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“We all know a player, an eff boy who thinks he’ll stay young and hot forever, so he plays the field hard, choosing not to make any real connections with anyone. Little does he know, he’s wasting his prime years on fleeting encounters, and before he knows it, his prime will be over, and his life will be effed. All the nice girls he met and couldn’t be bothered putting any effort into, will have moved on, found love, and living their best lives without ever giving the now lonely player a second thought.”

“Inspiration: The players in the world, going through women like sand through an hourglass, oblivious to their time running out in finding their soul mate. Your stupidity is inspiring! hehe

I really enjoyed writing and recording this song, and at the time, I had a crush on a player who I knew liked me, but also knew would never change, and I commend myself for not going there. Next! So, I brought this energy into the studio and used it to record this song.

‘Hourglass Sand’ is important to me because I want all the good girls like me in this world to spot the player and don’t let him into your life. Know your worth and value yourself. Let them drain their own hourglass sand, not yours.”

‘Hourglass Sand’ is available on all streaming platforms, on iTunes, YouTube, it’s available everywhere!

Reach out to me on my socials, JD REYNOLDS OFFICIAL, or hit my website www.jdreynoldsofficial.com I always answer my fans.

Brendon McMahon kicks off 2024 with his brand new single, ‘The Devil’s Nails’.

‘The Devil’s Nails’ was inspired by an abandoned outback town, and the harsh landscape surrounding the desolate location. Strap yourself in for this one.

“Seems the Devil’s nails have scratched and clawed their way across the human race
And there’s only one thing left to do … burn down this place.”

When you listen to Brendan McMahon’s music, you gain a strong sense of the man behind the songs. An inveterate traveller and astute observer, possessed of an enquiring and open mind – these are just some of his personality traits that shine through.

McMahon is a multi-award-winning singer-songwriter with over twenty years’ experience. Not afraid to defy expectation, his music is eclectic, adventurous, and blessed with a ‘limitless fluidity’. Having visited over fifty unique and varied countries, his travel experiences, specifically his observations of history, cultures, people, architecture, and nature, are at the root of his creativity and song writing.

Brendan grew up in the small town of Kapunda near South Australia’s Barossa Valley. He discovered his love of music at the tender age of 15 after being “awed and floored” seeing Jimi Hendrix play on television; amazed by the sounds that Jimi could pull from a guitar and captivated by the iconic performer’s showmanship. Borrowing money from his mother (and paying it back at $2 a week) he promptly bought himself a $60 guitar and amp rig from a mate.

Initially wanting to be a glam-rock superstar in the 80s and 90s (think Van Halen, Kiss, Def Leppard), McMahon later transitioned to the more storytelling driven tunes of songwriters such as Paul Kelly, Harry Manx, Richard Thompson and Garth Brooks, artists that continue to inspire him today.

Spending his late teens and early twenties as a lead singer/lead guitarist in rock cover bands playing across Adelaide and country Victoria, McMahon honed his skills the hard way – in front of demanding Australian pub and club crowds. In 1998, and now bitten by both the song writing and performance bug, McMahon released a 7-track EP called ‘Picture This’ with his band The Cunning Stunts.

In 2015 and 2016, Brendan released the solo albums ‘Falling To Earth’ and ‘Marker 7-58′ under the moniker of Satellite Gods, and in doing so was fortunate enough to collaborate and work with some renowned Australian musicians including Peter Maslen (Boom Crash Opera), Jason Vorherr (Darryl Braithwaite), Bob Spencer (The Angels), Simon Hosford (Vanessa Amorosi) and Wilbur Wilde (Ol’ 55).

After supporting artists such as Boom Crash Opera, Russell Morris, Wendy Stapleton and The Chantoozies in Australia, Brendan released the LP ‘On This Fine Occasion’ in 2017, which received great reviews both locally and internationally.

In 2019, McMahon, who now calls Melbourne home, released ‘In The Moment’ – his 4th solo album. Maturity, reflection and drawing on his personal experiences, his inspired yet refined lyrics again take listeners on a captivating journey.

Recorded with Steve Vertigan at Soggy Dog Recording Studios, and again drawing upon Australian music royalty in its creation – namely Dave Leslie (Baby Animals), Danny Spencer (Jimmy Barnes Band), Brett Kingman (James Reyne Band), and Peter Maslen and Jason Vorherr, plus a string trio from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Sarah Curro, Gabi Halloran and Paul Zabrowarny), this powerful album embraces the essence of story-telling and leaves you thinking about the songs long after the last track finishes.

2020 seen the release of ‘No Rush Today’, an album that debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes country music chart on release. McMahon feels his 5th solo offering cemented him in the Country Rock space. The album delivered 3 top 10 AMRAP singles, ‘Jack’, ‘Sugar Cane Man’ and ‘Wired To The Moon’ along with strong charting on many other Australian charts including a No.4 position in France with ‘Sugar Cane Man’.

June, 2022, marked the release of ‘As The Road Unfolds’, the most successful record to date. It debuted as the highest selling Australian album on the iTunes Country chart and has also delivered no less than six chart topping singles – ‘Jenni J’, ‘When I See You Tonight’, ‘I Feel A Change’, ‘Skin & Bone’, ‘Gundry’s Track’ and ‘Back Roads’.

Where to from here? With six chart topping tracks from his highly anticipated 7th solo album already released in 2023, ‘New Country Morning’, ‘Time Rolls On’, ‘It’s Good To Be Alive’, ‘Send In The Clowns’, ‘Higher’, and the powerful and poignant ‘I Hear Your Voice (The Soldier)’ featuring the very talented Montana Sharp, it’s full steam ahead for 2024.

Native Texan, Chris Chitsey, made a name for himself on the competitive, Texas honky-tonk circuit before graduating to success on a national level in the early 2000’s. His smooth evocative voice and energetic stage presence quickly established Chris as one of the latest Texas exports to find national acclaim.

Making his mark on country radio for several decades, Chitsey has teamed up with a true American Icon to kick off 2024. With a knock-out video, filmed at the Jack Daniel distillery, in Lynchburg, TN, the release of “Life is Hard, Whiskey is Easy”, promises to be his best work yet!

Whether on stage or in the recording studio, Chris exudes his passion and dedication to the country music industry. It’s that kind of dedicated work ethic, combined with God-given talent, that has made Chris Chitsey a timeless success.

“Life is Hard, Whiskey is Easy” will shake you to the core without dispute. Chitsey gets right into the mix with his incredible voice, letting the melodic wonderment he dispenses do all the talking for him. I was blown away by how spellbound I became when analyzing the depth of the lead vocal, and particularly how well it holds the attention of listener from start to finish. If there’s any artist that I’ve come across who’s on the verge of turning a corner before the bulk of his peers, I think it would be Chris Chitsey.” – Garth Thomas, The Hollywood Insider

“A voice starts to deliver a melody that will swell to the size of a mountain in a mere matter of seconds in Chris Chitsey’s “Life is Hard, Whiskey is Easy”. Equal parts country and honky tonk groove piece, this single is undeniably one of the best tracks out this winter, mostly because of its unparalleled blend of compositional awareness and vocal depth, both of which have been difficult elements for other mainstream artists to reconcile lately. He’s got all the tools he needs to go far in this business, and that’s obvious even to the most casual of critics.” – Trace Whittaker, Pop Icon Magazine

“In his new single “Life is Hard, Whiskey is Easy”, Chitsey offers us a crushing new work that speaks to the heart in a manner that will leave you reaching for a glass in the best way possible. Not only does this track address a self-awareness that has been wholly missing from the charts in Nashville as of late, it relates a major passion that informs listeners of who is holding the microphone right off the bat. There’s nothing inauthentic or unmelodic in this track, which is more than I can say for some of Nashville’s biggest chart-toppers right now. This won’t be the last of his singles to make big waves.” – Cleopatra Patel, Big Celebrity Buzz

Pack A Suitcase For Secondhand Stories; “Pack your suitcase, it’s all you’ll need.”

Fusing heartfelt storytelling and authenticity, Ashleigh Dallas releases her latest single, ‘Secondhand Stories’, on January 19.

Kicking off the Tamworth Country Music Festival in style with the release of ‘Secondhand Stories’ which is also the five-time Golden Guitar winner’s headlining show at the Tamworth Town Hall on Wednesday, January 23.

The song, penned during a DAG Songwriting Retreat with Natasha Soonchild and Margaret Anne King, is an ode to wanderlust and the pursuit of personal experiences over living vicariously through others’ adventures.

The trio drew inspiration from Marg’s extensive travels, delving into conversations that sparked the song’s inception.

“This came from a morning we spent talking about what it’s like when you get out and see things,” Ashleigh said.

“We were talking about when you have awesome experiences, we have all had someone tell us how lucky we are to experience that.”

‘Secondhand Stories’ encourages listeners to embrace a sense of freedom, dream big, and embark on their adventures.

“It’s all about not living your life through someone else’s pictures and Instagram posts, don’t live your life through a secondhand story; get out and do it yourself,” Ashleigh said.

The single aims to ignite a wanderlust spirit within its audience.

“I’m hoping this song makes listeners dream that trip and do it,” Ashleigh said.

“When I hear this song, I want to be in a car driving. I hope it becomes a soundtrack for our listeners as they do these trips.”

Entering a new chapter after turning 30, Ashleigh believes ‘Secondhand Stories’ marks a pivotal moment in her career.

“I feel like I’ve really found my grounding and who I am,” she said.

“I feel like ‘Secondhand Stories’ is the start of not holding back and delving further into pushing boundaries and going past my comfort zone.”

As an artist committed to growth and evolution, Ashleigh sees this single as her personal anthem, empowering her to push boundaries and embrace new lyrical content.

“I hope this song will give me the confidence to follow my own lyrical content and push the boundaries and live life to the fullest,” she said.

‘Secondhand Stories’ is the title track of Ashleigh’s upcoming album, set to grace the airwaves in late 2024.

FROM THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS TO TAMWORTH, STUDIO8 ARE BRINGING NEW MUSIC TO COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL

They live together, play together and write songs together. Studio 8 is a country duo, Luke Johnson and Michelle Morgan. With Luke on guitar and vocals, and Michelle on keyboard and backing vocals, they co-write all of their original tracks. They take their inspiration from the intricacies of everyday life, the people they meet and the places they stay.

Many years ago, their ‘tree change’ from Sydney to the Southern Highlands inspired them to write their first song together, and they have never looked back. Studio8’s forthcoming debut album Into The New, will be in 2024, and was inspired by their bucket list outback camping trip across the Nullabor, through the Kimberley in 2022.

“It was an inspiring trip for both of us. It lit a fire under us as songwriters. We have written consistently ever since. We can’t wait to share all the new music with the world.” – Michelle Morgan

Their debut single ‘Red Dirt Rodeo’ was widely accepted by radio, earning an addition to ABC’s ‘Grass Roots’ program on release. They also saw success in the streaming arena, with strong play numbers and playlisting on Spotify.

“We weren’t sure what to expect when we released the last single, but we were thrilled when people started commenting about it. We received emails and messages, and we felt the love from radio. It was so encouraging.” – Michelle stated

To follow up, the duo are bringing a homage to Tamworth, just in time for the 2024 festival.

“Our first experience with Tamworth left a significant mark. It has influenced our outlook on music, our writing and the many relationships we have made through attending the festival. It made sense that we would pay tribute to this amazing event through our music.” – Luke Johnson

Dive into the vibrant spirit of the Tamworth Country Music Festival with Studio8’s new single, ‘Back to the Bush.’ A heartfelt homage to Tamworth and the love for country music, the song, with its classic tempo and Aussie vocals, pays tribute to Slim Dusty and iconic Tamworth locations.

Crafted in their backyard studio, the track was tested at the 2023 Tamworth Country Music Festival and Hats off to Country, before being recorded at A Sharp Studios in Sydney.

Henry is a talented 13-year-old singer, guitarist, and songwriter from Conondale, Queensland. He began his music career by busking extensively across the Sunshine Coast, which has helped him become a regular performer at several venues in the area.

In 2022, Henry had the privilege of opening for renowned artists Emily Wurramara and Andrea Kirwan at the Horizon Festival. He was also nominated as a finalist in Noosa Stars Alive and made it to the top six finalists at the 2023 Gympie Country Music Muster Youth Talent Search.

Henry recently won the Caloundra Live & Local Songwriting Competition, allowing him to perform on the Kings Club VIP Stage at the 2023 Caloundra Music Festival. He is also set to attend the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January 2024, where he will participate in the Maccas Golden Gig.

Henry covers a broad range of genres and enjoys writing and performing his original songs. He is currently working on recording his first single, which he plans to release early in 2024.

About The Track

Hide & Seek

It is about the close bond between a brother and sister with a lifetime of memories as they grew up travelling around Australia in a motorhome. After settling down, however, the elder sister wants to leave home for adventures of her own, leading her younger brother to lament her going and reminiscing about the beautiful times they had growing up together.

Multi-award-winning singer songwriter and breakthrough actress, Lainey Wilson announced “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” as her next single following Wilson’s television debut performance of the song at the 57th Annual CMA Awards, in Nashville, TN.

As the third Broken Bow Records’ single off her critically acclaimed, award-winning album, “Bell Bottom Country”, “Wildflowers and Wild Horses” is a reflective tale of Wilson’s life; “barefoot and bareback.” The soulful yet Southern track, accompanied by Wilson’s signature sound, blends elements of Western, Rock, and Americana, to bring forth a modern yet traditional Country song as an ode to her roots.

Wilson was once again crowned as the most nominated artist at this year’s CMA Awards with a record breaking nine nominations and walking away with five wins in some of the most coveted categories including the biggest award of the evening, Entertainer Of The Year.

Lainey Wilson 2023 CMA Award Wins:
• Entertainer Of The Year
• Album Of The Year: Bell Bottom Country
• Female Vocalist Of The Year
• Music Video Of The Year: “wait in the truck” – HARDY (featuring Lainey Wilson)
• Musical Event Of The Year: “wait in the truck” – HARDY (featuring Lainey Wilson)

Melanie Dyer is kicking off the year with a new hit, “Honeymoonin”. This is the follow up to a successful 2023 with her debut performance at CMA Music Festival, a Golden Guitar nomination for Best Female Artist and her hit single releases, “Song for That” and “Dust”.

Melanie talks about her new track, “Honeymoonin is a song for couples in that blissful bubble whether it be newlyweds, first dates or long-term relationships trying to keep it exciting, it’s a song that encourages you to drink the champagne, buy the roses and book the ocean view room every once in a while! The production is a fusion of pop, country and coastal vibes which should put you in holiday mode!”

“I wrote this with two of my favourite collaborators, Karen Kosowski (songwriter & production) and Emma-Lee (songwriter) in Nashville this year while I was there playing at the CMA Festival. I have loved building a connection with these women over the last 5 years and we have created some of my favourite songs together.”

The Australian singer/songwriter has cemented herself as a leading lady in contemporary country with hits like “Memphis T-Shirt”, “Run Out Of Road”, “Song For That”, “Dumb Decisions” and “Dust”. With total sales approaching 10 million, Melanie is an APRA Professional Development Award Winner, APRA Nominated songwriter (Memphis T-Shirt) and an ‘in demand’ songwriter within the Australian music industry.

Renowned Australian country artist Amber Lawrence is set to tug at heartstrings once again with the release of her latest single, “5 Years of You”. The emotionally charged track captures the bittersweet moments as Amber’s own five-year-old embarks on the journey of starting primary school.

Amber Lawrence, 6 times Golden Guitar winner, ARIA nominee and current CMAA Female Artist of the Year is known for her soulful and authentic storytelling, and she brings her signature style to “5 Years of You”. This delicate song will resonate with parents experiencing the poignant milestone of sending their little ones off to school.

“I remember coming home from the first of the school orientation visits this year with a heart full of emotions, from excitement to sadness, and this song poured out of me” says Amber.

“5 Years of You” is a sweet tribute to the rollercoaster of emotions parents face when watching their children take those first steps into the world of ‘big’ school and is the follow up single to the chart topping “Live a Country Song” which impacted Top 5 on the CountryTown Hot 50 National Country Airplay Charts.

Amber will take to the stage in January 2024 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival – showcasing these songs and more at her show.

Following the release of his critically acclaimed debut album “Dallas/Fort Worth” that skyrocketed to #1 on the iTunes All-Genre chart, Stoney Creek Records artist Drake Milligan releases the up-tempo “I Got A Problem.” The good-time, romantic tune tells of all the ways a cowboy’s new gal has a hold on him like never before, singing: “your kiss tastes like whiskey, and I’m a drinker.”

” I Got A Problem” captures the track just like the rising star performed it at America’s Got Talent in September – returning to the scene of his national TV breakout last season. The cool-and-collected performance was so riveting, it prompted host (and early believer) Simon Cowell to invite Milligan to be a part of an upcoming AGT spin-off show.

Mixing traditional country twang and a dose of right-now swagger, Milligan performed over 100 U.S. shows last year and will keep the throttle pinned opening for fellow Texan Cody Johnson, along with an extensive headlining tour of the U.S. From there, he’ll fly to Europe for six shows including stops in Germany, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and the U.K. Milligan already has two international festivals on tap for 2024, as he’s booked for big-time appearances in Australia (CMC Rocks QLD 2024 – March 15) and Norway (Den Forvitnelege Countryfestivalen 2024 – July 27).

It all follows the acclaimed release of Milligan’s 2022 album debut, Dallas/FortWorth, and looking ahead, fans can expect all new music in 2024.

About Drake Milligan:
Drake Milligan burst onto the national music stage entering the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart at #5 after dominating iTunes with his debut album “Dallas/Fort Worth”, charting back-to-back #1 hits on the iTunes Country Songs Chart, #1 on iTunes All-Genre Chart and reclaimed the #1 spot on iTunes Country Albums Chart, all while simultaneously holding positions #1, #2, #3 and #5 on iTunes Country Video Chart. In the UK, Milligan’s debut album spent 11 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Official Country Artists Albums Chart. A student of classic Country music with the swagger of early Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Fort Worth, Texas native is an electrifying entertainer who is packing Country fans into clubs’ night after night on tour. Milligan cites George Strait and Elvis Presley – the King of Country and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – as musical heroes. His unique twist of traditional Country has been embraced by fans, peers and the media alike. Milligan has performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach and CMA Music Festival. He has earned high praise from People, BBC, USA Today, Parade, American Songwriter, CMT, Billboard, ET, Access Hollywood, Cosmopolitan, Cowgirl Magazine and Taste of Country. Following his debut album – co-produced by award-winning Tony Brown and Brandon Hood – the Stoney Creek Records artist is back with new music, dropping the good-time, romantic tune, “I Got A Problem,” alongside his fun-loving duet “Honky Tonkin’ About” with Canadian supergroup The Reklaws