Single release: 'Your Anything At All' by Imogen Clark

In mid 2016 Imogen Clark release an impressive debut album, Love & Lovely Lies. Now she's released an impressive new single, 'Your Anything At All', from her upcoming second album, Collide, which will be available on 27 April.

Clark says of the new single, 'I wrote 'Your Anything At All' in my head while on stage at one of my gigs. The song covers defiance and confidence in the face of self-doubt, and rebelling with strength against someone who's made you feel worthless. There's vulnerability but also sass in the song.'

The album was produced by Mark Lizotte, better known to audiences as Diesel, and is an up-tempo number showcasing Clark's wonderful voice. You can watch the video for 'Your Anything At All' below.

Preorder the album here: https://ImogenClark.lnk.to/CollideAlbum
Spotify, iTunes etc: https://ImogenClark.lnk.to/YATAA

www.imogenclark.com.au

Single release: 'Always On My Mind' by Jessica Mauboy and Warren H Williams

The soundtrack albums for the Seven Network series The Secret Daughter have yielded several great new tracks from singer Jessica Mauboy, and the second season soundtrack contains a cracker in the form of a song made famous by a young lad named Elvis Presley and, later, by an older lad called Willie Nelson. On 'Always On My Mind' Jessica teams up with legendary country music performer Warren H Williams to give this song a new, rich sound and a different poignancy to the other versions.

Mauboy has said of Williams that he is 'an uncle of mine who taught me how to sing and gave me my first spot in the studio' - so that richness may come from the history these two outstanding performers share. It was Williams who opened the door at CAAMA Music (Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association) to the 11-year-old Jessica Mauboy and immediately recognised her considerable vocal talent. They reconnected at the Yabun Festival in 2017; it was a chance meeting that saw them make a pact to record together again. 

Listen to 'Always On My Mind' below or

www.jessicamauboy.com.au
www.facebook.com/WarrenHWilliamsMusic

Single release: 'Waiting for the Rain' by Alison Ferrier

Melbourne singer-songwriter musician Alison Ferrier has released the first single from her forthcoming third album, What She Knows (out 16 February). 'Waiting For The Rain’ is a laid-back yet gutsy country rock song that features some lovely pedal steel and Ferrier's warm, inviting voice.

Watch the video below or






www.alisonferrier.com

Single release: 'Insane' by Georgie Taylor

One of the observable effects of the CMAA Academy of Country Music in Tamworth is not only the level of professionalism amongst singers, musicians and songwriters in their twenties and older, but the emergence of artists in their teens. At least, that's my theory. By creating a culture of professional development within the Australian country music scene, the Academy has sent a signal - subliminally, perhaps, but I think it's more overt - to younger artists that there is a place for them to go to learn about the art and craft of country music creation and performance. In order to get to the Academy, of course, they need to have some material, so the earlier they start, the better.

There have been a few artists in their teens or just out of them emerging over the past few months, and it's a sign that country music not only appeals across generations but has a talented future. The latest example of that future is Georgie Taylor who at sixteen years of age is already a CMAA graduate, having attended its Junior Academy of Country Music.

Georgie is a singer-songwriter from Thornlands in Queensland who also plays guitar, ukulele and piano. She was wwarded RedArts Young and Emerging Artist 2017 Award and won multiple awards at Wynnum and Brisbane Eisteddfods and the MTAQ (Music Teachers Association of Queensland) Vocal Competitions and Redland Sporting Club Vocal Competition winner for the categories of Junior (2014) and Intermediate in 2017.

Georgie's debut single, 'Insane', is from what will be Georgie's first studio offering, an EP of original songs, produced by Liam Kennedy Clark at Lush Recording Studios in Queensland. It showcases Georgie's lovely strong voice and her songwriting skill through its story of deep emotional turmoil.

Listen to 'Insane' on Soundcloud.


Georgie is on Facebook @GeorgieTaylorMusic

Single release: 'That Ole Train' by Slim Dime

Melbourne duo Slim Dime have been working on a new album, and their original song 'That Ole Train' is the single released ahead of it.

Trains are a perennially favourite subject for a country song, with good reason: they invoke the possibilities of new places, new people and momentum into the future, all good elements for a song. On this track band members Chris Taylor and Jen Land give us a treat with their bluegrass guitar and Land engages in some fine yodelling.

Slim Dime play gigs regularly - you can find details on slimdime.com. And you can see the video for 'That Ole Train' below.

Single release: 'Wildflower Bruises' by Homegrown

'Wildflower Bruises' is the title track of a new six-track EP from Far North Queensland trio Homegrown, and it is a piece of utter loveliness. Siblings Katelyn, Liam and Kasey O'Donoghue (20, 18 and 15 years old respectively) share a a childhood of singing together; they released a five-track EP in 2016, and toured Australia throughout 2017. That history - and, no doubt, the family relationship - has led to exceptional, seamless harmonies in this bittersweet country-folk song of young love crushed by jealousy.

Homegrown will release the new EP during the Tamworth Country Music Festival or you can pre-order it on iTunes.

In the meantime, watch the video for 'Wildflower Bruises' below.

www.homegrownmusic.org.au

Single release: 'Always' by Lucy Parle

Lucy Parle's name will likely be new to you, as it is to me - and that's because she's only 14 years old. But her new song, 'Always', is a heartfelt song that indicates that Parle is able to access a range of emotions for her work, and channel them into her writing and performance. Parle has a great country music voice, and that, combined with her obvious talent, is no doubt why she was crowned the winner of the Central Coast (NSW) Discovered Competition, with the prize including a songwriting workshop with Gina Jeffreys and the exciting opportunity to record with Rod McCormack at The Music Cellar Studio.

The accolades haven't stopped there: in November 2017, Parle attended the Australian Songwriters Association National Songwriting Awards night in Sydney. With thousands of entries received from across Australia in 13 categories, ‘Always’ took out 1st Place in the Youth Category.

Parle was one of only 25 students selected from across Australia to attend the intensive eight-day singer-songwriter course at the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth, where she was mentored by Golden Guitar award winning artists, including Lyn Bowtell, Roger Corbett, Ashleigh Dallas, Aleyce Simmonds, David Carter and Amber Lawrence.

That is unlikely to be Parle's only trip to Tamworth - if 'Always' is any indication, she will be gracing stages there for years to come.

Listen to 'Always' on Soundcloud.



www.facebook.com/lucyparlemusic

Single release: 'See You Around' by I'm With Her

I was already a fan of American artist Sarah Jarosz when I found out about her new project, a band called I'm With Her that includes Sara Watkins and Aoife O'Donovan.

The women - who have several Grammy Awards and nine albums between them - had crossed paths over the years, but I’m With Her came together by happenstance for a performance at the 2014 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Clearly they realised they were on to something special - and that can be heard in 'See You Around', the first single from their upcoming album of the same name.

To have three singer-songwriters and musicians of this calibre (Watkins plays fiddle and ukulele, Jarosz mandolin and banjo, and O'Donovan piano and synth, as well as each playing guitar) performing together is a rare treat - their harmonies alone are magical, but in this one song their years of craft are also evident. It's not a foregone conclusion that three solo performers can blend this well together - after years of working alone, melding with others can't be easy. What is required is, often, a sense of serving a greater purpose in the music that you're making together. The members of I'm With Her have come together to create something beautiful. And that's just one song. The album is sure to be an event.

Watch a live performance of 'See You Around' below.

See You Around is out 16 February 2018.





www.imwithherband.com

Single release: 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up' by Kora Naughton

Kora Naughton is sixteen years old but her music sounds like it's made by someone with a lot more life experience - and, no doubt, that is because Kora has already had a fair bit going on in her life.

In 2015, Kora found out that due to a serious spinal cord condition, she would have to give up her passion of cheerleading - a sport she had loved since she was seven years old. The condition resulted in two surgeries in twelve months and it was during this time that she turned to music. Kora taught herself to play guitar, sing and write songs.

In January 2017 Kora attended her first Tamworth Country Music Festival, where she busked for ten days and decided that country music was her path. She then applied for and was accepted into the CMAA Junior Academy of Country Music. Part of the application process was creating a recording of her original music, leading to her first single, 'Wrong'. The track hit airplay charts all around Australia including #7 on the Australian Country Radio Top 10, #40 on Country Tracks Top 40 and #3 on My Country Australia's Top 40.

In August 2017, Kora was named a Finalist in the Today's Country 94.1's Brand New Star Competition and in October, she was crowned the Southern Stars Rising Female Artist at the Mildura Independent Country Music Festival.

Kora's second single is 'I Don't Wanna Grow Up' and although its title sounds like the sort of thing a teenager might say, the tone of the song is serious, and delivered beautifully by Kora. 

You can find the single at CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/koranaughton2

Find Kora on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/koranaughtonmusic/

Single release: 'Pity Me' by Paula Standing

This new song from South Australian artist Paula Standing evokes dusty roads, broken dreams, love gone wrong and revenge about to be taken. You know when a song contains a lyric about fluid being drained out a brake, something is about to turn bad ... Standing's narrator means business, and Standing sounds like the business as she sings the story.

Standing is a classically trained singer, which accounts for her fantastic tone and control; she is newer to guitar, which she took up in 2010. Standing is set to release her new EP Good Heart soon, the follow-up to her 2015 album All Fun & Games. 




Watch the video for 'Pity Me' below.






www.paulastanding.com

Single release: 'Fall Apart' by The Sound of Ghosts

As more proof of my theory that some of the most interesting country music is coming out of Los Angeles, The Sound of Ghosts is a band that combines traditional country sounds with Americana with brass and some rock and blues. The result is the powerful, irresistible sound heard on their new single, 'Fall Apart' from their upcoming album Delivery & Departure, a song about being 'perfectly imperfect' with lead vocals from Anna Orbison, who also plays uke. She's one of five members of the group along with James Orbison (vocals, bass), Anna Orbison (vocals, ukulele), Ernesto Rivas (lead guitar), Phoebe Silva (fiddle) and Jon Sarna (drums).

Listen to 'Fall Apart' on Soundcloud.





www.thesoundofghosts.com

Single release: 'To Our Home' by Anais

Brisbanite (Brisvegan? Where are we landing on that these days?) Anais is 17 years old and has already had a life-changing moment thanks to social media. After placing second in the Ekka Country Music Showdown, she posted a photo on Instagram and was noticed by producers Will and Michelle Gawley of Lighthouse Records in Nashville. Despite initially thinking their message was a joke, Anais soon found herself travelling to Tennessee between school terms to record her debut EP, Push Through.

Her new single from that EP is 'To Our Home' and it's clear very quickly why Anais would have received the opportunity offered by the Gawleys: she has a well-developed country music voice and style. She's already attended the CMAA Country Music Academy, and Tamworth festival goers can look our for her this coming January.  

Listen to 'To Our Home' below.

anaisofficial.net

Single release: 'Got Me Fallin'' by Emily Markham

Emily Markham is from the South Coast of New South Wales, and played to audiences there recently when she opened for Amber Lawrence and Travis Collins on their Our Backyard tour. Emily's new single, 'Got Me Fallin'', can be found on her debut EP, Come on Over. It's a lovely song about the beginning of a relationship - with its great tempo and Markham's smooth voice, just the thing to play to put a smile on your face.

Markham is working on some new material to be released in early 2018 - and keep an eye out for her in the Star Maker competition at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Watch the lyric video for 'Catch Me Fallin'' below.





www.emilymarkham.com.au

Single release: 'Learning to Let Go' by Josh Taerk

Josh Taerk is a Canadian singer-songwriter who was playing a show in his home town, Toronto, when he was spotted by Max Weinberg, the drummer for Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. Impressed, Weinberg invited Josh to open for him at his sold-out show. That was in 2010, and since then Taerk has been writing, recording and performing - and steadily building his following. He released his debut album in 2013. He then set to work on his second album, which was recorded in Nashville.

His latest single is 'Learning to Let Go', which is about taking leaps of faith - and not getting in your own way. Taerk certainly knows how to write a pop hook and layers that into a country-rock sound, and he has a great voice, so this is a song that has my favourite combination: it's meaningful and entertaining.

Watch the video for 'Learning to Let Go' below.





www.joshtaerk.com

Single release: 'Mr Wrong' by Natalie Pearson

When Perth native Natalie Pearson released her EP Long Time Coming, it went straight to number 2 on the Australian iTunes country music charts. The first single, 'Chance at Love', was awarded 'Best Country' in the 2016 MusicOz Australian Independent Music Awards and Natalie also received a Top 5 nomination in both the Video and Female Artist of the Year categories. She's just finished a 22-date national tour alongside Brook Chivell.

The latest single off the EP is 'Mr Wrong', a strong, catchy country rock/pop tune that should bring Pearson more fans ahead of her appearances at the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January. You can watch the video below.






www.natpearsonmusic.com

Single release: 'Summertime Soundtrack' by Hayley Jensen

Hayley Jensen started in country music but took a detour via Australian Idol before returning to country and embracing it with gusto. In recent times she has released an EP, Past Tense & Present Peace, and now has a new single, 'Summertime Soundtrack', from her forthcoming album.

The song is feel-good country rock of the sort that will be played out of car windows and in back gardens. It's also a really tightly written, produced and played piece of music. Jensen has a great voice, and she knows how to entertain. She sounds like she's having fun on the track, and consequently it's easy to have fun listening to her.


Watch the video for 'Summertime Soundtrack' below.





www.hayleyjensen.net

Single release: 'Scars' by Cloverdayle

Nasvhille-based duo Cloverdayle is made up of Chad and Rachel Hamar, who originally hail from the Pacific Northwest of the USA. 'Scars' is a song they first played live to audiences in the northern summer this year, and the response was so strong that they recorded it as soon as they could. It is a gutsy, inspiring, anthemic song and it's easy to see why it resonated with audiences. The initial concept for the lyric came in 2013, after Rachel had an unexpected major surgery, waking up with what she described as both 'physical and emotional scars'.

Listen to a snipper of 'Scars' in the video below.





cloverdayle.com

Single release: 'It's So Cruel' by Ruby Boots

As a big fan of Ruby Boots's 2015 debut album, Solitude, I was very pleased to see news of her new single, 'It's So Cruel', from her forthcoming long player Don't Talk About It (to be released in February).

The new song is more rock than country - just to manage the expectations of those who like their country country - but it is very much Boots, with all the vim and vigour of the songs of Solitude. Along with the other songs on the new album, it was written and recorded in Nashville, made possible when Boots received the 2016 Australia Council Songwriting Award Nashville Residency.

Watch the video for 'It's So Cruel' below.

Pre-order the album here.

www.rubybootsmusic.com

Single release: 'Pearly Gates of the Landfill' by Freya Josephine Hollick

With so much music - and so much great music - to listen to, it's not unusual for me to miss things ... as outlined in a recent post about Sam Hunt. And it turns out I missed Freya Josephine Hollick when she released her EP, Don't Mess with the Doyenne, earlier this year, and her album, The Unceremonious Junking of Me, last year. This was, at best, a faux pas, as Hollick's music is wonderful: whimsical, sincere, direct, sentimental, and sounding like she's standing on a dust-blown plain in about 1948, singing to the winds while remaining wholly contemporary.

Hollick is about to release a new single, 'Pearly Gates of the Landfill', with a launch show at The Spotted Mallard in Melbourne's Brunwick on 11 November. The single is the first release from her next album. So don't make the same mistake I did and miss out on Hollick's music - listen to it now, and forever more.

Tickets to the show available here. 

www.freyajosephinehollick.com

Single release: 'Here's to Me & You' by Tom Dockray

Originally from Tasmania, now resident in Denmark (via Melbourne), Tom Dockray has released a new single, 'Here's to Me & You', in advance of his return to Australia to play a few dates. On this sound Dockray has a deceptively laidback country/folk sound - deceptive because his lyricism is far from being lazy. The song is the first single from his forthcoming second album.

Watch the video for 'Here's to Me & You' below. The dates for Dockray's tour appear below the video.









All dates are in November 2017

1          The Paragon Theatre Queenstown TAS
2 House Concert Hobart TAS
3 Red Velvet Lounge Cygnet TAS
8 The Spotted Mallard       Melbourne VIC
10/11/12 Bendigo Blues Festival   Bendigo VIC
14 The Newsagency Sydney NSW
16 The Fox Den          Gloucester NSW
17 Flow Bar Old Bar NSW
18 Two Goats Cafe & Baa  Armidale NSW
19 The Bearded Lady Brisbane QLD


tomdockray.com