for.

“Instead of holding our baby, I was holding our hopes and watching tears fall more and more with each passing month,” Aleyce said.

“It wasn’t truly until the news that we were expecting a second and third nephew or niece that the all-consuming love hit me even harder and I realised that time was never going to wait and we’d already waited too long.

“With the support of our families, but in particular, my sister Karlee who encouraged me constantly to try IVF, we finally took the leap.”

When Aleyce began writing ‘Being A Mother’, she was “drenched in tears on the floor, feeling alone and isolated and broken”.

Sharing the story with her drummer friend, Mat Duniam, together they finished ‘Being A Mother’ and, like a manifestation, Aleyce is now enjoying feeling those little kicks and hearing her little girl’s heartbeat.

“I hope with all my heart that one day you can hold your dream in your hands, like my wildest dream to be a mother, will soon be in mine,” she said.

Emmagen Rain – Don’t Wanna Meet Your Parents

Rising talent, 16-year-old singer songwriter Emmagen Rain, is thrilled to release the first single from her new project, Don’t Wanna Meet Your Parents.

Nurtured over the last 3+ years by ABC Music following stellar performances on The Voice Australia in 2020 and her #1 JJJ Unearthed track, City Lights Call. Emmagen has been honing her singing, song writing and multi instrumental skills; recently nominated at the Gold Coast Music Awards 2023. Emmagen has amassed over 2 million in streams.

Emmagen’s latest single, Don’t Wanna Meet Your Parents, was co-written with Alex Mathers and Ingrid Oram. As Emmagen describes the track, “It’s about not wanting to progress a friendship to the next level.”

“i don’t wanna meet your parents

i don’t want a heart to heart

i don’t wanna go that distance

just to end up at the start”

Josh Setterfield – Stay

Hi There,

My name is Dayna, I’m the manager & publicist for rising country artist Josh Setterfield. I’m excited to share the new single ‘Stay’ off of his EP ‘Rise’ which has debuted at #2 on the ARIA Country Charts this week. Josh has also announced his first Australian headline show for January and is set to perform at CMC Rocks Festival 2024. Please see the press release below for all the details, for any media requests please email me.

JOSH SETTERFIELD MAKES ARIA DEBUT AT #2 ON THE COUNTRY CHARTS WITH NEW EP ‘RISE’ FEATURING NEW SINGLE ‘STAY’
Country Music ‘star on the rise’, Josh Setterfield, returns to Australia to perform his first ever Australian headline show in his hometown of Brisbane on Saturday, January 13 2024, marking the culmination of his ‘Kinda World Tour.’ Finishing 2023 on an even bigger high note, Josh’s EP ‘RISE’, featuring the new single ‘Stay’ has debuted at #2 on the Australian ARIA Country Chart a significant milestone and career achievement for an Australian artist. Produced in Canada and mastered in the home of Country Music, Nashville, this EP is a testament to Josh’s burgeoning global career.

Josh’s career has skyrocketed throughout 2023, which has seen his audiences grow immensely by captivating them with his charismatic, engaging, and highly entertaining stage presence that Josh is bringing to country music. His international footprint expanded significantly after being invited to play shows and festivals across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

His Brisbane show promises to be a celebration of his rising career and the new ‘Rise’ EP spotlighting chart-topping CMT singles like ‘Right About Now’ and ‘Better Off,’ alongside the latest release, ‘Stay,’ Penned by Canadian songwriters Craig Brooks and Zach Ouimet, ‘Stay’ is a quintessential country track, resonating with anyone who’s ever experienced a moment they wish could last forever. Bringing together big guitars over a very catchy melody and hook – it will have listeners hitting the replay button time and time again.

With over 6 million streams, multiple top 5 radio singles, and global radio support, Josh Setterfield has become a fixture at Australia’s major country music festivals, including Gympie Muster, Groundwater Country Music Festival, and more. In 2024, he is set to make his debut at the prestigious CMC Rocks, a sold-out festival boasting some of the world’s biggest country stars, including Tyler Hubbard, Lainey Wilson, and Chris Young.

“He is one of the most amazing entertainers full of high energy that captures his audience and grabs their full attention! He definitely left Flagstaff Arizona with new fans! Can’t wait to get him back to the US in 2024!” – Vicki & Mike in the Morning (92.9 Kaff Country)

Don’t miss Josh’s first-ever Australian headline show in Brisbane as he aims to elevate country headline shows to new heights bringing a big stage, high energy festival style show to the Arcana Empress Theatre. Be sure to check out the newest single ‘Stay’ from EP ‘Rise’, which is set to be the new country smash for the summer!

www.joshsetterfield.com

Nyssa Ray – Hooked

About the track: Funny how the universe can bring two complete strangers from different worlds together, throw them on a life roller coaster and unequivocally hook them for life. My wife and I have riding our roller coaster for over 10yrs and she’s still got me hooked.

Track quote: My heart keeps beating loud this roller coaster love.

Lana Del Rey – Take Me Home, Country Roads

Today Lana Del Rey releases her rendition of the 1971 John Denver classic ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. The track, a one-off single, is Lana’s second release following her Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed ninth studio album, ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’.

Recently, Del Rey was nominated for five Grammys Awards for her album ‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’.

Album Of The Year –

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’

Song Of The Year –

‘A&W’

Best Alternative Music Album –

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’

Best Alternative Music Performance –

‘A&W’

Also featured on –

Taylor Swifts ‘Midnights’ (Album Of The Year Nominee)

Jon Batiste’s ‘World Music Radio’ (Album Of The Year Nominee)

‘Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd’ was co-produced by Lana Del Rey alongside Mike Hermosa, Jack Antonoff, Drew Erickson, Zach Dawes, and Benji, and includes features from Jon Batiste, Bleachers, Father John Misty, Judah Smith, Tommy Genesis, and SYML.

Casey Barnes – Miracles

Casey Barnes is set to close out 2023 and kick start into 2024 with the new feel-good summer hit, “Miracles”.

“Miracles” is the fourth single from a brand-new studio album to be released in 2024 and was co-written by Casey with Nashville hit-makers, Kaci Brown & Sam Gray, the team behind Casey’s smash hits “God Took His Time On You”, “We’re Good Together” and “Sparks Fly”.

Produced by MSquared, the team behind Casey’s ARIA, APRA & Golden Guitar Award winning album, “Light It Up” and follows previous singles “Never Give Up On A Good Time” and “Boys Like Me”, both of which reached #1 on the CountryTown Top 50 Airplay Charts.

Casey commented on the song, “Something magic always seems to happen when the three of us get in a room. It was so good to team up again with Sam and Kaci from Brown & Gray to co-write ‘Miracles’ together on my most recent trip to Nashville. We’ve had such an amazing track record over the last few years with multiple country radio number 1’s so I’m really excited to get this new one out there! Miracles has such a positive message too, all about those sliding door moments in life and the power of how the right relationship can bring you out of even the darkest places”.

It has been a massive year for Casey, in addition to the awards and #1 singles, his massive City Nights Tour included a sold-out show at the Zoo in Brisbane, showcasing at CMA Fest in June and being nominated for a CMA Award for Global Artist of the Year.

To top it off, Casey was recently announced on the line-up of Stagecoach Festival, the world’s biggest country music festival, which takes place at the Coachella site in California in April 2024. Casey is the only Australian artist included on the massive line-up. The festival will follow appearances at Tamworth Country Music Festival in January and CMC Rocks QLD in March.

Brooke Graham – MerryAchi Christmas

Brookes latest single is currently #18 on the Texas Regional Radio Report and has spent twenty-six weeks on that chart. She also had a long-running Trop Rock hit in 2022 with “Me Time” which was on the Trop Rock charts for over a year. Now she has teamed up with Flying C Records out of Nashville and is seeing more attention and bookings. Watch for bigger and better thing in 2024 for Brooke Graham.

This Christmas, let Brooke and the music and emotion of Merryachi Christmas carry you away from all of your troubles and take you to your own personal happy place.

Andy Penkow – Heavy On Me

Single Background

Mental health impacts everyone in one way or another, either directly or via people we know. “Heavy On Me” is a song about the importance of mental health, understanding the symptoms, and knowing when to reach out to friends, family or even strangers in times of need.

Andy Quotes

“What a lot of people don’t know about me is that despite my sometimes confident and strong exterior, on the road performing at event after event, I have had to manage anxiety and self-doubt my entire life.”

“Heavy On Me is an empowering song about removing the stigma and shame around mental health and the importance of asking for help and acknowledging when you’re down.”

Career highlights to date

. Nominated for a CMAA Golden Guitar award 2023 “Bush Ballad of the year” for “Ghostly Gums” (Walking Away)

. Winner of Best Bush Ballad 2023 at the Peoples Choice Awards Tamworth

. Winner of “Most Popular Male Artist of 2023” by Independent Country Music Association

. Winner of “Most Popular Music Video of 2023” by Independent Country Music Association

· Winner of 5 “Purple Guitars including 2023 Best Male Vocal and Best Album

· Winner of “Most Promising New Talent 2022” at the People’s Choice Awards, Tamworth

· Winner of “Most Popular New Male Artist of 2022” by Independent Country Music Association

. Andy has been nominated for multiple APRA AMCOS TSA SONGWRITER Awards

· Winner of “Australian Busking Championships 2019 – Gundagai”

TORI FORSYTH – MADE YOUR BED

Fresh from supporting US artist Jackson Dean, alt-country singer-songwriter Tori Forsyth releases her new single ‘Made Your Bed’. This comes after ‘Sometimes’ featuring friend and country music icon Shane Nicholson. Sometimes is currently nominated for Vocal Collaboration of the Year at the Toyota 52nd Golden Guitar Awards. This brings Tori’s Golden Guitar Nominations to four across her career.

The single’s low-slung bassline and curls of pedal steel, has a bluesier feel with Tori’s blues-tinged vocals and incomparable songwriting. ‘Made Your Bed’ finds Tori pondering the space between the high road and low road.

The Sunshine Coast artist explains, “Made Your Bed is simply the refusal to conform, for better or worse, because your own morals are stronger and a tribute to folks with an alternate opinion of that.”

The new single is supported by an official video directed by Bradley Murnane who also shot the video for Tori’s previous single ‘Sometimes’. Filmed in Eudlo, Queensland, the same location as the ‘Sometimes’ video, Bradley shares,

“The making of ‘Made Your Bed’ was a tricky one. We’d shot the music video for ‘Sometimes’ throughout the same day and needed to be finished by sunset to start filming for ‘Made Your Bed’. A storm was brewing by afternoon and we had no time to rehearse or experiment with shots as we were losing light fast. We got a couple of takes with Tori and the boys building the fire. The rain was starting to come down and it was looking like the fire scenes might not even happen. But…somehow we got a few moments of stillness and the clouds moved revealing a glowing full moon which can be seen in some of the shots. It was one of those music videos that was so unpredictable and we all just reacted to each other. It was really beautiful..”

‘Made Your Bed’ is produced by Scott Horscroft (Charlie Collins, Brooke & Adam Eckersley) and recorded at The Grove Studios, NSW with her full band of Reece Baines (drums), Matthew Newton (guitars) and Zachary Miller (bass). Joining Tori in the studio are the Mak Brothers, Thom (guitar) and Andy (keys), as well as on pedal steel guitar, multi-instrumentalist Jy-Perry Banks.

Tori has been cultivating a steadily growing fanbase since the release of her evocative single ‘New Wall’ and her acclaimed EP Black Bird (2016). Tori’s highly anticipated 2018 debut album Dawn of the Dark was hailed as one of the standout country album releases of the year and her second album Provlépseis (2021) produced singles ‘Be Here’ and ‘Down Below’ which resonated with her loyal fans. Tori currently boasts over 15 million artist global streams on Spotify alone.

Refreshed and refocused, ‘Made Your Bed’ is the second single Tori Forsyth has released this year. Returning to her unique alt-country sound that first launched her music career, 2023 has kicked off to a great start for the 4 x Golden Guitar Nominee.

From her appearances at Gympie Muster, BigSound 2023 and the recent Jackson Dean support and Groundwater Country Music Festival Broadbeach, there is a newfound freedom and lightness propelling Tori back to her rightful place at the forefront of Australian country music. Queensland Music Trails’ epic nine-day experience, Outback Trails, will return in April 2024 and have recently announced Tori as their first live music act.

Kaylee Bell – Good Things

Riding the wave of her biggest year to date, Kaylee Bell is poised to set the airwaves alight once more with the release of her latest single “Good Things”.

In signature Bell style, a dynamic blend of country and pop influences, “Good Things” exudes optimism and an irresistible energy that will resonate with fans of all genres. With a tempo that begs the toe to tap, lyrics that herald in the warmer months, “Good Things” encapsulates the spirit of taking risks, pursuing dreams, and celebrating life’s brighter moments, making it a perfect addition to any summer playlist.

Produced by the acclaimed Stuart Stuart, renowned for his work with Australian hit group Sheppard, and co-written by Kaylee Bell, Melanie Dyer, and hit-making duo MSquared , “Good Things” is an upbeat and infectious summer anthem that encourages dreamers and go-getters to seize the moment.

Kaylee Bell’s powerful vocals bring a fresh and contemporary perspective to the world of country music. Her emotionally charged delivery, combined with the skilled production of those she works with in studio have seen Bell go to a whole new level in 2023.

Earlier this year, she embarked on her debut headline tour of New Zealand, playing 17 shows across the country, and selling 8,000 tickets. Her single “Boots n’ All” hit #1 on the NZ Hot Single Chart and became a mainstay on commercial radio. Bell also received an ARIA Gold certification for her “Red” EP, the first female country artist to do so in Australasia in 20 years. She has recently relocated to Nashville, where more good things are bound to come her way.