Songwriter Trysts

Paula and Donna founded Crazy Women Country in 2020. In the realm of country music, women get a lot less radio airplay and support. These crazy country fans and writers wanted to start the conversations, encouraging us to keep requesting more women on the radio and helping women to share more of their music on their podcast and promote, encourage and uplift women in the country music industry.

“How can you like something you’ve never heard” Brandy Clark

Paula and Donna are both raving Brandy Clark fans and met through an online Brandy Clark fan club, with one of them in Florida and the other in Spain, these unlikely friends have connected over this passion and both working hard to deliver an important message to all women out there that whatever you do it's worth doing and they inspire us to support and encourage our sisters in life, music and art.

Check out their website here www.crazywomencountry.com

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James started his music career before Rae Leigh had even been conceived, He was named "best new talent" at the 1987 Country Music Awards of Australia, and in 1991 his Album "Hand it Down" won Best Country Album ARIA award. 

He had a lot of success after releasing the hit song "Way Out West" in 1991, Australian country artists James Blundell and James Reyne recorded a version that became a huge hit in Australia the following year, peaking at number two on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was the highest-charting single for both singers. At the APRA Music Awards of 1992 the song won Country Song of the Year.

On Spotify this song has had over 7.7 million streams - stream "Way Out West" here.

James has had a whole life of experience in the music industry, "working and living on the land" and building a family of his own. In this podcast, we talk about his ups and downs, and the things that he, in this interview, thinks are the most important things in life and what it takes to be a great songwriter. 

Still inspiring people all over the world with his charm and talents you will learn as much as Rae did in this chat along with feel inspired and encouraged in your own creative journey. 

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Catherine Britt

In this podcast we are speaking about her latest album, her changes she has discovered becoming a mother of two little ones and how that’s impacted her songwriting, and that where we see some of the tracks coming from this experience. Relating to mothers all over the world and the 'Home Truths' behind the life of a mother.

Singer Songwriter, mother, and passionate mentor in the music industry she has a new Album out "Home Truths" and it's sitting at the top of the charts in Australia. A well-loved Country artist who you are just going to fall in love with after hearing her heart through her music and in this chat.

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Toronto-based r&b and soul emerging artist Ley Vara is excited to announce the release of her sixth single “Red Flag.” Written by Ley Vara and produced by Josh Polasz, from KYNGS,  “Red Flag” reflects on heartbreak and being cheated on. The lyrical  styling focuses on how there can be various “red flags” within a partner  that people often miss because they are in love. Ley Vara wants to inspire feelings of empowerment within her listeners by giving them a voice in a toxic relationship. In the past Ley Vara has worked with TJ Whitelaw, guitarist, music director and producer from Toronto, on her single “Bestmistake,” garnering over 200,000 streams on Spotify. Upon the release of “Red Flag,” Ley Vara is releasing the official music video on December 1 to bring her melodic vision to life. 

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Grammy® nominee Aimee Mayo. Aimee is one of the few female writers to receive both BMI”s ‘Country Song of the Year’ and BMI’s ‘Country Songwriter of the Year,’ putting her in the elite company of Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift and she is the author of a compelling new memoir, TALKING TO THE SKY: A Memoir of Living Your Best Life in A Sh*t-Show

Her songs have spent 26 weeks in the #1 spot on the Billboard charts, and albums featuring her songs have sold over 155 million units worldwide. She is primarily known for writing hits for artists such as Lonestar, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Adam Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Boyz II Men, Brad Paisley, Backstreet Boys, Billy Currington, Kellie Pickler and more. 

She is such a strong women and during our podcast conversation she tells the story of how diary writing in her very first journal after her Dad shot himself was a saving grace and from then on became a way for her to process and cope through what she was going to endure in her life. 

Her father was also a hit songwriter Danny Mayo and really showed her what was possible with music in the industry, she saw him winning awards to living homeless on the street struggling with mental health issues. 

This podcast will be great for anyone wanting to get to know Aimee better and her journey through living with a father with mental illness and experiencing a domestically abusive relationship. It gets deep fast and I'm so grateful for her honestly and openness talking about such things that need to be talked about. 

I highly recommend getting a copy of her book as she is such a beautiful writer and it really draws you in to her life and experiences with compassion and grace. 

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2020 has been a breakthrough year for Cass Hopetoun.  In January she won the Tamworth Songwriter’s Association talent quest before releasing her debut single ‘Shots’ independently in March. In April she signed to Compass Bros Records. In May she opened for Casey Donovan at Australia's first ever pandemic drive-in concert, performed live on Channel 7's Sunrise and ‘Shots’ reached #4 on The Music Network Country Airplay Chart. In September Cass’s follow up single ‘Typical Bride’ peaked at #1 on that same chart. Typical Bride also hit the #1 spot on 2TM’s Top 20 and #3 on KIX Country’s Hottest 20 charts. Both singles were added to full rotation on CMC/CMT respectively and to Spotify and Apple Music playlists.

Cass stumbled upon her talent for song when a friend “dragged her along to the choir” as a young student in Sydney’s Blue Mountains. She learned piano, took singing lessons and idolised Delta Goodrem but the song writing of Dolly Parton and Brandy Clark soon became her driving influences.

Her latest single 'Fortune Teller' was produced by Matt Fell and recorded at his Love Hz Studios in Sydney. It was inspired by a 2019 trip to New Orleans. “I went to a fortune teller,” recalls Hopetoun, “and just knew I had to write about one. I wanted to capture the New Orleans vibe – all those jazzy and mysterious flavours that the streets of the French Quarter have to offer. The song evolved into being about people who they think they know what’s best for you. This is me telling them to mind their own business.”

Cass’s debut album, produced by Matt Fell, will be released in 2021.

Songs featured in this episode:

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Singer Songwriter, father, Podcast and Radio host Clint Wilson was on holidays with the family on the Gold Coast from Melbourne Australia and took some time out to come and chat with me on the show about his songwriting process and journey. We talk about how music and songwriting has been something that has changed and evolved for him and has been a way of self expression and healing through different relationship and life changes.  Clint has a wholistic country chill vibe that we look at with his writing and discuss deeper as to where it comes from for him.

Clint also hosts a podcast with Andrew Swift, check it out here - https://www.facebook.com/talkingtangents 

Featured songs in this podcast include:

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Ranella Ferrer is a powerhouse in the Filipino-American Entertainment Industry since she was only 13 years old. Ranella’s  professional background includes Grammy produced songs, commercial pop  singles, multiple appearances in live performances, tour collaborations,  and TV and Radio shows, making her one of the most-wanted Fil-Am  vocalists in America.

Ranella sang the National Anthem for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2016 and has  sung for former President of the Philippines Fidel Ramos and known as  the Asian Queen of Soul in the R&B/Pop Culture opening up for Keysha  Cole, Stevie Wonder, Tyrese, B2K, and NEYO amongst others. In addition,  Celebrity Chronicles names Ranella the “Best  Female Vocalist” after her song on the soundtrack for the Wayan’s Bros  movie, The Dance Flick working with Dwayne Wayans Jr. Ranella’s pop style, fused with her love for R&B allows her to go back to her roots and vibe.

Ranella Ferrer is a strong women who has struggled with her mental health and weight and now continuing to share her journey and inspire others through her music and life.

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Singer Songwriter Patrick Cornell is featured on this podcast through a link up on Instagram but so glad we were able to connect because we got to talk about his musical life, influences and how he got to where he is today.  During this Covid Pandemic that we are all experiences Patrick talks about music being the healing thing that will get us all through everything we are facing. 

With 15 years of classical and jazz training and inspiration from rock n' roll greats, the Dayton, OH native left the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music as a jazz/studio music major and moved to Los Angeles, California to start his professional music career as a studio/touring bass guitarist for hire. He performed various gigs on bass guitar with such notable artists as Dave Navarro (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses) and Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray). Cornell eventually migrated to Nashville and has gone through a transformation from a session bass player into a full-time songwriter, producer and solo artist. Taking direction from the Nashville’s songwriting community and culture, Cornell’s lyrics focus on telling a complete story. He writes from a reflective perspective with the intention of his story relating to a broad audience.

If you ask him why and how he’s accomplished all he has, his response is simple: “It’s God-given.” He argues that none of what he’s accomplished has happened because of anything that he’s done on his own. Still, he’s done a lot. So what is he most proud of so far? “My hair,” he jokes.

As Patrick focuses on the future, his goals are simple: release music and play shows. Join his email list and follow him on social media to stay updated on upcoming projects and shows.

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Kirstie Kraus came through last year asking for an interview and like I do with all artist applications I went straight to check out her music and first up found 'Silver' which is such a hot song and I love the female empowerment behind it which drew me in straight away, so glad to have had a chat with her which only made me a bigger fan of her work and I’m sure it will for you too.

She’s thirsty for love and magic, for joy and sunshine. She’s thirsty for compassion and authenticity. And more than anything, she’s thirsty for anything that sets her soul on fire. Kirstie Kraus carries her thirst in her songwriting, in her live shows, and in her everyday connection with other kindred spirits. Nowhere is her appetite more quenched than on a stage in front of her fans, appropriately named “Thirsties”. Her confidence naturally shines under the bright lights, taking concert goers on a well-defined path of self-discovery and bliss. Her writing infuses her own transparent journey with others’ experiences to create sustainable lyrics and catchy melodies. The result is a perfect blend of country, funk, blues, and rock because with Kirstie, there are no boundaries. There’s only the process of “letting go” and letting the song tell you what it wants to be.

Connect with Kirstie: