Sunburnt Country Music

I’m fairly sure that Brisbane-based country-rock-blues artist Delilah Rose is incapable of being uninteresting. We have spoken before – around the time of the release of her album Moxie – and she was clearly passionate about not only making art but connecting with others who are doing the same. And, indeed, about creating a community for that – which is what led her to start The Song Café in Brisbane, which is still going strong at The Cave Inn in Woolloongabba each month and features four songwriters in the round. Delilah grew up on the land in the Western Australian wheat belt and has only recently relocated to the east coast. We started off talking about where the good coffee is in Brisbane, then moved on to discussing the genesis of her latest single, ‘Sophia’, which is an exploration of faith, individuality, and the divine feminine. Her spirituality has now definitely evolved away from the religion she was brought up in, and the song captures how she has developed her own sense of faith. In some ways this interview documents a quest, and the quest narrative is an archetype, which is fitting, given that it was Delilah’s interest in the divine feminine that led her along a life and creative path that has resulted in this song and the album she is planning to follow it. Indeed, it documents more than one quest: an artist in search of the divine, and of herself, and of a community. Where Delilah differs to some who seek, she sets out to find and applies herself to the finding. The seeking is not the point, of course – we can all say we seek. Committing to the quest and seeing it through is noble and inspiring, and that’s what I find her to be.Listen to Delilah Rose on Apple MusicListen to Delilah Rose on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

Savanah Solomon’s first musical foray was as the frontwoman for country-rock band Savanah and the Strays; the band released an album which saw them become finalists in the West Australian Country Music Awards. After four years Solomon went solo, releasing the EP Where the River Meets the Sea in 2023. Solomon then took a break from music and she has now returned in style, with the single ‘Magnolias’, which was inspired partly by the movie Steel Magnolias (which stars Dolly Parton, amongst others) and by her grandmother, Helen Sturgeon. ‘I just love the sentiment of a steel magnolia,’ says Solomon in our interview. ‘They're as tough as steel, but they're as beautiful as these magnolias.’When we spoke it became clear quickly that Solomon is herself quite a force; she is passionately creative and curious about the world, combining her musical life with her work as a grader operator at a remote ore mine, her FIFO work schedule allowing her to commit blocks of time to music.‘I'm always trying to live my best life because we've only got this one wild life, so why not?’ she says.Songwriting is at the core of Solomon’s creative life – ‘I take great pride in my songwriting’ she says ‘That's like my huge passion. If I could just get paid to do that all the time, I would just write songs.’She understands too the impact her creative work can have.‘You really don't realise how many people you're touching as an artist,’ she says. ‘There could be someone having a really bad day, and they might just flick it on and hear my song, and it might just give them that spark for the day to keep on going.’There is every chance that ‘Magnolias’ will be that song for many people, and Solomon’s previous releases are also worth exploring. It was a pleasure to talk to this talented artist who has quite a story to tell, in song and in this interview. Listen to Savanah Solomon on Apple MusicListen to Savanah Solomon on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

Tracks mentioned in this episode:Kirsty Lee Akers – ‘Marlboro Man’Two-time Golden Guitar winner Kirsty Lee Akers returns with ‘Marlboro Man’, co-written in Nashville with Hall of Fame songwriter Byron Hill. The track explores the bittersweet nature of falling for someone who ultimately doesn't stay. Kirsty produced the song alongside Paul Bain, with background vocals by Melody Pool. Her previous release was ‘Girls Are Why the West is Wild’.Ruby Shay – ‘Our Blue Home’Central Coast NSW artist Ruby Shay releases ‘Our Blue Home’, the final single from her debut album Hitch a Ride. The song, a live favourite at her shows, explores the ups and downs of long-term relationships with humour and warmth. Ruby has been making waves since her first single ‘Sinner’ in late 2023 with her band The Red Horse.Jimbo Stokes – ‘Made Up Mine’Scone’s Jimbo Stokes, known for his opera-trained vocals, delivers ‘Made Up Mine’, a track with attitude that addresses the frustration of mixed messages in relationships. Co-written with Phil Barton and produced by Jacky McCormack, this follows his highest-streaming single ‘Hold On Let’s Go’ and a sold-out Tamworth Country Music Festival show earlier this year.Piper Butcher – ‘Start of Something’Newcastle artist Piper Butcher releases ‘Start of Something’, the title track from her second EP. The single blends 70s country rock with modern storytelling elements, and was co-produced by Kasey Chambers and Brandon Dodd at Rabbit Hole Recording Studios. Loren Ryan – ‘LIL BIT KNTRY’Loren Ryan's new single ‘LIL BIT KNTRY’ tackles the question ‘What even is Country Music?’ With nods to Beyonce’s recent country album, the track features acoustic guitar, banjo, and a 90s energy reminiscent of Shania Twain and The Chicks. It was written with Michael DeLorenzis of MSquared in Melbourne.Josie – ‘Nothin’ Without Truckin’’Following her breakout hit ‘Freight Man’ (5+ million TikTok views), Josie returns with ‘Nothin’ Without Truckin’’, a tribute to Australia's truck drivers. Inspired by her childhood around road trains and recent natural disasters in North Queensland, the song highlights the essential role of truckers. It was produced by Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis of MSquared.Hazel & The Thief – ‘Willing To Try’Alt-country act Hazel & The Thief present ‘Willing To Try’, a rock ballad about feeling unseen and unheard in relationships. Written by vocalist Hazel and produced by award-winning Matt Fell, the track features Ollie Thorpe on lead guitar. The single paves the way for a series of releases leading to a full album later this year.Sweet Talk – ‘Stoned in Texas, Queensland’Melbourne six-piece southern-boogie band Sweet Talk have announced their debut album Switch On (May 23) and released the single ‘Stoned in Texas, Queensland’. Known for their 70s grooves and improvised jams, the band has performed at major festivals including Bluesfest, where Kasey Chambers joined them onstage. They’re on tour with American act Red Clay Strays in May.Savanah Solomon – ‘Magnolias’Recent winner of Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2024 Western Australian Country Music Awards, Savanah Solomon has released the single ‘Magnolias’. The alt-country track pays tribute to the strong women in Solomon’s family, particularly her grandmother, and draws inspiration from the film Steel Magnolias. 

Perth duo Scarlet’s Way – whose members are Katey Gabel (vocals) and Shayne Savic (guitar) – are one of the busiest acts in music, not just in their home town but, as I found out during our recent interview, on the high seas too! Not to mention at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, where they spent several days this year performing as well as cementing connections made at previous festivals.Their travel came in handy for their latest EP, Scarlet’s Way 3, as they wrote the songs while driving across the Nullarbor Plain. The EP was then recorded at their home studio. You’ll only hear those songs, though, if you buy a physical copy of the EP – and that’s a decision we discuss in this chat. Just as I was wrapping up the interview – or thought I was – I spotted a word on Gabel’s T-shirt that intrigued me. It turned out the slogan on the top was ‘I run on insulin and Diet Coke’. Figuring she wouldn’t have that on a T-shirt unless she was, in all likelihood, a diabetic, I asked her about it, and this led to Gabel talking about how she has managed her type 1 diabetes over her time as a performer. I’ve interviewed Scarlet’s Way before but we’ve never spoken about that, and it adds an important dimension to the band’s story.So in case you need an incentive to watch/listen to the end … I very much hope you stick around for that story!Listen to Scarlet’s Way on Apple Music         Listen to Scarlet’s Way on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

When I saw on the Instagram page of Central West NSW artist Chloe Swannell that she was playing a bass – something that I hadn’t noticed her playing before – I decided to ask her about it when we had an interview for her latest single, ‘Loves’ a Lil’ Bit’. There was no way to know the story that would unfold about what led to her learning that instrument in what has to be record time, nor the other stories that would come from asking her about it. In short: Swannell has had – and continues to have – a life full of rural danger (in this case, a serious hand injury caused by a horse) that is also rich in both creating and teaching music. She learnt the bass quickly because she had to; her ability to do so arose from the fact that she’s a seriously accomplished musician. Swannell’s passion for music is evident in the music she’s released, including her latest single, ‘Loves’ a Lil’ Bit’, which is about the different ways to love.‘We all sat there,’ says Swannell about writing with her producer Tarquin Halls-Corbett, ‘and we went around the room and we wrote down what we loved. And for me it's my favourite farm boots. It's watching a man in a suit come down the aisle, waiting for his bride on a wedding day. For Tarquin, it's hanging around the campfire with me and [band mate] Izzy. ‘So we wrote all these things down and we just worked them into the song. And that's what it's about. It's just about what we love. And we hope that you can find what you love in that as well.’You’ll find out more about Swannell’s music – including her teaching of it – in the chat, and also find out more about her fascinating life. She is clearly not a woman who is deterred by difficulties, driven as she is by her love for music and, fundamentally, making the most of each day.Listen to Chloe Swannell on Apple MusicListen to Chloe Swannell on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

Ruby Shay is an artist from the Central Coast of New South Wales who was impressive out of the gate when she released her debut single, ‘Sinner’, in late 2023. Since then she’s kept impressing, and her new album Hitch a Ride is a moving collection of songs about life and how we forge our way through it.I first interviewed Shay at the time of the release of ‘Sinner’ and she was so interesting to talk to. Her singing voice is a great embodiment of her personality: rich, layered, direct, uncompromising in the ways that matter. When she sings, you feel that you are really seeing her through song – she is not hiding anything. And, also, she has lived through so much that has brought her to have this voice that commands attention.That voice is married with the array of stories on Hitch a Ride, which were written either by her or by her bandmate in The Red Horse, Shaun Wilson. In our recent interview, Shay talks about how she and Wilson came to choose which songs would be included on the album, and how the songs he wrote seem so much like they would be songs of hers.This is a conversation with an artist who is technically emerging yet feels emerged – even established, because she knows herself so well that she has arrived in this first album as a complete artist who is at the beginning of what she can share with the world. What you will see and hear in the interview is what’s on the album: a woman with a life that has yielded stories of good and bad times, of shifting sands and learning to stand firm. She’s such a fascinating artist and I so look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. Listen to Hitch a Ride on Apple MusicListen to Hitch a Ride on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

Rory Phillips is still in his teens and has been playing on festival stages since he was seven. He is a graduate of the CMAA Academy of Country Music and has also been an intern there. He plays with the Bushwackers, he’s been in Sara Storer’s band, and that’s really the tip of the iceberg of his achievements, which include releasing the singles ‘The Truth’ and ‘Because Boys’. He now has a new single, ‘Dear Mum and Dad’.‘Dear Mum and Dad’ was written at the CMAA Academy of Country Music in Tamworth, as a collaboration with student Andrew Scharf, who had the original idea, mentor Jayne Denham, and Alan Caswell. It was produced by Bushwacker co-founder Roger Corbett at The Valley Studio, and features the voice of fellow Bushwacker Dobe Newton OAM, co-writer of the anthem ‘I Am Australian’ (which last year was released in a Youth Collaboration version, featuring Rory’s vocals). It’s a song about war and sacrifice, released in time for Anzac Day 2025. Rory is one of the busiest humans around – of any age – yet he found time to film a music video for the song and we talk about the making of it, including the uniform he wears in it. We also speak about his work at the Academy, as well as touring with Sara Storer, and how he’s fitting in his musical life around uni studies. He’s been passionate about music since he was very young, and if anything that passion has only grown as he’s developed more skills and had more experience. He may be young but his sense of service to music is inspirational.  Listen to Rory Phillips on Apple MusicListen to Rory Phillips on SpotifyWatch the video for ‘Dear Mum and Dad’ on YouTubeSunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

Vixens of Fall are a sister trio from south-east Queensland who released their debut album, Magick in the Chaos, in 2023. While their sibling harmonies are undeniably a big part of their appeal, the Vixens - Nina, Wren and LuLu – also have great, heart-tugging songs that convey their story and what they hold dear (‘The Long Game’, ‘Crooked Crown’), and others that are hugely entertaining while also offering a story. They’re also gathering a large following, often through festival performances. At the time we spoke for this interview, they had not long returned from the massive CMC Rocks festival in Queensland, so of course I asked them about it – and about several upcoming appearances, including how they prepare for festivals. The Vixens are a close unit, and that closeness is part of their strength in the studio and on stage. They understand how to work together as siblings, and the push and pull that come with that. So it’s perhaps no surprise that they formed a bond with The Buckleys, another sibling band, which led to the writing of ‘Sinkin’ Spirits’, the latest song from Vixens of Fall. We talked about how they met The Buckleys and came to work with them, and the story behind the song.It was an absolute pleasure to talk to these vivacious sisters again – our first interview in a while. It’s a long chat because there was a long to chat about! But they will entertain you, just as they do with their music. Listen to Vixens of Fall on Apple MusicListen to Vixens of Fall on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite 

When interviewing an artist for the first time, I have no expectations about how things will go. I have my questions prepared, and that means that there will be some sort of conversation, even if it’s brief. While it’s possible – usually likely – to have a sense of how the interview may go within a couple of minutes, I always leave room for it to change and for the conversation to open up. So there was room there for Melbourne artist Tom Nethersole to range when I interviewed him for the first time recently. And range he – we – did. Nethersole was an absolute pleasure to talk to – open, thoughtful, gracious and with so many interesting things to say about life and music, including his mental health advocacy and how he has become increasingly vulnerable with his songwriting. The reason I haven’t interviewed Nethersole before is because he hasn’t released anything in the country music genre before. A pop artist, he has performed at festivals such as Midsumma’s Pride Street Party, Rockhampton River Festival and Always Live. He’s also the creator of his own music videos, and has collaborated with fashion brands such as House of Campbell, Silk Laundry, Van Heusen, and Mimco.Nethersole’s new single, ‘Ardmona Rd’, was, it turns out, not meant to be a country-pop single. He went into the studio with the makings of it and its country sound evolved during the recording. As Nethersole grew up in the country, outside of Shepparton in Victoria, that seems appropriate. ‘Ardmona Rd’ is gloriously heartfelt and uplifting – a love song that is about the grandest of romantic gestures: showing the loved one the places and people that are most meaningful to you. In the case of this song, that is taking them home to Ardmona Road. Nethersole says that the song is 'deeply personal but also relatable, especially for queer listeners who are searching for that fairytale moment we don’t always see reflected in music.’ We talk about that, and a lot more, and I hope you enjoy meeting Tom Nethersole as much as I did. Listen to ‘Ardmona Rd’ on Apple MusicListen to ‘Ardmona Rd’ on SpotifySunburnt Country Music:InstagramFacebook YouTubewebsite