Sunburnt Country Music

Mak & Shar are a duo and they are also brothers. They have been making music together since childhood, as two-thirds of Brothers3, and also pursued music and musical studies individually. So they have already achieved a lot, and they’ve also been through a lot, which we have discussed in previous interviews and they elaborate on it in this one. Their debut album together is called New Problems but both the song and the album are uplifting – the new problems are not big problems. As Shar says during the interview, ‘With our family, I don’t think you’re allowed to be really upset too often’ – and when you learn the context for that, and know what the brothers have experienced, this statement is all the more extraordinary. They could so easily make music that is heavy, and no one would question that. Instead they choose to pursue open heartedness and joy – and making music together, despite naysayers. As Mak says, ‘It’s really important to look at the positives in life and keep on grinding.’The latest single from New Problems is ‘Simple Things’, written with Robbie Mortimer, and I ask each of them about the simple things that bring them joy – and they have great answers for that. I also ask Mak about ‘Amara’s Song’, which was written for his eldest daughter at the time she was an only child … He now has another daughter, so obviously needs to write a song for her!Each time I’ve interviewed Mak and Shar I have very much enjoyed how they interact with each other – because they genuinely like each other, quite apart from being brothers – and admired how they have made a commitment to continuing to make music together, and the processes they follow to do that. They are musical artists to their cores, and I think that shines through in this chat.Listen to New Problems on Apple MusicListen to New Problems on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the saying goes, luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Three-time Golden Guitar winner Andrew Swift has named his latest album Lucky Stars, and it’s his document of the last few years in his life, which have been full of personal and professional opportunity – and the album itself is testament to the ‘preparation’ part of the equation.Swift is an accomplished and astute songwriter who also loves live performance, honing his sound and his instinct on the road to ensure he presents his audience with an album that is not only memorable but clear in its communication. The themes of the album are set with opening track ‘Nothing Better’, and consolidated throughout.Swift is currently on the road and has shows and festivals booked through until March next year (dates below) and no doubt beyond. He’s also recently been to Canada, as he’s signed with a Canadian management company. In this interview we talk about that decision, as well as the newest Swift: his daughter, Valentine, for whom he and partner Simone Sordello wrote and recorded a song that appears on the album. Given everything going on in his life, Swift might be forgiven for not having time to be aware of all the good things in life, but it’s clear in this conversation that he means what he says in the album title: he counts his lucky stars. And he also takes them on the road, and into songs, for others to enjoy.SEE ANDREW SWIFT LIVE21st November - St Andrews Hotel - St Andrews VIC22nd November - Bellarine Estate - Bellarine VIC23rd November - Kindred Bandroom - Footscray VIC24th January - Blazes Showroom - Tamworth Country Music Festival NSW5th February - Mt Gambier Bowls Club - Mt Gambier SA6th February - Wheatsheaf Hotel - Adelaide SA7th February - Quorn Hall - Quorn SA8th February - Murray Delta Juke Joint - Goolwa SA14th February - Boyup Brook Country Music Muster - Boyup Brook WA28th March - Echuca Country Music Festival - Echuca VICTickets on sale now and available via www.andrewswift.com.auListen to Lucky Stars on Apple MusicListen to Lucky Stars on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There will never not be a lot for me to talk to Fanny Lumsden about. The two-time ARIA and multiple Golden Guitar-winning singer, songwriter, videographer, tour specialist and joy bringer from the Upper Murray region of New South Wales has a full life that has this year seen her tour the United Kingdom and Ireland, supported Paul Kelly on his European and Australian tours, record new songs and release the single ‘Look At Me Now’ and its accompanying video, which features moments from Lumsden’s whole career and was made by her husband, bandmate and collaborator, Dan Stanley Freeman. This is combined with raising two children, being a mentor for others in the music industry and general and specific fabulousness. So this is not a quick chat that I had with Lumsden. I’ve been a fan since her debut EP – which I mention in this interview – and that was for her music first. Lumsden is a fantastic songwriter, telling stories that are evocative, inspiring and also relatable. It was her songs I loved first – and then I started seeing her play live. The live enterprise that is Fanny Lumsden and her band, the Prawnstars, has taken her around Australia multiple times, building her audience through the Country Halls Tours, as well as to the Glastonbury Festival, which in turn spurred her UK tours. Her upcoming Australian capital cities tour is the reason for this interview but it’s by far the only topic we cover. I will say this, though: I will never be unbiased on the subject of Lumsden, her music and her shows. She is one of the most powerful forces for good in the Australian culture, leading by example and excellence, always pushing herself to create work that is more exciting, more insightful, more uplifting, more entertaining. For a fan, what could be more exciting? So that’s why I go to every single show she puts on in my home town (Sydney) and I encourage you to see her play live too. There will be laughter and playfulness and unexpected moments – and always, always there will be the songs and the harmonies and the excellent band. The dates to see Fanny Lumsden live are listed below.Tickets available at https://www.fannylumsden.net/tourdatesFriday February 6 - Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WASaturday February 7 - Lion Arts Centre, Adelaide, SAFriday February 13 - Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne, VicSaturday February 14 - The Triffid, Brisbane, QldFriday February 20 - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSWSaturday February 21  - UC Hub, Canberra, ACTListen to Fanny Lumsden on Apple MusicListen to Fanny Lumsden on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Lyrics first. Lyrics always first. I’m a lyrics guy beyond anything.’Wade Forster says this early on in our interview about his latest album, Gooseneck Party, and what then followed was a discussion about his songwriting process – he writes almost exclusively on his own. He mentions that in the last two or three years he’s written upwards of 70 or 80 songs on his own, and the tracks on the album are ‘just twenty-two of the better ones.’ Forster has rich material to draw from. As he says in this chat, ‘I’ve lived a hell of a life … I’ve got a lot of stories from a lot of different towns.’ He’s had a variety of jobs, from fridge mechanic to rodeo rider and a lot else in between. He also mentions in the interview that he gives 110% to his shows because he knows what it’s like to save up money to go to a show, and he wants to make sure his audience has a great experience accordingly. Having seem him play live I can attest that this is a case. Forster is a showman, and one with substance.This was my first time interviewing Forster and I didn’t know what to expect. What I found was a thoughtful, well-rounded artist who puts a lot of time and attention into making his songs the best they can be, then curating the best selection for the album or show, not only to tell the whole story he wants to tell but to create something unique and memorable for his audience. It was a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting conversation, and I hope you find it the same!SEE WADE FORSTER LIVE Nov 15 – Townsville, Otherwise QLDNov 20 – Geelong, Barwon Club VICNov 21 – Melbourne, Howler VIC SOLD OUTNov 22 – Adelaide, Jive SA SOLD OUTNov 27 – Katoomba, Baroque Bar NSWNov 28 – Sydney, The Lansdowne NSWJan 19 – Tamworth, The Longyard NSWListen to Gooseneck Party on Apple MusicListen to Gooseneck Party on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since multiple award-winning and -nominated country music artist James Johnston started releasing singles, I’ve interviewed him several times. Although we’d met in person none of those interviews have been in person before now, and it was wonderful to have the chance to chat to Johnston about his second album, WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME, the follow-up to his smash-hit debut RAISED LIKE THAT. Because we filmed this in person and I don’t have a whiz-bang multi-camera studio, you’ll see only him on camera – although I did have nice microphones on us both!There have already been several hit singles from WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME, including ‘Hell Boy’ and ‘Good For Me’, but as with RAISED LIKE THAT Johnston held some things back for the album. In the sixteen tracks we hear his stories, yes, but my impression was that this album seems more structured around themes, such as loyalty, love, dedication to family, appreciation of friends, hard work and very much not taking anything for granted. I put this to Johnston in the interview, and you can watch/listen to hear his response!Johnston wrote dozens of songs before he recorded his first single, and his dedication not only to creating but to editing his output means that his albums are curated to offer an experience to the listener. Even a song that looks like a party song from the outside – such as ‘I Oughta Know Better’- offers details that build a world, rather than relying on cliché.There’s also a special song called ‘Can I Keep Talking to You’, which I saw Johnston perform live ahead of the album release and immediately noted. It was lovely to hear the story behind that too.I’ve never been shy about my admiration of Johnston, who not only has the talent and application but professionalism to match. His rapid rise was many years in the making, and he has consolidated the success of his first releases with a second album that will deepen his connection with fans, and no doubt bring in new fans too.Listen to WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME on Apple MusicListen to WHERE YOU’LL FIND ME on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While Loretta Miller has extensive experience in both recorded and live music, as the frontwoman of Melbourne band JAZZPARTY amongst other things, she hasn’t released country music before – so this is the first time I’ve interviewed her, and it was to talk about her debut album, Loretta. This turned out to be a long conversation because Miller has had such an interesting life, growing up in a family of musical artists (including her aunt, Lisa Miller) and painters, that there was a lot to talk about. What became clear is that Miller takes chances – in music, in life – and is prepared to risk something not working out, which has had the effect of her having rich, varied experiences. Her world view is expansive – a case of ‘what else is out there?’ not ‘I am satisfied with what’s in here’ – and whether that is the reason why she takes chances or is a result of it, the effect is the same: she has a big life and she embraces all of it.We do talk about the album, of course, which includes great songs like ‘Dog’ and ‘Passenger Side’, and about why she is drawn to country music as a style and genre (hint: she grew up with it). If you’re watching this interview rather than listening to it you’ll see the light around me fading, but there’s really no good time to say ‘I’m just going to put a light on’ so I went with it – Miller is the focus, after all, and it’s worth listening to this entire chat to find out more about her. Listen to Loretta on Apple MusicListen to Loretta on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Central Coast country music singer-songwriter Ella Powell began this year as a Grand Finalist in the prestigious Toyota Star Maker competition, with the final held during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. It was no surprise that Powell had this recognition: since she began releasing music in 2020 she has stood out for her songwriting as well as her vocals. Last year she collected her releases in an EP, The End of the Beginning, marking the end of that chapter and the start of a new one. This next phase has begun with the single, ‘Passerby’, which we talk about in this new interview. The song is about feeling like you’ve been left behind, that life is passing you by even as you hold onto your dreams. Musically it’s a shift in direction while lyrically it is true to Powell’s intelligent, emotionally astute writing.The song was written with Ben Horsley, who was also the producer. Powell has often written on her own in the past but is evolving her songwriting practice along with her sound, writing with new people as well as having some songs co-written with Horsley in the vault. I always look forward to Powell’s new songs, as well as the opportunity to talk to her about them, as she’s an exciting young artist who has already achieved so much. She had a great beginning, and this next part of her life as an artist is already off to a wonderful start.Listen to ‘Passerby’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Passerby’ on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Victorian country-pop artist Jade Gibson has a knack for creating infectious country-pop tunes and she has performed them in all sorts of places, from festival stages to pubs. Next year she’ll be on stage at CMC Rocks. And no doubt her latest single, ‘Perfect Crime’, would be on the set list.Written with the song’s producer, Ben Horsley, and Nashville-based songwriter Ava Suppelsa, the song is about ghosting – the ‘perfect crime’. The first song Gibson recorded with Horsley was ‘Technicolour’. As she describes in this new interview, it marked a turning point – she let go of some of the pressure she’d put on herself to achieve certain goals, and she has now been achieving some of those very goals. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t had challenges and knockbacks, and we talk about those too, as well as about her experience at Nashville Song Hubs, where she wrote ‘Bygones’, her single released earlier this year. We go into the rather tough story behind that song too. Gibson’s Instagram bio says ‘daydreaming in poetry’, and we talk about that, and several other things, including her pushing herself outside her comfort zone – and I offer some unsolicited ‘writer therapy’!Please note that I had a cold when this was recorded, so my voice sounds bad! I can’t believe Jade even understood me. Thanks to her for persevering. Listen to Jade Gibson on Apple MusicListen to Jade Gibson on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The members of Queensland country-rock duo Benson Manor, Chris Knight and Phil Behrens, have been performing together for over two decades but have only recently started to release original music, first with ‘Dirty Weekend’ and now with ‘Let’s Talk’, a song about the power of talking out problems rather than leaving them festering inside. I had no idea what to expect when interviewing the pair, as they only have the two songs out so I hadn’t interviewed them before, but this chat was a hoot and a half. It was clear to see why they’ve managed to stay on good terms for so long – they make each other laugh, which would invariably help with the long hours needed to rehearse for live shows, especially when they now live in different parts of Queensland.  Our chat takes in the way they met, why they’re playing country rock, and why they started writing and recording music. They each have plenty of other things to do in their lives, but playing music together has clearly taken priority for a long time, and that suggests that there is an important ingredient to what they’re doing: fun.  Having said that, ‘Let’s Talk’ is a serious song with an intention to prompt people to talk about what’s troubling them, and it was inspired by what Knight and Behrens were seeing around them. A note on the audio: firstly, I had a cold at the time so my voice is scratchy, and there were some wifi issues for Phil, and about halfway through a volume issue for Chris – but we persevered!  Listen to Benson Manor on Apple MusicListen to Benson Manor on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trinity Woodhouse started singing at a very young age. As she tells me in our recent interview, she was playing every sport imaginable and singing while doing it – including while swimming which, as she says, takes some doing! When she was eight her parents suggested she have some vocal lessons, although she didn’t agree to them until she was eleven. She started performing at twelve, and took up guitar initially so she wouldn’t fidget on stage – but she fell in love with it. She attended her first Tamworth Country Music Festival at the age of thirteen and by the following year was attending the Junior Academy of Country Music. Seven years later she attended the Senior Academy. Her first single, ‘Bouquet’, was released in 2020. There have been three since, ‘Don’t You Know’ and ‘Colourblind’, and the latest, ‘Pills’.‘Pills’ is an audacious song lyrically because Woodhouse is sharing her mental health story, and while authenticity is a hallmark of country music there are, of course, some subjects that are very hard to talk about – or sing about. The way Woodhouse’s vocal sounds in the song is also part of the story – and I asked her if this had something to do with the fact that she’s recorded with the producer, Josh Schuberth, several times now. (You’ll have to watch or listen to the interview to find out what she says.)This is a story about the power of music in so many ways – both for Woodhouse and for the audience, in that we can receive these stories in song and take them into our own lives. No doubt ‘Pills’ will have a great impact on many people who hear it, and so will Woodhouse’s story. Listen to ‘Pills’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Pills’ on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sally Jane is an emerging country music artist from Serpentine in Western Australia who started singing in early childhood – often in paddocks, as she told me in this interview! – and who has already played in many venues and around the country. Indeed, she has crossed the Nullarbor Plain eleven times to play the east coast of Australia.  Last year Sally released two singles, one of which was ‘Bombs & Bullets’, written and recorded with Luke O’Shea. The song is about the military, and I asked Sally about this. Her father was in the Royal Australian Navy for over two decades, and that has influenced Sally’s interest in telling stories about the military. (She said he is now her ‘dadager’ – and she means this lovingly!) The song was written at the Dag Sheep Station in Nundle, NSW – one of many great songs that have emerged from the songwriting retreat held there – and her attendance there has a special story attached, which she tells me in the interview.  This year Sally Jane has released a new single, ‘Two Feet’. The song is about her as a young adult learning to stand on her own two feet. She has very supportive parents, as she tells me, but also wants to be able to do things for herself and figure out how to make her way in the world. While she certainly seems more than capable, I appreciated her perspective on what it’s like to be a young person today. A big part of making her way in the world is making her way with her music, and as she has already released some lovely songs and is dedicated to continuing to improve her craft, play more, connect with more people, there are no doubt other great stories to come. I had a lovely time chatting to Sally Jane – she’s one of those young people who make you believe that humanity is in good hands.   Listen to Sally Jane on Apple Music  Listen to Sally Jane on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest single from Central Coast NSW artist Jasmine Sparkes is ‘Sparkes Road’ – based on a real Sparks Road that she travels often, the spelling has been altered slightly to reflect the metaphorical and literal journey Sparkes has taken through her musical life, which began with learning piano in childhood and takes in classical training and musical theatre. Growing up on the land, and still passionate about living in the country today, Sparkes balances her live schedule – travelling to and from her home, down country roads – with her burgeoning songwriting and recording activities. ‘Sparkes Road’ is her third song, following ‘Country to Coast’ and ‘6 Dinners’.In this wide-ranging conversation we cover not only the songs but Sparkes’s interesting and unusual upbringing – her late father was the Australian radio presenter and television personality Ken Sparkes, and Jasmine spent time at the Channel Nine TV studios while growing up. Her father gave her a wholistic perspective on music, she says, and he would appreciate her being a country music artist, since that genre focuses on storytelling. We also talk about the different facets of her live shows, which include her in-demand country covers band. Being an entertainer, Sparkes says, is about keeping people happy, and she clearly loves her work. Increasingly Sparkes plans to balance the original music with the covers, so the three singles are just the start – and it was great to find out about everything that has taken her down Sparkes Road. Listen to ‘Sparkes Road’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Sparkes Road’ on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corey Colum emerged into the Australian country music scene in 2009, when he won the Telstra Road to Tamworth competition. He released his debut self-titled album in 2012 – and then we didn’t hear from him for a good long while. Colum didn’t step away from music so much as releasing music. He’s still been very much playing, and writing. But he also had some other – rather important – things to do like raising a family, and just living life. Colum has a variety of skills in addition to his musical prowess – he’s worked as a truck driver and machine operator, and he’s also a plumber. So while he hasn’t been idle, he’s also looked for the balance in life that has seen him move to Onslow in Western Australia, and it’s this place that inspired his latest single, ‘Get Livin’’ from his second album, Patience, which is out now.Patience is a portrait of a balanced, interesting life, and includes the song ‘Reasons’, written with Drew McAlister, as well as the title track, which probably speaks for itself! The songs on the album are in the country-rock genre and while they’re the sorts of songs you could cheerfully play at a summer barbecue, they’re also worth a closer listen as Colum gives us those pointers towards how we can, well, get livin’. It’s easy to hear in Colum’s voice on these tracks that he is right where he wants to be, and that also makes for easy listening.Listen to Patience on Apple Music      Listen to Patience on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s fair to say that Lyn Bowtell is a doyenne of Australian music, and not only because she’s the director of the Academy of Country Music, overseeing the Junior Academy each July and Senior Academy each January and everything in between – although that would be qualification enough. So it is that but it is also this: she has this glorious voice that can prompt tears and break hearts in one phrase, and she writes these songs that speak straight to whomever is listening, and when she delivers the lyrics in that glorious voice they’re somehow more devastating or more uplifting or whatever her intention is, they are more. She’s also a wonderful multi-instrumentalist. And she’s funny on stage, to the point of bending an audience member double with laughter. There is no one like her, which is another reason for that doyenne status.Thus there is no one better qualified than Bowtell, really, to be in charge of her own music – that is, to be the producer of her own songs. So it’s past high time that she took charge of an album, and she has done that with her latest, Paper Cuts, which she produced with her partner and collaborator Damon Morton. In our latest interview we talk about why she hasn’t produced before and what the experience was like. We also talk about some of the songs on the album, especially the latest single, ‘Scene of the Crime’, which is about violence directed at Bowtell and is also her way of working through it. If I tell you that I saw her play it live several weeks before it was released and she cried, and the audience cried with her, then we gave her a standing ovation, you’ll have a sense of the power of that song. But all of Bowtell’s songs are powerful because they come from this place of deep musicality and pure connection. It is a joy to have a new album from her, and also to speak to her about it. And she is really something live, so do try to catch one of her shows if you can – you’ll find them here and also below. Listen to Paper Cuts on Apple Musichttps://apple.co/42JwYLfListen to Paper Cuts on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/album/5SLdYH1fi3ij8iRwes9dmK?si=jF5j7vIBTyK6SWkNqR0E9wLYN BOWTELL TOUR DATES 2025Friday, October 24: Mantra - Yarraville, VictoriaSaturday, October 25: Noojee Hotel, Noojee, VictoriaSunday, October 26: The Shed Theatre @ The Pig & Whistle, Main Ridge, VictoriaSaturday, November 1: Trinity Sessions, Clarence Park, South AustraliaSunday, November 2: Walloway Farm, Walloway South AustraliaFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During this interview with Tamworth-based country music artist Aleyce Simmonds you’ll occasionally hear her talking to her young daughter, Georgia, who was nearby during the chat, and, towards the end, her husband. I could have edited out these lines, but for what reason? To pretend that Simmonds wasn’t at home, doing the interview near her garden, with the setting sun and birds nearby and her beloved child at her feet? This is life – it is her life – and she has gone through great challenges to build it. Her experiences, her triumphs, her grief, her determination, all go into her artistry as well as into that life. So it was a fitting context for our conversation about the twentieth-anniversary release of her hit single ‘Mighty Mighty Love’.Simmonds has rerecorded this track, which 20 years ago became the most played country song on commercial radio in Australian history and changed her life forever by opening up opportunities to the young artist she then was. We talk about what happened at that time, and what’s happened since, and about the new recording. We also talk about her involvement with the Academy of Country Music, where she’s been an integral part of the Junior course for several years. At her Tamworth Country Music Festival show on 18 January at the Tamworth Hotel, Junior Course students that she mentored in July this year will open the show. Five dollars from every ticket to her Tamworth Country Music Festival show will be donated to CanAssist, and we talk about why she has chosen CanAssist.‘Mighty Mighty Love’ is the title of Simmonds’s song but it could also be a statement about how she lives – fully immersed, not shying away from emotions even when they’re hard, and open hearted. You can hear all of that in the recording and also in this interview. Tickets for Aleyce Simmonds at TCMF can be bought here.Listen to ‘Mighty Mighty Love’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Mighty Mighty Love’ on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first time I interviewed Sydney singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Michael Carpenter, I found out how he organises his time so well (hint: it’s a simple to-do list and actually remembering to look at it), although I also think he marries that organisation with a sense of living in constant creative flow. The output of his own music, whether that’s solo, with The April Family or with the Banks Brothers (with whom he’s won several Golden Guitars), would be enough to keep him occupied year round, but he also fits in production for many other artists. He has also this year released a new solo album, The Start of Being.The last time Carpenter released a solo album it was in 2016, and the genre was power pop (in which he is a specialist). He thought he wouldn’t release solo music again, so part of our conversation in this recent interview is about why that changed and also how his music has changed. Because he’s been so involved with country music for the past decade, in his musical projects and as a producer, it’s influenced the solo work – although the power pop is still there, and we have a brief digression into Canadian East Coast power pop, of which I’m also a fan.If I were to stand back from Carpenter’s work and try to offer one focused perspective on it, I’d say that he leads with his heart then applies his brain and the skills therein to expressing what’s in that heart. In other words: if he doesn’t feel it, he doesn’t do it. It’s the feeling that imbues his songs with an irresistible warmth, and his singing voice is part of that. It’s well suited to pop and also offers something different to country, and above all it delivers the melodies that he’s so very good at writing.As ever, he’s a very interesting man to chat to and I hope you enjoy our conversation.Listen to The Start of Being on Apple Music   Listen to The Start of Being on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many musical artists immerse themselves in their work, embracing many facets of it, sometimes as singing or instrument teachers, or writing songs for other artists to perform, making videos or producing. Victorian artist Hazel – who performs with her band, The Thief – runs a popular venue, The Pig & Whistle in Main Ridge, scheduling more than 100 shows a year, which in and of itself would be enough to keep her quite occupied! So she is a vital part of the live music community in Victoria and, by extension, Australia. While looking after that side of her musical life, she has also studied music, and is writing, recording and performing her own songs. This year she also attended the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth. Hazel recently released her debut album, Wildflowers in Concrete. Produced by Matt Fell, it has themes of a love of nature, figuring out how to be with others, a strong sense of community, care and regard for others. While these are Hazel’s stories, they have much to offer others, and while this is her debut album, it is the work of a developed artist who has a clear sense of the stories she wants to tell. This has no doubt come about because she has found herself in challenging situations, which she talks about in this interview, and music has been her way of navigating through and past them. For many people who not only create but love music as listeners, this is a reminder of the power even one song has to provide reassurance or refuge, to motivate and inspire. Hazel is herself inspiring, and I hope you enjoy listening to or watching this interview with her. Listen to Wildflowers in Concrete on Apple MusicListen to Wildflowers in Concrete on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

‘Everything is a song. Life is a song. Books are a song.’ That’s what Victoria-born Queensland resident Kaitlyn Thomas told me when I asked about her songwriting process in our recent chat about her latest single, ‘Mississippi Lies’, which she recorded with in-demand Gold Coast producer Jared Adlam. Thomas was talking about how she’d had the title of the song in a songbook for a while and brought it to life with other songwriters at a SHE Songwriting Retreat run by Lyn Bowtell. And to find out more about the song you’ll need to watch/listen to the interview!Our conversation didn’t start where I’d planned as when Thomas appeared on screen I could see guitars and boots behind her, so I started to ask about those. (She has a boot sponsor who is mentioned – there was no other way for her to explain how she came to have those turquoise boots! – but this is not a sponsored post.) That led to us talking about costume and guitar selection, so there’s a bit of that before we get into what Thomas has been up to this year, which includes being a Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist and a finalist in the Gympie Muster Mothertone Talent Search.Thomas is always vivacious and candid in our interviews. She’s been releasing music since she was child – and went to the Junior Academy of Country Music before later attending Senior Academy – so music is very much part of her fibre. And so is fun, in that she clearly loves what she does and makes the most of it. She takes the work seriously and herself not so much. That makes for easy conversation with depth, and that’s what you’ll find in this interview.Listen to ‘Mississippi Lies’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Mississippi Lies’ on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While I enjoy interviewing artists for the second, third or fourth (sometimes more!) time, it’s always lovely to meet someone new and find out about their life in music. Emily Joy is a country-pop artist from Western Australia whom I knew had studied music extensively, but there’s only so much you can glean from research online – which is at least one of the reasons why it’s good to have these in-depth chats. In this interview, which was prompted by the release of her latest single ‘Give Me a Shot or Two’, Joy talks about how she played violin from the age of a seven and lasted a decade with it even though, as she said, she ‘made the violin cry’! But that early training stood her in great stead as she learnt to sing then picked up guitar.  What followed was time studying at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts), Berklee College of Music and the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth. She released her first single, ‘Barricade’, in 2016 then a self-titled EP in 2016.  A change in her circumstances – namely, the end of a relationship which also meant losing her guitarist and business partner – saw her taking a break from music and then, as she told me, feeling anxious about releasing music again. She kept writing, though, which means she has songs in the bank. And last year Joy released her first new music in eight years, the single ‘A Little Part of Me’. This year she has returned with ‘Give Me a Shot or Two’, a song about taking a shot at love. And while the song can more than speak for itself, Joy has also undertaken some audacious activities in support of it, including playing at traffic lights in between them turning red and going green! So of course I had to ask her about that. Joy is still young but she has the steadiness that comes from an artist who has spent time finding out who they are and what they want to convey. It was great to get to know her in this interview and I hope you enjoy it too.  Listen to Emily Joy on Apple MusicListen to Emily Joy on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early on in my interview with award-winning, chart-topping country music artist Kaylee Bell, I discovered that she has a background in sport – this was not something I’d found in my research but I always like exploring this angle when it comes up with musical artists because to me, at least, there are commonalities in both pursuits. Both require an understanding that most of one’s time will be spent in preparation: practising, practising, practising for the moments of performance (sporting competitions are also performances in their own way, as are recording sessions). That in turn implies a tolerance for the mundane things that go into playing sport or being a musical artist – the admin of it all, whether that’s getting to a sports ground or concert venue, warming up, setting up, packing down. And it also means being prepared to chase something that is elusive, whether it’s a goal, a victory, audience response or a hit song. Seen in that context, it is no surprise that Bell – who grew up in Aotearoa New Zealand and spent several years in Australia – has been so successful, because she essentially has been and keeps training to be the best she can be in her chosen endeavour. That absolutely does not mean, however, that the success she has built on with release after release, tour after tour, is a foregone conclusion. She can have all the talent in the world and apply herself diligently to making something of it, but so often there needs to be a little bit of magic. The magic comes from being prepared to embrace the frailty and joy of being human, and in the case of a musical artist, also being prepared to offer that back to the audience. Bell has had great triumphs, such as winning the 2023 Global Artist Of The Year at the CMA Awards in Nashville, and great challenges, with her health in particular, including during her recent pregnancy. Frailty and joy is in ‘Heartbeat’, the final track of her new album, Cowboy Up, and they’re both there to find in the seven other tracks on this impressive, memorable album. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to her about the album and hope you enjoy listening to or watching the interview. Kaylee Bell will be performing at Tailem Bend Classic and Strummingbird Festival in Australia at the end of this month, then touring New Zealand. Details at: https://kayleebellmusic.com/pages/tourCowboy Up is out now through Sony Music Australia.Listen to Cowboy Up on Apple MusicListen to Cowboy Up on SpotifyFor more Sunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite Substack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.