Month: January 2023

ARIA and APRA nominated Melbourne band Kingswood have today further highlighted the rich musicality of their forthcoming studio “Home”, with the release of their new single, “Good Whiskey”. As the band’s first piece of new music for 2023, “Good Whiskey” comes served up as any quality nip of liquor should: rich to the taste, warm on the palette, leaving the consumer happy to come back for more.

The song itself is a beautiful continuation of Kingswood’s next stage of evolution – as a band, they have never shied away from embracing new influences. Here, with “Good Whiskey” and furthermore with “Home”, they revel in their best songwriting to date, marked by renewed confidence and drive for their craft.

As with their previous release from “Home” – “Burning Holes” – “Good Whiskey” speaks to the strong songwriting dynamic between Alexander Laska and Fergus Linacre, fleshing out into the full band in the studio. Such a natural sound can only come when the creatives are able to read each other with ease. And over the past three years in particular, the Kingswood dynamic brought the best out of each individual musician, while uplifting the group as a whole.

“An ode to the first town you pull into after a bold turn at one of life’s many crossroads, ‘Good Whiskey’ speaks to the tradition of a sorrowsome heart, to one full of optimism, soaking up to jewels of the earth and its people with unbridled enthusiasm. Written at the base of Tamborine Mountain on a ranch in the hinterlands upon a crisp winter evening, ‘Good Whiskey’ has a beautiful aroma and an engaging flavour. It should be an experience that upon touching your heart, excites the nerves within your being. Dark, full-bodied and just the right amount of aging has yielded this smokey, astringent, yet creamy musical experience.” – Kingswood.

Their return in 2020 with the critically acclaimed third studio album “Juveniles” signaled a new era for the Melbourne favourites, characteristically redefining their musicality and exploring new sonic territory. Demonstrating their evolution as songwriters and musicians with more stories to tell, single “Bittersweet” ranked as Triple M’s #1 Most Played Song in the country as well as ranking 45th on national radio, and #75 on the Shazam Top 200 in Australia.

Following on from a massive 30+ date international tour that brought Kingswood to crowds in Nashville, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland and Czechoslovakia, the Melbourne favourites returned to Australia galvanised for what the New Year would bring. For their legions of fans in Australia, Kingswood have been responsible for some of the best live rock and roll experiences for well over a decade.

And now, as the release of “Home” beckons this year, Kingswood are undertaking their biggest tour to date, touring nationwide on the record-breaking 120+ date ‘HOMETOWNS’ tour. Taking place over six months in a custom-modified tour van, Kingswood are kicking things off today at the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival.

NSW based country-pop duo Zac & George have just released their highly anticipated third single “Bar Stool”.

Out today via MGM, “Bar Stool “showcases Zac & George’s acoustic roots and soulful harmonies through an up-tempo high energy vibe. The song was co-written by the fast-rising duo along with good friend Lynn Wilbanks, and co-produced with ARIA award winning MSquared Productions (Michael Paynter and Michael DeLorenzis), the team behind some of the most successful country-pop tunes of the past 18 months.

Zac & George have also put together another captivating music video, filmed by Golden Guitar award-winning videographer ‘Jay Seeney’, which perfectly accompanies the single’s up-beat country energy and meaningful lyrics.

“I really feel like this song is for the people, which is very important with not just Australia, but what the world has been through recently. It shines a light on the importance of community, which hits close to home” – George.

Zac & George’s previous single “Red Wine & Roses” has amassed over 700,000 streams since its release in August 2022. The break-out single landed the duo on the cover of the renowned Spotify playlist Fresh Country (as well as being featured on other Spotify and Apple Music playlists) and also peaked at #9 on the Australian Country Radio Chart, reaching and #3 on KIX Country radio.

“To reach the top 10 with our first ever single to Australian country radio is a pretty exciting feeling” – Zac.

Further to success with Australian radio, Zac & George have won support from many of the country’s premier country artists and have been invited to perform as main support for James Johnston’s sold-out TRECC show at the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

In support of “Bar Stool”, Zac & George have announced their first headline tour, with shows in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Sydney this April. The boys are dying to get back on the road and can’t wait to bring their acoustic high energy show to NSW.

This is just the beginning for Zac & George, who will soon follow their new single with more music they have spent years developing in both Australia and Nashville.

The new offering from Will Day ‘Always A Girl’, is an edgy, modern track which stays true to his country rock roots. “It’s been quite some time since I released a love song, and I really connected with this track, it’s fantastic songwriting’. In perfect time for summer, this catchy and infectious track will set the airwaves alight in the new year.

‘Always A Girl’, was written by Nashville based powerhouse writers Kyle Jacobs (Garth Brooks/Tim McGraw) Phillip Lammonds (Darius Rucker/Blake Shelton) and Adam Craig (Jason Aldean/Dustin Lynch) and was produced by ARIA and Golden Guitar Award winning producer Matt Fell.

Will Day has been making waves in modern country music over the last few years. From gutsy toe tapping tracks such as ‘Countrified’ to emotive ballads like ‘Dear Dad’ and ‘Simple Then’ (with Brooke Schubert) and the heart-warming 2022 track ‘We Got This’, it’s no surprise that Will Day is making a long-lasting impact on the country music scene. The previous few years have been career defining, with singles added to major stations KIX Country, ABC Country and iHeartCountry on high rotation, resulting in chart success on the major Countrytown Hottest 50 Chart and the Top 20 KIX Country Chart.

With countless major events and music festivals under his belt including Tamworth Country Music Festival, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Savannah in the Round, Gympie Music Muster, Winton’s Outback Festival, Round Up for CMC Rocks, Texas Country Music Festival, Curdimurka Outback Ball (SA), Warwick Rodeo and Birdsville Races, it is proving that Will Day is earning the reputation as one of Australia’s premier country music artists and one that is making a lasting impression. 2023 will see a strong focus on touring across the country as well as new music on the horizon.

Will Day’s single ‘Always A Girl’ is out to radio on 16th January and on digital platforms on 20th January.

Embracing ’90’s country vibes and a strong positive message, Mel Lukin has launched into the year in a stellar fashion with ‘One Way Ticket’ out on January 27.

With nearly two years between releases, the Gold Coast singer-songwriter is coming out strong with a year of new music ahead.

“I’m always conscious about what I want to write about and I’ve been going through a period of writing with people and formulating ideas for songs and, within that process, I came across a writer in Nashville who had a catalogue of songs and this song jumped out at me,” Mel said.

“I wanted to do an up-tempo song and I loved the message in ‘One Way Ticket’ because I’m very specific about what I wanted to sing about because of where I’m at in life and I want to encourage my two daughters to chase their passions.”

Major influences including Martina McBride shine through Mel’s delivery of this song with its strong message of living life to the full, driving beat and country feel with dobro and electric guitar blending seamlessly.

“Country has always been part of what I listened to with Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes and Martina McBride major influences and my mum loves Shania Twain, so I love 1990’s country,” Mel said.

“I released my first EP in 1999 and a lot of those songs are country-influenced and, in recent years, country music has really felt like home for me.”

Mel said she wanted to launch into 2023 with the message in ‘One Way Ticket’ to encourage all her listeners to get out and live life.

“It’s so important to show the kids that anytime and at any age, you can reignite your passion and I want to release my own music, recording and releasing an album worth of songs over the next couple of years,” she said.

“I want to release an album that I’m proud of and do small tours on my own, as well as play as many stages on festivals as I can, and open for some amazing acts.”

Mel also has causes that are close to her heart and wants to use her music to support those in years to come.

Lyn Bowtell’s latest single from her ARIA Country #1 Album ‘Wiser’ is ‘Looking For Nobody’, released January 6th.

This tongue-in-cheek song uses a play on words to describe looking for someone who’ll love and support you, even when you’re feeling low.

The title came to Lyn upon leaving the show after her third round on season six of ‘The Voice’, and the ideas behind the song brewed for a year or two before she finished it.

With a fun, light-hearted upbeat feel, and quirky production from Shane Nicholson, ‘Looking For Nobody’ is the perfect addition to any summer playlist.

“I love how the production has captured the cheekiness in the lyrics of the song and it’s so much fun to perform live,” Lyn said. “Live audiences love to sing it along with me so I’m really looking forward to hearing the response from radio listeners.”

Get all the summer feels and get ready to sing along to the latest fun masterpiece from the nine-time Golden Guitar winner and three-time 2023 Golden Guitar nominee.

‘Looking For Nobody’ is due for release the week before Lyn takes to stages across the Country Music Capital and throughout the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

GRAMMY® AWARD-WINNING ICON SHANIA TWAIN RELEASES NEW SINGLE “GIDDY UP!” – WATCH VIDEO HERE

EAGERLY AWAITED NEW ALBUM QUEEN OF ME OUT FEBRUARY 3

“QUEEN OF ME” GLOBAL TOUR LAUNCHES THIS SPRING

Strutting into 2023, five-time GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history Shania Twain shares a brand-new single entitled “Giddy Up!” today.

The track sets the stage for her eagerly awaited new album, Queen of Me, arriving on February 3, 2023. It notably stands out as her sixth original full-length offering, first record since 2017, and official debut for her new label partner Republic Nashville, a division of Republic Records.

Kickstarting the record, “Giddy Up!” rides out of the gate with a fiery, flirty, and fun chorus tailormade for singing and dancing along. As always, it showcases her show-stopping range and undeniable charisma.

Shania says, the saying “Let’s Go Girls!” is such a wonderfully uplifting sentiment now, but it’s just something I said during the recording in the studio and I guess that’s the same for Giddy Up! These lines come to me when I’m thinking about how to put a little “pep in my step”. I want people to feel good when they hear the new album. I want to set a celebratory tone and “Giddy up!” Is a way to call to the audience and say “let’s get ready for some fun!”

In other big news, Shania recently earned the “Music Icon” award at the 2022 People’s Choice Awards, and she lit up the stage with a rapturous performance – watch HERE.

Queen of Me consists of 12 new tracks. From the energetic opener “Giddy Up!” through the empowered title track “Queen of Me” and passionate finale “The Hardest Stone,” produced by and featuring Tyler Joseph/Twenty One Pilots, the LP represents a deep and dynamic creative statement from this iconic voice. She set the stage for everything with the single “Waking Up Dreaming” which Rolling Stone called “a shot of caffeinated bliss” and The Today Show called “an absolute bop.”

Shania was also announced as a headliner for Rock the Ocean’s Tortuga Festival, alongside Eric Church and Kenny Chesney. The star-studded festival will take place on April 14-16, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. For more information, go HERE .

To celebrate this next era in style, she will also embark on a global Queen of Me Tour, produced by Live Nation. The tour marks the first time fans around the world will get to see the queen in all of her glory in nearly five years, following a highly successful Vegas residency run. Kelsea Ballerini, Lindsay Ell, Hailey Whitters, Breland, Robyn Ottolini, Priscilla Block, and Mickey Guyton, Lily Rose, Talk, and Tinelle Townes will be joining Shania on select dates throughout the tour.

The Queen of Me Tour kicks off on Friday, April 28th at Spokane Arena in Spokane, WA and makes stops across North America and Europe in Vancouver, Denver, Toronto, Los Angeles, New York, London, Dublin and more before wrapping up on November 14th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC.

Additionally, Shania and Live Nation have announced that $1 of every ticket purchased to Shania’s “Queen Of Me” Tour will be donated to SKC. Established in 2010 by Shania Twain, SKC provides services that promote positive change in children’s lives in times of crises and economic hardship. SKC provides children with one-on-one consultations, academic support and group activities, as well as nutritious snacks and meal programs where needed, all while in the safe, confidence-building environment that is the Shania Kids Can Clubhouse. These children are learning the skills to cope with and overcome family hardships which, in turn, improves their ability to succeed in school. For more information about Shania Kids Can, please visit: www.shaniakidscan.com

In the lead-up to their debut album together, Sara and Greg Storer, celebrate those who have an innate connection to engines with their single, ‘Machinery Man’.

The blending of family talents can be seen throughout musical history and Storer is the collaboration of siblings Sara and Greg as well as Greg’s daughters, Pip and Bonnie on backing vocals and is a winning combination.

With an ARIA for Best Country Album and 21 Golden Guitar Awards, Sara is celebrated as one of Australia’s greatest singer songwriters.

“You know she’s paid attention, heard the bush waking up in the morning, listened to the worries thrashed out at the kitchen table, smelt dry summer wheat up close, dreamed of faraway places in a bedroom with a window on a big sky, driven miles on dirt and bitumen and fallen in and out of love” – Paul Kelly on Sara Storer.

When Sara’s brother Greg isn’t co-writing hits, he is working his property near Warren in NSW as a farmer, but is no stranger to songwriting and has co-written and performed with his sister since 2005 when they released ‘Chillers Bend’, their first duet.

“Greg knows and understands, and has a rare talent for conveying humour, pathos, love, and fear through his music” – Music journalist Susan Jarvis on Greg Storer.

‘Machinery Man’, released on January 6, is the second single from Golden Guitar and ARIA Award winners’ debut album self-titled album, ‘Storer’, out on January 13.

“A song for our machinery men and women – the ones that seem to fix anything with just a spanner, whereas we’d have to use the whole toolbox!” Sara and Greg said.

“They’ll get you out of all sorts of trouble and are very handy to know. Thank God someone put a spanner in Bill’s hand!”

This track is the follow-on from their hit single ‘Show Me’.

‘Machinery Man’ tells the story of a boy who has been obsessed with machines since he was young, and grows into a man who has sump oil on his hands and diesel running through his veins.

He continues his love of machinery throughout his life, heading off to learn more as a teenager and young man, and then off across Australia working on engines and machinery throughout his life.

This is a tribute to all those men and women who work with their hands and have an innate talent with engines.

Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist Kiara Rodrigues heads into the competition with a shiny new country heartbreak drinking single, released January 6.

Written with Nashville-based Aussie expat, Katrina Burgoyne at The CMAA Academy of Country Music senior course, ‘Message In A Bottle’ is a song about heartbreak, drinking and self-sabotage.

“It was a song I’d half started and kept in the cupboard but not really looked at, and when I found out who my co-writing partner would be, I knew exactly which song I wanted to work on with Katrina,” Kiara said.

“Any good country heartbreak song involves drinking, but one wine and I’m asleep, so I’ve used plenty of creative licence in this song. It’s about knowing that there’s a whole lot ahead of you in terms of the healing process, but tonight you’re relying on that bottle of wine.”

Kiara said everyone had their own coping mechanisms and felt this song would resonate with plenty of listeners. “Whether you’re a drinker or not a drinker; we’ve all had that heartbreak,” she said.

The song’s country flavour is boosted by production from Nash Chambers, another expat now living and working in Nashville. “Nash’s production style was something I really resonated well with,” Kiara said. “He’s got a keen eye and ear for what sounds good and the vocals were recorded with Liam Kennedy-Clark in Maitland. I’m incredibly honoured to be working with Nash because he’s produced some of my favourite records that I grew up listening to.

“It’s exciting to be releasing this single before Toyota Star Maker and being able to showcase the single in the competition.” This is the first time the Sydney singer-songwriter has been named among the top 10 entrants in the prestigious and long-running country music talent search.

“This is something I’ve dreamed of since I first started country music in 2005,” she said. “To have those dreams of being in the top 10 realised, on the day I found out, I was in a complete state of shock – a very excited shock.”

Whether she is successful in Star Maker or not, Kiara plans to “run with it”. “I’ve got a whole heap of other songs I’ve written would love to turn into an EP and if I won, the trip to Nashville would bring about amazing co-writing opportunities,” she said.

“I would love to have a run of shows across the east coast in all the states I’ve lived in and to have that lovely Rav 4 to do it all in would be amazing. The Toyota Star Maker prize would be a great way of facilitating all those hopes and dreams.”

Coming back to the Tamworth Country Music Festival is also a reminder of how far Kiara has come in her career. “Missing the festival really drove home how much the Tamworth Country Music Festival is part of my identity,” she said.

“I’ve been coming since I was nine years old. It feels like coming home with I’m at the Tamworth festival. It’s also a good reminder of the experiences and memories I’ve made being part of the Australian country music industry”.

Sunday Chapel was written and produced by Dave Herrera and is a story about how the Chapel is the rock for his family and the community through thick and thin, baptisms, weddings and funerals, the Chapel will always be there even at the end and generations thereafter.

Herrera said “we all need a rock and a place to support us during the good and bad times”

Herrera wrote the track with the help of Cory Coppin, Kale Coppin co-writers and Dave Herrera produced the track.

Herrera continues to put his spin on Country music as he combines heavy drum beats, electric guitars, dobro, bass and the storytelling of country music with his new music.

Along with his singles, Herrera takes pride in creating music videos that are entertaining for all ages. The music video for “Visiting Nashville” now has 440K+ views and rising. You can check out several of his music videos on YouTube which include Hella Country, Hollywood Sign, My First 69, Shades, Hollywood Sign, Boys were Back Intown and an unofficial and unmixed version of the video for Hell of a Holiday.

Herrera is currently in the studio and will embark on live shows in 2023.

Herrera is continuing to work on more music, coming soon!