NB: This is the script for a podcast episode – links to the songs mentioned are embedded in the text. If you’d like to hear this as a podcast episode that includes the songs, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hello and welcome to a new addition to the Sunburnt Country Music enterprise.
I’m always trying to think of ways to support Australian country music artists. I’ve been doing new releases playlists for a while, and I’ve decided to expand the podcast scope to include episodes that cover new releases. This has come about because thanks to my newly acquired APRA licence I can actually play some tracks. Now, the terms of that licence mean I can’t have more than 80% music so you are going to hear me talk here and there, but the focus of this new releases podcast episode is the music. I hope to do these new releases podcasts on a weekly basis but we’ll see how that goes.
There will still be a new releases playlist. I started releasing it monthly in the waning part of 2024 and it will still be a monthly playlist but I plan to add to it as songs are released each week. So you can keep an eye on my Spotify and YouTube channels for that.
So that’s the rationale for what this is. Now let’s get to the music, which is the reason for being here.
Lyn Bowtell – ‘Paper Cut’
And I’d like to start with a national treasure: Lyn Bowtell. Ten-time GG winner Lyn is the Director of the Academy of Country Music and she is also an incredibly generous and supportive member of the Australian country music community. First and foremost, though, she is a dynamite singer. Lyn’s voice is glorious, both live and recorded. Any time she releases new music is a great day, and she has a new single, ‘Paper Cut’. The inspiration for the song came after Lyn got an actual paper cut and she has said: ‘When it happened, I thought to myself, “It won’t kill me; it’s just a paper cut,” then that thought suggested a connection with my experiences of relationship breakdowns,’ Lyn explained.
‘The sense of loss when a relationship ends, whether it be creative, friendship or romantic, can linger. Sometimes, even a small reminder brings the pain back. It’s as much a heart wound, as it is a physical one. It was one of those quick song writes that are a blessing: that arrive swiftly, almost fully formed.’
Kasey Chambers sings harmonies on the track but the really exciting news for me is that Lyn has produced this song – and her upcoming album - alongside her partner, Damon Morton. And if you’ve been to one of Lyn’s gigs you’ll have likely seen Damon doing sound.
So here is Lyn Bowtell with ‘Paper Cut’.
Kasey Chambers ft Shane Nicholson – ‘The Divorce Song’
As I mentioned, Kasey Chambers sang harmonies on that song and she has a new single of her own and it features her ex-husband Shane Nicholson, with whom she released two fantastic albums, Rattlin’ Bones and Wreck & Ruin. The song is from Kasey’s 13th studio album, Backbone, and it’s called ‘The Divorce Song’. Listening to the song, it’s safe to say the old musical magic between these two is still there and, as the chorus says, they do divorce pretty good.
Kasey’s 30-date national tour kicks off this Thursday, 23 January, at Tamworth Town Hall.
Jenny Mitchell - ‘Square & Plain’
Supporting Kasey on this national tour is Jenny Mitchell, an outstanding artist from Aotearoa New Zealand. Jenny has appeared with multiple GG and ARIA winner Fanny Lumsden on a previous tour. I recently saw Jenny perform at The 5 Spot in Nashville as part of the Aussie BBQ. The first time I saw her perform was at a Cake & Cordial session as part of Tamworth Country Music Festival. She is a really compelling live performer and her songs are these lovely jewels of stories that are delivered in her exceptional tone. Her latest single is ‘Square & Plain’. She says of the song that ‘it’s about the realisation that the person you’ve been betting on doesn’t feel the same’.
Jenny will be playing a solo show at Metro Social in Sydney on the evening of Wednesday 29 January. She’ll also be at Port Fairy Folk Festival in Victoria in March.
The music video was made by Wellington-based Nikki Parlane.
Aleyce Simmonds – ‘Things I’ve Learned’
Another song to mention is ‘Things I’ve Learned’ by Tamworth resident Aleyce Simmonds. The song was inspired by Aleyce’s infant daughter, Georgia, and written while Aleyce was pregnant.
Aleyce has said of writing the song: ‘The words just fell out of me. At the time, I wasn’t feeling well, and I kept reflecting on all the roads that led me to where I was. It’s surreal to think that without the hard times, I wouldn’t have Georgia - this beautiful baby.’
Aleyce’s vocal in this song is really affecting – we connect with it straightaway – and she is going for big themes: pain, heartbreak, and resilience. A singer always needs to be in a certain place to handle that sort of material confidently, so that the listener can go through the experience with them, and Aleyce takes us there. That’s likely because part of what’s in the song is hope or, as Aleyce says, ‘Those little pockets of light that you need to hold onto to get a bigger piece of light which, for me, was Georgia.’
The song was produced by Simon Johnson at Hillbilly Hut.
Wade Forster with Max Jackson – ‘Denim’
Also out in the past few days is another duet, this time between last year’s Toyota Star Maker winner Wade Forster and the 2022 winner, Max Jackson. The song is called ‘Denim’ and it too was produced by Simon Johnson.
Says Wade of the song: ‘I had a lot of fun writing this song. Max has been a huge inspiration to me since meeting her in 2023. It was great to write together with the added view that we are both Star Maker winners which made good synergy.’
Max says: ‘I’m really proud to be a part of this one with my favourite cowboy, Wade Forster. Wade and I hit it off from the moment we met, I was drawn in by his big smile, big heart, and his authenticity … I love that a true friendship and respect for each other has turned into ‘Denim”.’
The song is taken from Wade’s new EP The Drifter. Both of these artists are charismatic performers and that comes across in this tale of a blossoming romance. The video was made by the in-demand Jeremy Minett who also happens to be Max’s husband.
Piper Rodrigues – ‘Heartbrakes’
The last release to mention for this episode is ‘Heartbrakes’ by Queensland artist Piper Rodrigues. The song was co-written with the dynamic Melanie Dyer, Tyla Rodrigues, and Jared Adlam. Piper will perform at Meatstock in Toowoomba in March this year. Piper is a great artist with a distinctive sound and, as she revealed the last time we did an interview, she loves spreadsheets!
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