Month: January 2023

Hot off the back of three sold out shows with International Superstar Ed Sheeran , Kaylee Bell releases a new hit single “BOOTS ‘N ALL” a nod to Shania Twain and all her 90’s inspirations. Bell just returned from Tamworth where she celebrated 10 years of Toyota Star Maker, played a sold out show at TREC with James Johnston and took home her first Golden Guitar Award for Vocal Collaboration . Bell is currently on the biggest tour in the world, the ‘Mathematics’ Stadium World Tour with Ed Sheeran playing to crowds of around 80,000 every night.

“BOOTS ‘N ALL” is a song written by Bell, Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis of MSquared and Emily Hatton at an APRA Songhubs in Brisbane. Bell initially had the song title and describes the song as Shania meets HAIM, an up-tempo, ‘tongue in cheek’ song about the expectation placed on a future partner. It is a playful, feel good anthem that Bell hopes will be screamed by the masses. The track was produced by Lindsay Rimes (Kane Brown) and is set to become a huge song in Bell’s energetic live show, that is quickly winning over new fans both in Australia and NZ.

No stranger to the international stage, Bell is enjoying a highlight-filled music career brimming with an impressive catalogue of self-written hits. Recently appearing on The Voice Australia in 2022, her single ‘Keith’ went viral and has since amassed over 14 million streams on Spotify alone and with over 40 million streams, Bell is the ‘Most Streamed Female Country Artist’ in Australasia for the past four years.

2022 saw Bell open for New Zealand’s biggest band on the SIX60 Stadium Tour, headline Coca Cola Christmas in the Park NZ, and open for US Country Star Brad Paisley on the NZ leg of his World Tour alongside Morgan Evans.

Bell will continue the Ed Sheeran tour playing three sold out stadiums across NZ, then will be back to Australia where she will appear at both Gippsland and Goulburn Festivals through April, before heading back to Nashville where she plans to finish her record.

Cultivating the ground work for a momentous 2023 and hurtling toward the launch of their debut album, the Vixens of Fall deliver their stunning new single and self-love anthem, “Mirror Mirror”.

“We wrote Mirror Mirror from the perspective of self-love. It’s a reflection of acknowledging life’ s ups and downs… the Magick… the Chaos and the beauty that comes from both,” the sister trio said of the new single. The track lilts around within a soft, mid-tempo Country Rock space, with its lyrical messaging lending itself to a dancing-on-the-bed-singing-into-a-hairbrush moment.

The track demonstrates the Vixens sonic diversity, yet another single on a strong list of previous releases that will build the foundations of an impactful debut album, which the sisters successfully crowd-funded last year and are due to release this coming March.

Their previous single, “Prove You Wrong”, garnered traction with over 70,000 streams, a #1 spot on the AMRAP charts and title of #1 Most Downloaded single to Australian Country Radio during release. “Mirror Mirror” is a co-write between the Vixens of Fall, Rod McCormack (Paul Kelly, The McClymonts, Beccy Cole) and Sam Gay (Little Texas, Montgomery Gentry, Bryan White, Johnny Rodriguez).

The Vixens have shown their community a consistent commitment to spreading the good word on no-holds self-love and passionate self-empowerment, with “Mirror Mirror” creating another vessel for this important perspective. “Life is always teaching us lessons whether we see them straight away or not… the value comes from sitting with your journals, your thoughts or yourself in the mirror and knowing that end of the day… everything always works out as it should,” say the Vixens.

2023 has already started with full energy, seeing the sisters venture to the 51st Tamworth Country Music Festival to play multiple shows, including a performance at the TCMF People’s Choice Awards, of which the group were recently nominated for Best Group or Duo and were the recipients of the ICMAA award for the Most Popular Australian Independent Country Music Band 2023 .

“Mirror Mirror” can be enjoyed in all the usual spots; and for lovers of a good old fashioned hard-cover copy, keep an eye out for the debut Vixens of Fall album this coming March.

Mentana presents their new radio single Winnipeg Girls, taken from the Rise From the Wreck album.

Co-produced by Mentana and Philippe Brault, Rise From the Wreck is a driving, pulsating guitars, a powerful, raspy voice, angelic harmonies, soulful piano, and feverish rhythms. That, in a nutshell, is what the new Mentana stellar Rise From the Wreck album is like. Thematically, their deft and deeply felt storytelling is a tapestry of resilience, wanderings, and the idea of facing the unknown. There’s something absolutely cinematic in scope in their gritty folk stylings.

Moving across time and space, taking us on intimate journeys that follow bruised and broken characters through the Western Canadian Badlands, into Winnipeg dive bars, under the wide open Texas sky, and all the way back up to singer-songwriter Robin-Joël Cool’s roots in a tiny Acadian hamlet that only survives in the imagination, like so many ghost towns that have been swallowed up by time. This album bears witness to all the contradictions that exists in the Americas.

It is an ode to the adventurous spirit that brought so many to these shores, seeking fortune, glory, or simply survival, but also a cathartic exploration of the tragedies that define what was once called The New World.

Bio

Mentana is a Montreal-based band whose cinematic folk takes the listener on a journey in the midst of stirring narratives that weave and unfold like short films. Robin-Joël Cool’s signature gritty, raspy vocals and driving guitars are at the centre of their sound, while Viviane Audet’s velvety piano and angelic backing vocals round out the higher register. The rhythm section, comprised of Yannick Parent on drums and Erik West-Millette on bass (West Trainz, Neil Young, over 200 sound recordings, 50 as producer/composer) chugs along languorously on certain tracks and charges like a runaway train on others.

In 2014, the band independently released a first EP called Western Soil. In 2015, they signed their first record deal, enlisted the help of Montreal-based electronic music producer Leon Louder and recorded Inland Desire. After the album launch in March 2016, the band toured across Canada and Europe. At the time, Mentana was featured in a TV documentary by Germany’s ZDF. As a result, Inland Desire shot straight to the top of the iTunes Germany Folk Music charts. On three occasions, they were invited to play at the German Ambassador’s residence in Ottawa, Canada.

Aside from their work with Mentana, Viviane and Robin-Joël compose a wealth of music for film, documentary, and theater. Over the past ten years, they have written original music for some twenty projects and have been nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards, the Gemini Awards, and l’ADISQ.

New Year, New Me, New Chapter. Kick off 2023 with the perfect song to start your next chapter. A contemporary country track that’s set to make 2023 the best year yet. Inspired from heartbreak, Cassidy-Rae hits all the right notes sharing relatable life lessons – let go of the things that are holding you back. Written by Cassidy-Rae, and produced by Michael Carpenter, feel empowered with ‘Next Chapter’, an upbeat, feel-good song reminding us to turn the page on the past.

Cassidy-Rae is moving from strength to strength – awarded Sutherland’s Entertainer of the Year, voted Best Female Vocal at the Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards, and continuing the #1 iTunes charting single streak with single ‘Lately’ .

This next chapter sees Cassidy-Rae sharing her music nationally and internationally on an exciting 3-week residency from 23rd February – 16th March visiting the east coast of Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Maintaining popularity among fans and media alike, Cassidy-Rae constantly pushes the boundaries with every release, gaining placements on Spotify’s Fresh Country Playlist and Apple Music Playlists such as Aussie Country and Today’s Country. This talented artist’s videos have premiered on Country Music Television, and she has continuously received support from Australian Country Radio, ensuring chart success on Countrytown’s Hottest 50 Chart.

With over 100,000 followers across social media, Cassidy-Rae continues to creatively connect with fans worldwide, performing and sharing her life through Live Streams – Sunday SitDown and Wednesday Night Lives every week.

As a graduate of the Country Music Academy of Australia, Cassidy-Rae is a powerhouse to be reckoned with, appearing at major events such as Tamworth Country Music Festival, Blue Water Country Music Festival, Ballina Country Music Festival, Basin Music Festival, Canberra Folk Festival, Outback Blacktown Country Music Festival and more.

Cassidy-Rae delivers vibrant, confident, and authentic performances from her guitar and keyboard. Constantly a fan favourite with her positive attitude and larger-than-life stage presence, it’s not hard to work out why she has amassed such a loyal following that’s bound to stay with her for many years to come.

Cassidy-Rae’s new single ‘Next Chapter is out to radio and all digital platforms on Friday 27th January.

‘Wasted’ is a song about deep heartbreak after realising that the person you were in love with is incredibly toxic. It touches on the embarrassment after ignoring all the red flags. The lyrics are a double entendre, not only relating to how she is getting “wasted” as a way of dealing with the pain and how she wasted so much time on the wrong person, but how he made her feel crazy and how she felt that she was crazy for loving someone like him.

Inspired by the late Patsy Clines’ 1961 hit ‘Crazy’, the song ‘Wasted’ takes on a more modern twist of dealing with heartbreak in today’s society.

Amber McIntosh is an Australian artist based in Far North Queensland. The soft voiced, dynamic, and sometimes crossover artist blends characters and influences of modern pop and modern country music. Possessing a smooth lower range, Amber leans more towards a soft and breathy falsetto mirroring her middle voice.

Accompanied by her less refined and cut to the core lyrics, Amber has a way of writing to ignite personal and emotional intimacy.

As a youngster, she was surrounded by music and the arts; her mother is an artist and uncle a musician. The family circle of friends were also musicians, and Amber naturally gravitated toward music and began her creative journey, singing and writing songs. As a teenager, the guitar became her instrument, and as her confidence grew, she began performing at local talent shows.

Amber has always been enthralled by the songs and lyrics by the likes of Jeff Buckley, Fleetwood Mac, and Crowded House. It’s not just these alt-rock classics that Amber admires; she also harbours a deep love for Norah Jones. “She has certainly been a large influence in my song writing, I would listen to her debut album on my cassette player every night”.

After discovering her love for the stage, Amber took to the road spending most of 2018 and 2019 touring the Northern Territory, Western Queensland, and Queensland’s East Coast. Sharing the stage with fellow Australian country artists, some of her favourite performances to date have been Winton’s Way-Out West Fest, Kickstart Music Festival Yeppoon, and North Queensland Toyota Cowboys pre-game entertainment.

Following the successful independent release of her first single ‘Painted Me Grey’, Amber placed runner-up in the Radio Eastern 98.1fm Talent Search, as well as receiving a large amount of radio play from both commercial and community radio stations. She followed with ‘Lost With Me’ and ‘If This Is Love’.

An artist with a refreshing style, Amber McIntosh is now set to release her fourth single ‘Wasted’, accompanied by a music video directed by Jay Seeney. ‘Wasted’ is sure to spark emotion and connection with a wide range of audiences.

The world of country music is paying attention to Australian country music artist JD Reynolds. The incredible singer, songwriter, producer and award-winning choreographer has achieved international acclaim with her fresh twist on country music. The world of Professional Bull Riding all around the globe from Australia, USA, Canada to Brazil is pumped about her powerful new song ‘8 Seconds’. So much so, within hours of The Australian PBR announcing JD was performing LIVE at the PBR Monster Energy K Ranch Invitational, the event SOLD OUT within 24 hours, with fans clamouring to get a ticket, some fans paid $400 for a scalpers ticket just to see JD Reynolds. She was swamped by fans at the event, with generations of PBR and country music fans crowded around the fresh face of country just to shake her hand. One PBR rider was heard saying, “They ain’t all here to see the bulls, but we’ll take it”, with another rider saying, “When JD sang, it pumped the boys up so much, she really has a voice that makes us feel ready to go into battle”.

8 Seconds – #2 Australian Country radio chart

JD has graced the cover of Nashville Country Music Magazine and the glossy pages of Cowboys & Indians Magazine, being labelled “Country’s new ‘it’ girl”. For a new artist, JD has millions of combined song streams with smash hits such as “Whatever” (#5 Official Australian Country Music Charts) and “Rebound”.

JD cannot be more excited to be releasing her next country single “8 Seconds” on Friday October 14th AEST. This amazing and powerful country song was written by JD with her award-winning photographer mother Gayna Reynolds who captured the striking image on the cover. The song is produced by Braddon Williams (Beyonce, Snoop Dogg, Kelly Clarkson) with JD as co-producer and mastered by Andrew Mendelson himself (The Rolling Stones, Blake Shelton, Eric Church and Willie Nelson)

JD Reynolds creates a buzz in country music that has the likes of the biggest US media outlets such as NEWSMAX, Country Rebel and Guitar Girl Magazine all wanting to know who country’s new ‘it’ girl is and what inspires her fresh twist on country which already has its own country genre, “The JD Sound”. Speaking with JD LIVE with over 3 million viewers in New York, NEWSMAX told JD she has “a lot of folk’s attention” with her new sound and congratulates her on “having a team of really major players in terms of music”. And they are spot on.

As a LIVE artist, fans know they won’t see JD standing still singing her hits, they know she is an incredible stage artist and award-winning dancer and choreographer, so to see her LIVE is a memorable experience.

JD Reynolds was born an artist. “It’s in my blood. Music, melody, lyrics and dance flow through my veins” says JD.

“My songs come to me like a bolt of lightning, the JD sound, my sound, respecting country music roots yet having my own next level twist”.

“I’m a country girl, we’re built tough, and having met some of the world’s top Professional Bull Riders and their loved ones, they inspire me greatly. Their guts, hard work, determination and talent I highly admire”.

“‘8 Seconds’ is about the emotional roller coaster of the lives of Professional Bull Riders and the people who love them. From family traditions, lifelong dreams, hours of practice and injuries to climbing into the chute at an event, releasing the gate and riding for their lives, it’s not just the athlete holding on for dear life, but every person who loves them is holding on tight with them. Every single long second, until they are safely back behind the gates, their loved ones ride with them. It is the ultimate ride or die sport.

This sentiment combined with JD’s brilliant vocal that hits every corner of the heart, powerful and poetic lyrics and that overwhelming feeling of love, makes this original new country song an honest, memorable heart stopper. “I honour traditional country music roots and add my own sound. I sing with my country heart and hold no feeling back, and I proudly dedicate my song “8 Seconds” to every past, present and future Professional Bull Rider and to those who love them. Ride tonight like you’re a superhero”. – JD.

“I hope you love it and I sincerely thank you for listening”. JD Reynolds .

Fresh off the back of their performances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, Hurricane Fall have returned with their brand-new single, ‘Unbreakable’. The uplifting foot-stomper is just the start of what is set to be a massive year for the 5-piece – having just signed on as Lee Kernaghan’s touring band.

‘Unbreakable’ is an anthem of resilience. “You are stronger than you believe / You’re unbreakable” sings the tracks infectious hook. It’s exactly the kind of high voltage tune fans have come to love from Hurricane Fall – pounding drums, walls of guitars and stellar vocal performances from singers, Pepper Deroy and Jesse Vee.

Lachlan Coffey (drummer), Tim Hickey (keyboardist/guitarist) and Luke Wheeldon (Lead guitarist) complete the roster. It was Wheeldon who first planted the seed for the band’s new single. “Luke was dropping his son off at school and started thinking about everyone having the same basic needs and struggles. In the end everyone just wants to be happy. He sang a lyric into his phone and built the song from there” says Pepper.

Wheeldon began building the track in his studio before reaching out to Melbourne production duo, MSquared, for the finishing touches. “The boys developed a demo and then the tracks from that demo became the ‘bones’ of the song that MSquared collaborated on. Most of the instruments were in Newcastle and the vocals and mix were done in Melbourne.”

The band’s recent years have been true to their namesake, as they’ve enjoyed a whirlwind of successes. Their 2021 hit, ‘Another One More Time’, has clocked up over 1 million streams and received a slew of Spotify and Apple Music playlist additions on release. Not to mention it peaked at #5 on the Country Hot 50 airplay charts. In the same year the boys were nominated for a Golden Guitar award for Group / Duo of the Year.

However, the powerhouse quintet is most renowned for their live shows – a captivating performance that’s like a throwback to the glory days of live music. They’ve taken stages at many of Australia’s most loved festivals, including the Deni Ute Muster, Gympie Music Muster, VDM Fest and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Their talents recently caught the ear of country music legend Lee Kernaghan , who has brought them on as his new touring band – a mantle previously held by The Wolfe Brothers. “[Hurricane Fall] are powerhouse musicians and songwriters and on top of that they’re top-notch fellas,” said Kernaghan. “I’m super excited to be hitting the stage with the boys and the brand-new touring show.”

The new outfit already performed their first show together last year at the inaugural Country Sounds Festival in Brunswick, WA to a packed crowd, and have just returned from performing with Kernaghan at his Tamworth Country Music Festival show, with a national tour in the pipeline for 2023.

Stadium-like, singalong tracks have definitely become the bands signature in recent years – it’s a sound that plays to their strengths and they’ve knocked it out of the park every time. The latest in line, ‘Unbreakable’, has raised the bar yet again and is sure to be a hit with listeners.

Australian Country music sensation James Johnston is back with his explosive new single, ‘GOT IT GOOD’. The track comes fresh off the back of his performance at the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival, where he played his debut headline show to a capacity crowd at TRECC – a show that was not only the largest ticketed concert at the festival, but also sold out in record time. Johnston also closed out the night at the 51st Golden Guitar awards, where he performed his #1 hit single ‘SMALL TOWN’ and scooped up two Golden Guitar awards – New Talent of the Year and Vocal Collaboration of the Year for ‘SAME SONGS’, a duet with Kaylee Bell.

As a family man drawing inspiration for his music through his role as a husband and father to two young sons, ‘GOT IT GOOD’ is the kind of raise-the-roof country song Johnston’s ever-growing fanbase have come to love. Its groove is contagious; effortlessly finding the middle ground between country, rock and pop. Yet, behind its energetic exterior lies a poignant message of appreciation for life’s often overlooked gifts.

“GOT IT GOOD is about appreciating the simple things in life and being grateful for what you have as you realise, these are the big things worth celebrating,” reveals James. “The perfect lives of others is just a perception and when you stop to acknowledge the little things you have in your life – a roof over your head, a job that pays the bills and a love waiting for you at home, you realise you’ve GOT IT GOOD.”

The catchy bop was penned alongside, Melbourne producers Msquared (Michael Delorenzis and Michael Paynter) and Golden Guitar nominee Melanie Dyer. Its airtight production is also thanks to the Msquared team and marks Johnston’s first full collaboration with the duo.

Since releasing the now ARIA certified gold and #1 radio hit ‘RAISED LIKE THAT’ in 2021, the singer from Wingham has enjoyed a rise to fame that can only be described as meteoric. Just 19 months into his career he’s amassed a whopping 32+ million streams, has achieved a further three x #1 radio airplay hits with ‘SMALL TOWN’, ‘COUNTRY BOYS’ and ‘SAME SONGS’, and was nominated for six Golden Guitar awards – two of which he took home last week.

Quickly becoming one of the most sought after acts in Australian country music, Johnston has taken his “electrifying voice and array of feel-good country songs” – (Newsport) to some of Australia’s biggest and most loved stages. With performances at CMC Rocks, Savannah in the Round, Berry’s Big Country, Gympie Music Muster and the Tamworth Country Music Festival in the last 12 months, he’s certainly ticked a few things off the bucket list. In April 2023 he’s slated to appear at Meatstock in Toowoomba, alongside country music giants Kasey Chambers and Brad Cox.

James Johnston is undoubtedly the hottest topic in the Australian country music scene right now. His down-to-earth songs are instant party starters, as well as possessing heart-warming sentiments of life’s simple pleasures. ‘GOT IT GOOD’ has yet again proven that this artist is right at the top of his game with nowhere to go but up.

Following on from a huge 2022 which saw her finish the year with the most played song by an Australian female artist on country radio, Amy Sheppard is back with “Couple Goals” – the new single taken from her ARIA Australian Country #1 EP, “Nothing But Wild”.

“Couple Goals” is the crossover, feel-good country-pop song of the summer. Co-written by Amy with Nick & Tom Wolfe of multi-Golden Guitar Award winning duo, The Wolfe Brothers and produced by Lindsay Rimes (Kane Brown, Lee Kernaghan, Kylie Minogue), “Couple Goals” was a crowd-favourite at Amy’s run of live shows last year and is set to be the ultimate soundtrack to kick-start 2023.

Amy says, “Couple Goals was written about my husband Lachie. It’s about knowing you’ve found “the one” and fantasising about your life and future together. I wanted to convey how much that future excites me in a piece of catchy country-pop that I hope my fans will love.”

“Couple Goals” is also the name of the successful podcast launched by Amy and Lachie in 2022, which explores modern day relationships and provides a peak behind the curtain of the life of this celebrity marriage. As Amy explains, “The song came first and inspired us to then jump behind the microphone and share more of our lives. We are always being asked how we make our busy, conflicting schedules work and how we navigate the hurdles that arise. We even have a section each episode dedicated to our pet peeves and set each other a ‘couple goal’ for the week. It’s been a lot of fun and there are plenty more episodes coming soon!”

Some of those episodes are set to feature some of the biggest names in country music as Amy and Lachie take the podcast to Tamworth where Amy will be launching the new single. Tamworth provided the backdrop for Amy’s solo debut in 2022 and she is excited to be back. “Last year, there were so many nerves – would the country community would embrace a typically pop artist? – but I have felt nothing but love and support. The country music scene in Australia is so nurturing and encouraging and I’m thrilled that Couple Goals is hitting the airwaves while I am back in Tamworth.”

As one of Australia’s most successful songwriters with her music clocking over one billion streams globally as part of her band, Sheppard, Amy is now carving her own country path in tandem with her role in the band. She launched her solo career with the hit singles “Nothing But Wild” and “Blue Guitar”, both of which reached the Top 3 of the CountryTown Hot 50 Airplay chart. In addition, her duet with The Wolfe Brothers, “Something Good’s Gonna Happen”, also reached the top 3 as well as garnering a nomination for CMT Video of the Year at the 2023 Golden Guitar Awards. “Blue Guitar” also reached #1 on the KIX Country charts. “Couple Goals” represents the next chapter in this ever evolving and exciting story.

To celebrate the launch of “Couple Goals “, Amy will be taking to the stage in Tamworth as part of Adam Brand’s Friday Night Bash where she will perform the new track alongside her recent hits, EP tracks and some unexpected covers paying tribute to some of her favourite artists. She will hit the road again with Adam Brand in Tasmania in March before a string of regional shows in March.

” Couple Goals” is out January 20, and is accompanied by the official lyric video created by frequent collaborator, Sam-Rae Creative.

Petric’s latest single ‘Beach Please’ might be the most relatable song we’ve heard in years …. “Somebody take me to a Beach Please”. This tropically influenced country song sings about the desire for white sandy beaches, and cold sangrias. Driven by a reggae styled drum beat and tasteful acoustics, ‘Beach Please’ is sure to be a playlist favourite.

“We started working on this song mid-pandemic, when all we could do in Canada was dream about white sandy beaches. ‘Beach Please’ allowed us to step outside our comfort zone and embrace different styles and sounds. It is definitely one of our more fun songs to play. We are pretty excited to perform this one for everyone on the ‘Cruisin’ Country’ event this year in Australia”.

Continuing from the success of previous singles ‘Déjà Vu, ‘KIDS’, ‘White Lyin’ ‘Night Up’ and the Australian Top 24 chart-topping single ‘Flirtin’ (with Hayley Jensen), it’s refreshing to see the band, who comprise of brothers Tom and Jason and lifelong friend Jordan Day push the boundaries with every release yet maintaining that signature Petric modern country rock sound.

The multi-award-winning Manitoba based act have been announced to perform on ‘Cruisin’ Country’ a 7-night Royal Caribbean Country Music Cruise departing Sydney on 1st December and features Australian Country Music heavyweights such as The Wolfe Brothers, Casey Barnes, Beccy Cole, Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont, McAlister Kemp, Amber Lawrence, Hayley Jensen and Australian born, Canadian raised Gord Bamford and more. This cruise will form part of Petric’s first Australian tour, of which more dates will be announced over the next few months.

Passion, and persistence, combined with raw talent and high expectations, has been the formula for success for Petric. The band have accumulated over 15 million worldwide online streams, 10 charting singles, and 3 Top 20 hits. Petric’s latest album ‘Flashbacks’ alone has accumulated 3 million online streams and has opened doors to multiple international markets including Australia.