Sunburnt Country Music

Melbourne singer and songwriter Jay Santilli has been immersed in music since childhood, listening to classic country artists on the radio growing up, begging her parents for a keyboard at age 10 and learning saxophone then guitar. She formed a band with friends and would go on to take part in such competitions as the (now-defunct) Telstra Road to Tamworth contest. This year she was a Grand Finalist in the Toyota Star Maker competition.The path to being a musician has not, however, been straightforward – nor has been the pursuit of her other dream, motherhood. Santilli’s new single ‘Long Way Home’ tells of pursuing dreams even when they seem impossible. It is emotional and inspiring, and Santilli has a lot more on the way this year, with plans to release one single a month. When we spoke recently Santilli’s love for her artform and her generous spirit and open heart were evident, making the chat just as inspiring as the song. For more about Jay Santilli: https://jaysantilli.com/Listen to 'Long Way Home' on Apple MusicListen to 'Long Way Home' on SpotifyFollow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website 

When reviewing Troy Cassar-Daley’s last album, The World Today (2021), I compared him to Orpheus, going to the Underworld in search of his wife, Eurydice, who had been taken there by Hades. But after going into the darkness to find what he was looking for then turning back at the point of rescue only to see Eurydice disappear – as the myth has it – Cassar-Daley as Orpheus turned his face forwards and stepped into the light, as complicated as the path ahead was.‘Troy Cassar-Daley has long been a beacon in our culture,’ I wrote then, ‘for his songs and the way he delivers them. With this album he takes on not mythic status, because he’s still with us, but he becomes, perhaps, a warrior for the people. Out of his darkness we can find light, and the only thing left to say to him is “thank you”.’That album remains as one of its creator’s very best, and a classic by many measures. It seemed unlikely that he could better it, for how would he find a deeper well to draw on, how much further could he go into the darkness and, to balance, how much light would he discover on his return? The answer has arrived in the form of his new album, Between the Fires, which is an epic work of love, loss, water, fire and smoke, of country and connection, written almost entirely by Cassar-Daley alone in the wake of the death of his mother, then recorded in her home. The depth of Cassar-Daley’s sorrow is soaked into this album, as is his resolution to find light once again. He growls, he rails, he ponders the past and looks to construct a future that may not have included his wife, Laurel, as they went through a separation around the same time, which is also part of the fabric of this album. Most of all, though, he pays tribute to his mother, and we are shown – more than we are told – how much of a man she helped to make him. For the work done there is his too, and the unforgettable resolution of the album, ‘Moving On’, is his alone. There is a verse in the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, a revealed text of Kashmir Shaivism, that goes: Live continuously for a few days in the meditation,‘I am immersed in the flame, The flame of life, the flame of love, the flame of time.The universal fire flows through me.’Step into that fire fully, wholeheartedly, Starting with the toe of the left foot – And then surrendering everywhere.Only the not-self, which doesn’t exist anyway,Is burned.(Verse 29, translation by Lorin Roche)Between the Fires documents Troy Cassar-Daley’s burning of the not-self and consequent revelation of the self. Through the fire of grief and change we are able to see the man as he is now and was always meant to be. There is so much bravery required to step into this flame and to go on afterwards, let alone present what remains to the world. For more about Troy Cassar-Daley: https://troycassardaley.com.au/Listen to Between the Fires on Apple MusicListen to Between the Fires on SpotifySunburnt Country Music website 

Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits are a Melbourne duo who released their debut album, Southlands, in 2017 and have just released their latest album, the gloriously entertaining and thought-provoking Say What You Mean.  The longtime friends and collaborators started their performing life in punk bands over a decade ago in their hometown of Adelaide before forming Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits, with Hana on vocals and Jessie-Lee on guitar, in 2014. The catalyst was a batch of country-tinged songs written by Hana. Jessie-Lee helped flesh out arrangements, and they then played a month-long residency at Adelaide's Crown & Anchor Hotel to cement the new formation. Over the next few years, Hana and Jessie-Lee continued evolving their sound while playing live extensively. It was the isolation of pandemic lockdowns that inspired Hana to write a new collection of songs which have now become Say What You Mean. In this interview we talked about their creative collaboration, their musical influences and songwriting process – and what bad habits might have prompted the band name. For more about Hana & Jessie-Lee's Bad Habits: https://hanaandjessielee.com/Listen to Say What You Mean on Apple MusicListen to Say What You Mean on SpotifyFollow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website 

Tori Forsyth released her Golden Guitar-nominated debut album Dawn of the Dark in 2018 then followed it up with rock album Provlépseis in 2021. She now has a new country music album, All We Have is Who We Are.The album was created after Forsyth decided that if she didn’t love the process of making music, she’d walk away. Around the same time the pandemic led to her once more living on the land, where she found herself grounded, both literally and creatively. The combination freed her to make an album that not only allowed her to tap back into the joy that initially drew her to music but which sounds like it. On All We Have is Who We Are Forsyth is by turns earthy and ethereal, wild and circumspect, thoughtful and unconstrained. The album is a story arc that documents how she arrived at where she is - how all she has is who she is. And our conversation about it was as rich, interesting and inspiring as the album itself.Forsyth has some live dates coming up, and having seen her place a showcase in Sydney last year I can attest that she is very much worth seeing live.MAY 17 SYDNEY - THE VANGUARD - Ticketsw. Chloe Gill, Piper ButcherMAY 18 NEWCASTLE - STAG AND HUNTER - Ticketsw. Chloe Gill MAY 23 MELBOURNE - THE TOTE - Ticketsw. Jay SantilliMAY 26 SUNSHINE COAST - SOL BAR - Ticketsw. Piper Rodrigues and Tyla Piper RodriguesFor more about Tori Forsyth: https://www.toriforsyth.com/Listen to All We Have is Who We Are on Apple MusicListen to All We Have is Who We Are on SpotifyFollow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website 

The Matt Joe Gow & Kerryn Fields project falls into the category of ‘high risk’: two artists with solo careers that have seen them win audiences, acclaim and awards, with potentially nothing to gain from a collaboration. After all, if something ain’t broke, why fix it?What they have fixed on, though, is interesting and compelling work that draws on their individual talents and strengths to make something new and different to what they have created individually. What was apparent on their singles ‘Your Heart of Gold’,  ‘Love Ya Like I Can’ and ‘No Trace’ is now evident on their album, I Remember You: they have brought their talents and strengths as artists and openness – vulnerabilities, if you prefer – as individuals and created something unique, rich and stunning. The collaboration has required them both to set aside any expectations they have for their solo work and start afresh with each other. It could only have worked if they did not demand any more of the other than they demanded of themselves. The proof is in the ten tracks on the album, each different to each other just as Joe Gow and Fields are different to each other, but united in the common cause of telling a story of life, loss and love, of what home means and where to find it. Throughout these songs the duo also provide proof, over and over again, that for as much as they have great strengths as songwriters they are also extraordinary singers. Listen no further than to Joe Gow on ‘Carry On’ and Fields on ‘Here I’ll Be’ for that proof, but you’ll want to listen to it all, over and over again, and find yourself entranced.So, in the end, this high-risk project is, in fact, high-risk and high-reward – the reward being for them as the creators and us as the listeners. And I spoke to them both about the project in this interview. https://mattjoegowmusic.com/https://www.kerrynfields.com/Listen to I Remember You on Apple MusicListen to I Remember You on SpotifyFollow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website 

Jade Gibson is a singer and songwriter from Victoria who was a Grand Finalist in Toyota Star Maker in 2022 and has played at several large festivals. In 2019 her debut EP The Great Unknown went to number 1 on the iTunes Country chart and she has released several successful singles since. Her brand new single is ‘Down the Road’.The song holds special meaning for Gibson as it's her first song inspired by her partner of five years, whom she met when she was 21 even though they grew up 20 minutes apart in regional Victoria. The song captures a feeling of love coming when you least expect it, and was recorded with Melbourne production duo MSquared, who she has worked closely with over the past two years. The music video was made by Jake Davey and features Home and Away star Kyle Shilling. Gibson has been a performer from a young age, playing local pubs and rodeos at 14 before getting discovered at a small gig and being asked to play B&S balls. She also spent time in Nashville before returning to Australia at the start of the pandemic. Gibson is an astute artist who is constantly working on her craft, and it was a pleasure to talk to her about all of this and more.For more information on Jade Gibson: https://jadegibson.com/Listen to 'Down the Road' on Apple MusicListen to 'Down the Road' on SpotifyWatch the video for 'Down the Road'Follow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website 

Kylie Gale is a singer-songwriter from New South Wales who released the EP Upside in 2021. While working as a teacher and raising four children, Gale has carved out time to nurture her songwriting craft. This dedication led to the 2021 release of her debut EP Upside. Gale’s musical talents first emerged in primary school, where she began guitar lessons. However, it wasn’t until high school when her music teacher encouraged her to take voice lessons that she discovered her love of singing. As her children have grown up, Gale has been able to invest more time into songwriting. Her latest single is the deeply personal single ‘Nobody Knows Me Like You Do’, written with in-demand co-writer Billie-Jo Porter and recorded with producer Simon Johnson at Hillbilly Hut. The song explores the understanding and support Gale shares with her husband of 22 years. And Gale has plans to release more singles leading up to a full album in 2024. During our recent chat Gale’s passion for and perseverance in music while balancing life’s other responsibilities were clear – and inspirational as we spoke about her musical influences, creative process, and hopes for the future.For more information on Kylie Gale: https://www.kyliegale.com/Listen to Kylie Gale on Apple MusicListen to Kylie Gale on Spotify

Rebecca Jane Howell and Marty Mckenna are friends from Central Victoria who have been singing together for over a decade. Rebecca honed her instinct for harmony through years spent in the Australian Girls Choir and Marty grew up singing to the sheep on his family farm, with his dad, where he still tends the flock to this day. As Valley Road the duo released their wonderful self-titled debut album towards the end of last year. It was produced by Rod McCormack after Valley Road were awarded the Troubadour Foundation prize. Whether live or recorded, Howell and Mckenna have a synergy as writers and performers in a partnership of true equals. Each knows how to support each other in song, and accordingly bring out the best in each other. The result is songs that are elegant, nuanced and strong, covering the whole of life from birth to death, and love for the natural world.For more information about Valley Road: https://valleyroadduo.com.au/Listen to Valley Road on Apple MusicListen to Valley Road on SpotifyFollow Sunburnt Country Music on InstagramFollow Sunburnt Country Music on Facebook Sunburnt Country Music website