Songversations Podcast

Episode 65: Sam Hawksley

Our guest today is Sam Hawksley. Sam is an Australian born singer-songwriter now based in Nashville, TN, that loves music, loves writing it, performing it, and producing it. Sam originally went to Nashville to perform and tour with Adam Brand and after coming back to Australia to perform in Tamworth, and act as musical director for the Toyota Star Maker final and grand final he decided to take the challenge and moved to Nashville. He has recorded 8 albums of his own material in between p...

Episode 64: Elisha Francesca

Our guest today is Elisha Francesca. Elisha is an honest singer-songwriter and musician currently based in Melbourne, Australia, considered one of Australia's most promising singer-songwriters. While in the U.S from 2015 onwards she had many opportunities to perform on stage at B.B Kings Blues Club in Memphis or the jazz club Bamboulas in New Orleans, leading Christian churches/conferences in praise and worship across California and supporting Christian artists such as Jadon Lavik and Bi...

Episode 63: Camille Trail

Our guest today is Camille Trail. Camille was introduced to the joy of music at an early age. She learned piano from the age of 8 and was soon writing her own songs. After high school, she committed to her musical ambitions and studied songwriting at the JMC Academy in Brisbane. While attending the Academy Camille would study by day and play as many gigs as possible at night – honing her craft, testing her songs on audiences, and finding a community of peers while writing the songs on...

Episode 62: Angus Gill

Our guest today is Angus Gill Angus is an Australian singer-songwriter, comedian, and producer. Gill was named the Male Rising Star at the 22nd Australian Independent Country Music Awards. In November 2019, Gill became one of the youngest Australian artists to debut on the 'Grand Ole Opry' in Nashville. Gill received a scholarship to attend the CMAA Academy of Country Music in Tamworth in 2012 and released his debut EP Livewire in 2014. On 15 September 2017, he released his self-produc...

Episode 61: Kristy Cox

Our guest for this episode of Songversations Podcast is Kristy Cox 4x Bluegrass Recording of the Year Golden Guitar winner, Australian native now living in the USA. From a young age, Kristy has captured attention with her distinct singing style and positive outlook, seeing her go on to open shows for major acts and appearing on Television and major Festivals across Australia, Europe, and the USA. Adored for her youthful, energy-infused bluegrass, Kristy Cox has been awarded radio s...

Episode 60: Raymond Hayden

Our Guest today is Raymond Hayden, a fixture of the Pacific Northwest music community with a resume as extensive and diverse that reaches into just about every corner of the music industry, and spans over thirty-five years and two continents. Hayden's career as a touring musician began at age 9, traveling in a drum and bugle corps around the US. West Coast and Canada. In 1986, he began playing keyboards in his first rock band, while serving in the U.S. Army in Mannheim, West Germany. I...

Episode 59: Felicity Urquhart

Our guest today is Felicity Urquhart With 13 Golden Guitars Awards, 7 studio albums, and 2 ARIA nominations, Felicity has long been one of the best-loved and most decorated singer-songwriters in Australian music. In a career encompassing seven studio albums, two EPs, and countless sold-out headlining shows and capacity festival appearances. Felicity’s Golden Guitar Award tally now sits at thirteen. Her seventh solo studio album 'Frozen rabbit', collected 5 GG’s at the 2019 CMAA’s and wa...

Episode 58: Jayne Denham

Our guest today is Jayne Denham. Three-time Golden Guitar nominee, Jayne Denham is one of Australia's most admired and sought-after country-rock performers. Her impressive energetic live shows have earned her countless opportunities to perform for VIP crowds at Keith Urban's Sydney shows in conjunction with appearing as a featured artist at all of the major Australian country music festivals including CMC Rocks, Deni Ute Muster, Gympie Music Muster, and the Tamworth Country Music Festival...

Episode 57: Andy Penkow

Our guest today is Andy Penkow. Andy Penkow is an award-winning alternative Country Singer-Songwriter with a unique sound and powerful voice. Studying music at JMC Academy, Andy completed an advanced diploma in popular music and performance. He was a member of the SBS Choir and a regular member of the southern school's regional performing ensemble.  In 2001 he appeared on the Australian Television show Pop Stars making it to the top 20.  Andy’s debut album Sad Love Songs was recor...

Episode 56: Mitch Dean

Our guest today on Songversations Podcast is Mitch Dean. Mitch is an independent singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia that started his musical journey with acoustic guitar sessions with his dad, in the shed of their Mornington Peninsula home. That experience piqued his curiosity and led to the realization that he could write and primitively record his own early attempts at songwriting. From there the world opened up as Mitch dove headfirst into the heady rush of rock ’n’ roll, init...

Episode 55: Michelle Little

Our guest today is Michelle Little. Originally from the Central West of NSW, Michelle has been performing for over 25 years. The artist who is influenced by the likes of Patsy Cline and Loretta Lyn has graced stages from the Sydney Opera House to The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. The singing-songwriting schoolteacher now lives in Sydney’s Inner West, where her love of country music – influenced and nurtured by her parents - continues to be at the heart of Michelle’s albums. “Hear Me Now”...

Episode 54: Matt Joe Gow

Our guest today is Matt Joe Gow. Born in New Zealand in what is known colloquially as the “deep south”, Matt was encouraged to pick up a guitar at an early age. After traveling the world, Matt moved to Melbourne, Australia, drawn by its culture and vibrant music scene. He formed a band, The Dead Leaves, and in 2009 released his debut record ‘The Messenger’, produced and recorded by multi-Aria award-winner Nash Chambers at the legendary Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne and released on Libera...

Episode 53: Georgia State Line

Our guest today is the Australian singer/songwriter Georgia Delves. The stage moniker of Georgia Delves, Georgia State Line blends both vintage and contemporary sounds to craft songs steeped in Tennessee sunsets. Honest, agile, and refreshingly self-assured, Georgia State Line’s unique brand of country-infused melancholy yields music that’s equal parts heartsick and hopeful. Born and raised in the regional Victorian town of Bendigo on a balanced diet of guitar, voice and classical viol...

Episode 52: Eagle & The Wolf

Our guest for this episode is the duo ‘Eagle & The Wolf”. Symbiosis, that innate interaction between two people that results in creative sparks, new life, and artistic reward, is at the core of the personal and artistic relationship that Sarah Humphreys & Kristen Lee Morris have formed and nurtured together. In life as in music they’ve trodden their own successful paths, but together – that’s where a unique type of magic happens. Individually, Morris has made his mark with his solo albums ...

Episode 51: Michael Waugh

Our guest today on Songversations Podcast is Michael Waugh. Michael is an Australian songwriter’s songwriter, a compelling live performer, and an extraordinary storyteller. Among his admirers are the legendary Eric Bogle, alt. country luminary Shane Nicholson and country hitmakers The Wolfe Bros. His 2019 album The Weir received two Golden Guitar nominations in 2020 - Male Artist of the Year and Alt-Country Album of the Year – as well as a nomination at the 2020 Victorian Music Awards. ...

Episode 50: The New Graces

Our Guest for this episode is the trio 'The New Graces' The New Graces have stormed the Australian music scene, with their album “Seasons” peaking at #1 on the ARIA Australian Country Album Chart, plus 4 Golden Guitar nominations at the 2021 Country Music Awards of Australia. Melanie Horsnell, Kate Burke, and Robyn Martin are all seasoned musicians in their own right. Songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, their music is flavored with guitar, double bass, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and th...

Episode 49: Courtney Keil

Our guest today on Songversations Podcast is Courtney Keil. Courtney is becoming one of the most exciting talents in Australian country music. Born on a working deer farm in the Adelaide Hills and now living in Melbourne Courtney Keil graduated from CMAA Senior Academy of Country Music in 2016. She has been vocally trained by Lyn Bowtell (9x Golden Guitar Winner) and Renee Grant-Williams (Keith Urban/Garth Brooks) and was the recipient of multiple awards at the 2016 Australian Songwriters...

Episode 48: Lucie Tiger

Our Guest for this episode of Songversations is Lucie Tiger. Born and raised in the Sydney region, country life on horseback became a notable part of what has formed her identity thus far. Her life as a roving musician has taken her across multiple states of the USA, playing her music and also pursuing the talents of some of the best people and studios in the business to assist her in recording her songs. Lucie possesses something of a magnetic quality in both her music and personal cha...

Episode 47: Shane Nicholson

Our guest for this episode is Shane Nicholson, multi Golden Guitar winner, widely regarded as a major player in the Alternative Country field in Australia but also in the USA, having been nominated multiple times at the Americana Music Awards in Nashville. Shane has explored everything from folk to country, bluegrass, and rock, picking up 12 Golden Guitars, APRA, and ARIA Awards along the way and has established himself as one of the country’s most in-demand record producers for other r...

Episode 46: Riley Catherall

Our guest today on Songversations Podcast is Riley Catherall Riley Catherall is an Americana influenced Singer-Songwriter based in Melbourne whose graceful trajectory into the Australian Alt-Country Music world has not gone unnoticed. Working with some of the industry's finest (Bill and Kasey Chambers) for his first EP, Venture In Vain, Riley has built a credible status as one of the country’s most promising songwriters. Riley appeared at the Maverick Americana Festival in Suffolk, the ...

Episode 45: Montgomery Church

Cielle Montgomery and James Church are Montgomery Church - a blend of acoustic folk, Americana, and bluegrass influences, grown and distilled in the Snowy Mountain ranges of NSW. With their organic union of dobro, guitar, and harmony vocals, this captivating duo is breaking ground in the contemporary folk-country music scene through the masterful control of their instruments, inspired songwriting, and magnetic live performances. They have toured far and wide and graced the stages of ma...

Episode 44: Ben Ransom

Our guest today is Ben Ransom Born and raised in Sydney, Ben Ransom, started playing guitar and writing songs at the age of fifteen. Growing up, he was constantly exposed to a broad range of music that strongly influences his own original writing style. It has allowed Ben to draw the listener in on many different levels and connect in a more personal way. In 1999, Ben left Australia to spend time in Europe, essentially to hone his skills and develop his musical style. He cut his teeth ...

Episode 43 - Melody Moko

Our guest today is Melody Moko. Melody is one of emergent stars of Australian Country Music and one of those artists whose style is a natural and heartfelt extension of her personality and perspective on life. Her heroes and contemporaries include Brandi Carlile, Tift Merritt, Kathleen Edwards, Fanny Lumsden, and Brooke Fraser. Growing up with a father who was a passionate and encouraging music enthusiast, Melody knew early on that she “wanted to sing like Linda Ronstadt, and write songs...

Episode 42: Gareth Leach

Our guest today on Songversations Podcast is Gareth Leach. Gareth is at the forefront of contemporary country music in Australia. He’s a performer and songwriter who understands and respects the tradition, whilst giving it a contemporary edge. Raised on the muddy banks of Echuca’s Murray River, songwriter Gareth Leach draws inspiration from the introspective and reflective lyrical concepts of his outlaw heroes, tinged with guitar-riff driven hooks that have remained in his blood since he was...

Episode 41: Catherine Britt

Our guest today is Catherine Britt. Catherine come through in our Sonversasion in many ways but above all as someone deeply in love with music in all its faces, an incredibly talented and prolific singer/songwriter, a cancer survivor, a real power of nature, strong, resilient and determined. But also a vulnerable and down to earth woman, that acknowledges and takes responsability of her choices, decisions, and life experiences as part of her journey. Over the course of her career, Catherin...

Episode 40: Justin Ross

Today Songversations Podcast is landing in Texas to have a chat with Justin Ross. Fort Worth Texas Native, Justin Ross is a delectable hybrid of Rock, Soul, Roots, Blues, Swamp Rock, Texas Music, and much more. Ross started his career at age 6 when his mother (Molly Jo) started teaching Ross how to sing. Soon after Ross started playing guitar, and the rest is history. Working every day to be a better performer and musician, Ross challenges himself every time he plays and always tries t...

Episode 39: Vixens Of Fall

Our guests today are the Vixens of Fall. Queensland Music Award finalists Vixens of Fall as an Australian trio of singing sisters. They started their professional singing career in 2016 at the Urban Country Music Festival and have since made an indelible impact on the Australian Country Music scene, with regular appearances at the Gympie Music Muster and the Tamworth Country Music Festival. They have been touted by some Country Music industry insiders as the freshest, most exciting act t...

Episode 38: Jessica Lynne Witty

Our guest today is Jessica Lynne Whitty.Jessica Lynne is a Nashville recording artist, born in Denmark, that at the age of thirty, betting on herself and her love for country music, moved to America to follow her dreams. Once settled in Tacoma, Washington State, Jessica wasted no time adjusting to Seattle’s musical landscape. With her impressive vocal skill, warm personality, and a rare gift for writing songs that are both catchy and honest, she became an instant favorite with Seattle’s...

Episode 37: Kora Naughton

Our guest today is Kora Naughton. At just 19 years of age - Kora Naughton - is proving herself as an artist with drive and determination. In 2015, she was forced to give up her passion of cheerleading and was during this time that she turned to music. Kora taught herself to play guitar, write songs and sing. This gave her the freedom to channel her emotions through music. In January 2017, Kora attended her first Tamworth Country Music Festival and from that moment she found a new passi...

Episode 036: Drew McAlister

Our guest for this episode of Songversations Podcast is Drew Mcalister. Drew needs little introduction to those who love the Australian Country Music scene. A firm feature of the last generation of singer-songwriters, Drew’s career has been prolific. A loving father of two and a much-adored, heartfelt friend to his fans, he is something of an icon of his time. His catalog includes five number one hit singles on the Country Music Chart as well as an Aria Award nomination, 4 Golden Guitar Aw...

Episode 035: The Weeping Willows

For this episode of Songversations Podcast I had the great pleasure to interview Andrew, an old friend that I met the first time 16 years ago in Italy, and his wife Laura. 2021 CMAA ‘Golden Guitar’ award winners, The Weeping Willows (Laura Coates and Andrew Wrigglesworth) are a couple of old souls, steeped in Bluegrass tradition and draped in Gothic Americana imagery. 2017-2020 saw The Weeping Willows nominated for 8 x CMAA ‘Golden Guitar’ awards, 4 x Country Music Channel (CMC) awards, ...

Episode 34 : Brittany Elise

Our guest for this episode of Songversations is Brittany Elise, a vibrant powerhouse singer-songwriter, that has already had many successes in 2021 with the release of new music. Find Your Music continually echoed round the summer airwaves, having remained in The Music Network Australian Country Hot 50 Chart for 3.5 months, peaking at #16. The track, debuted on the iTunes charts at #4, received full rotation on Country Music Television (CMT) and regular airplay on radio across the country. ...

Episode 034 : Brittany Elise

Our guest for this episode of Songversations is Brittany Elise, a vibrant powerhouse singer-songwriter, that has already had many successes in 2021 with the release of new music. Find Your Music continually echoed round the summer airwaves, having remained in The Music Network Australian Country Hot 50 Chart for 3.5 months, peaking at #16. The track, debuted on the iTunes charts at #4, received full rotation on Country Music Television (CMT) and regular airplay on radio across the country. ...

Episode 33: Katrina Burgoyne

Our guest for the latest episode of Songversations Podcast is Katrine Burgoyne. With a goal to become the first Australian female artist to make an impact on American Country Music in the last three decades. Katrina Burgoyne, following the footsteps of Keith Urban and Morgan Evans, took a massive leap of faith and flew to Nashville, USA. With just a suitcase, a guitar, and her little Aussie battler spirit. After releasing her debut album in 2011, Katrina has secured four top 10 singles, ...

Episode 033: Katrina Burgoyne

Our guest for the latest episode of Songversations Podcast is Katrine Burgoyne. With a goal to become the first Australian female artist to make an impact on American Country Music in the last three decades. Katrina Burgoyne, following the footsteps of Keith Urban and Morgan Evans, took a massive leap of faith and flew to Nashville, USA. With just a suitcase, a guitar, and her little Aussie battler spirit. After releasing her debut album in 2011, Katrina has secured four top 10 singles, ...

Episode 032: Kim Cheshire

Our guest today is a royalty of Australian Country Legend. Hailed as an Australian country music legend Cheshire is already receiving praise for his latest release for its authenticity and genuine candour. At the tender age of 69, Cheshire has been a songwriter since 1966, when he was inspired by the great British pop music explosion of the 60’s along with the influx of American rhythm & blues to pen songs for his school band. In 1971 he went pro with his band Nimbus, sharing the bill wi...

Episode 32: Kim Cheshire

Our guest today is a royalty of Australian Country Legend. Hailed as an Australian country music legend Cheshire is already receiving praise for his latest release for its authenticity and genuine candour. At the tender age of 69, Cheshire has been a songwriter since 1966, when he was inspired by the great British pop music explosion of the 60’s along with the influx of American rhythm & blues to pen songs for his school band. In 1971 he went pro with his band Nimbus, sharing the bill wi...

Episode 031: Darlinghurst

Darlinghurst, composed by artists Jason Resch, Pagan Newman, Cassie Leopold, and Matt Darvidis is a new Melbourne based country group that’s redefining Australian contemporary country music. Darlinghurst’s music is certainly proving to be infectious and with five from Top 5 Country Hot 50 chart positions to date, including three #1’s, their debut single ‘Sorry Won’t Get You Back’, ‘Gotta Go Rodeo’ and the recent ‘Where Do We Go’. Darlinghurst were nominated for 'New Talent of the Year' a...

Episode 030: Roxanne Kiely & Stephen Kiely

Our guests today are Roxanne Kiely and Steven Kiely. Our guests for this episode are Roxanne Kiely and Stephen Kiely.  Roxanne, vocal coach, songwriter, mentor, and poetry and children’s stories writer, is the director of the ever-expanding music school ScoopFX Music. Roxanne's artistic practice focuses on nurturing emerging Australian talent and strongly emphasizes mentoring and developing the talents of younger artists, and her talent is demonstrated through the success of the stellar...

Episode 029: Teak Powell

Episode 028: Storm & Stone

Our guests today are the group Storm & Stone. Storm & Stone is not your average family band. The three siblings (Auriel, August & Hallelujah) came from humble beginnings in the Blue Mountains. Their parents were teenage sweethearts and were really the backbone of their start in music, something that was always a part of the family life. Raised on Dolly Parton and Led Zeppelin, instruments were always left around the home for anyone to play. The girls during to Europe met fellow music...

Episode 027: Sharna Burcher

Our guest today is Sharna Burcher. From wanting to be Suzi Quattro when she was a child, Burcher has grown into an artist whose music is influenced by Slim Dusty to Loretta Lynn to Tammy Wynette and, more recently, Kasey Chambers and US folk singer Lori McKenna. It was her musician father who gave her the inspiration to take the stage for the first time, though, when Sharna was just five years old, at his wedding where she sang the Slim Dusty classic, Duncan. This soon grew into spending...

Episode 026: Gretta Ziller

Gretta Ziller is our guest for this episode of Songversations, one of the most appreciated songwriters by many of her peers in the industry, I loved this real and honest Songversation. Gretta isn’t just a one-trick pony, If you’ve been foolish enough to think you’ve nailed down her sound then prepare to have the rug pulled out from under you. Ziller's roots span jazz, blues, rock, pop, and classical, and that eclecticism is reflected in her songwriting. Her sound may bear the hallmarks of ...

Episode 025: Billie-Jo Porter

Our guest for this episode is Billie-Jo Porter. Growing close to the nation's country music capital Tamworth, it seems appropriate that Billie-Jo felt drawn to the influences of songwriters like Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Shania Twain, and the Waifs. Growing up in a music-loving family Billie-Jo has been immersed in the songs of Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, John Williamson, and Carol King. After starting singing when in primary school years she discovered her passion for the guitar...

Episode 024: Cass Hopetoun

Our guest today is Cass Hopetoun. Growing up Idolising the likes of Delta Goodrem as a child, Cass began to learn to play the piano and take up regular singing lessons. Her voice is one that bears traces to the likes of some of the great country singers like Dolly Parton and Brandy Clark. Her debut single ‘Shots’ was released in late March 2020, co-written with Country artist Blake Dantier and produced by Matt Fell reached #4 on the Australian Country Music Airplay Charts and has been st...

Episode 023: Sally-Anne Whitten

Our guest for this episode is Sally-Anne Whitten was born and raised in Tamworth NSW on a healthy dose of blues, rock, and country music. Her father, guitarist/piano/bass player Barry Whitten saw a young Sally-Anne was immersing herself in all things music taught her to read and write music. From the age of 15, the singer-songwriter was working as a session player (bass and guitar) alongside her dad. Over the years the artist has honed her very own style of ‘funky country’. 2009 was the ...

Episode 022: Troy Kemp

Our guest for this episode is Troy Kemp. With multiple Australian Country Chart and CMC #1 singles, a Golden Guitar, 3 CMC/ Country Music Channel Awards, 3 People’s Choice Awards, a Frank Ifield International Spur Award and almost a decade of touring under his belt, Troy Kemp is one of Australia’s most recognisable country music talents. As one half of award winning duo McAlister Kemp that folded in early 2015, late 2015 saw Troy’s debut solo album, "Against The Grain". Since then T...

Episode 021: Kelly Brouhaha

Our guest today Kelly Brouhaha. Kelly is an award-winning songwriter and multi-instrumentalist known for having an extraordinary rare voice. The South Australian Award Winning Songwriter is one of those artists whose unique style simply cannot be put into a box, Kelly is an artist you simply need to hear. Living full-time out of her 92 Toyota Hiace Campervan and touring the country, in her music the audiences get a sense of the down to earth country kid and the stories she’s collected o...

Episode 020: Lachlan Bryan

Our guest for this new episode is Lachlan Bryan. Lachlan is a singer-songwriter, producer, and musical director. He first emerged as frontman and songwriter for alt-country band The Wildes in 2009 and together the band has released 4 critically praised albums, toured the UK, Europe, and The USA many times, and opened for artists ranging from Justin Townes Earle to Shawn Colvin and John Hiatt. They won The Age Music Victoria Award for Best Country Album in 2014 and won The Golden Guitar f...

Episode 019: Clint Wilson

Our guest today is Clint Wilson. Singer/ Songwriter from Melbourne Clint Wilson possesses that rare and special something in his songwriting, that makes his fans instantly connect to his story. He is a singer and songwriter who obviously feels a deep connection to his role as a storyteller. Appropriately compared to the likes of Paul Kelly and Crowded House, Clint’s nostalgic Folk, Alt-Country music is an enjoyable amble through the tradition of storytelling in song. No stranger to the...