Songwriter Trysts

Host Rae Leigh sits down with Zac from the Zac & George Band sensation after their single release ‘Bar Stool’ (See music video to the left on this page).  George the hero was busy fighting fires but we still got a good feel for what this dinamic DUO have been up to and how they have got to the level they are at with their sound and direction.

Zac & George, originally inspired by iconic duo Simon and Garfunkel, have continued to broaden their musical taste with acts such as John Mayer, Keith Urban and Dan + Shay.

After spending months overseas playing shows and writing new music, and the release of their first two singles, which 'Red Wine & Roses' landed the dup on the cover of the well known editorial Spotify playlist 'Fresh Cover', Zac & George have released their third single, 'Bar Stool'. The up-tempo track will be coupled with a NSW tour in April. Follow their socials for tickets and further details!

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Host Rae Leigh welcomes Kaylee Lauren as her latest guest on the show. She has the most beautiful voice and fresh heartbreaking lyrics that will take you on a sobering journey of love and loss. Rae is excited to have her share her story of mental health and self love as a songwriter on the show.

The singer takes passion in her songwriting making sure her fans are able to connect with her music as much as possible as she writes relatable verses expressing the vulnerable emotions she experiences as a teenager. Kaylee writes all of her own songs by creating melodies at the piano and combining raw vocals. Her songs reveals a build up of intricate instrumentals while layering confessional lyrics. The singer creates many relatable, real, and emotional songs for all her fans out there to connect with her music and her as an artist. Kaylee is a 16 year old singer, songwriter, and musician who pours her heart out when writing and producing her music. She takes the pain and hardships of her life and turns them into creative, inspirational, and relatable magic also known as her music. She writes about all aspects of her life to create songs for her audience to connect too. She eloquently conveys the intense and real emotions when writing a song which makes her music special. Most importantly she loves interacting with her fans which she is so grateful to have. Kaylee Lauren is a talented songwriter that continues to write and produce for the world to hear. 

Pain and beauty in the art created by our 2023 Grammy Nominated guest, American composer, songwriter, musician, and music producer best known for his album, Symphony of Sinners & Saints, Kitt Wakeley.

Wakeley talks about his journey into music, the challenges and how he had made his path with grace in his career, step by step working with some of the world’s best artists and orchestras and now nominated for his incredible work in the classic music genre in the 2023 Grammy awards.

He gives his best advice and lessons he has learnt along the way along with dreams of working with producer Quincy Jones and artist Paul McCartney

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Artist, songwriter, producer turned manager with Cartel Management in Melbourne; Anthony Agostino has an in deepth discussion with host Rae Leigh about his experiance in the industry, record lables and being a touring sucsessful artist. He gives us all the gift of life experiance wisdom and advice in the music industry and shares more about the Melbourne based managment company he now partners in supporting songwriters and artisit to best achieve their goals. 

Cartel Management Australia (CMA) is a boutique artist development agency based in Victoria, Australia. Founded in 2015 by Christina Rinaldi who has an extensive background in events, label services and communications, and Anthony Agostino a former touring artist and record producer with a background in digital marketing. The pair have put their professional experiences together to create a resource hub for independent & developing artists, labels, and events in the music space.

CARTEL SOCIALS

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Matt from the duo Sons of Atticus catches up with Rae Leigh on a featured podcast chat about the origin of the band and the lessons, development and exciting experiences they have had since releasing their debut song in 2021.

Amongst the chaos of a rowdy bar in their hometown, Matt and Dylan crossed paths for the first time and instantly hit it off with a few beers, tacos and their love for country music. It wasn’t long before the two started to write, record and perform the kind of music that inspired them both growing up. Since then, Matt and Dylan have become Tasman Guitar ambassadors, have released a Debut EP, have matching Elvis Presley tattoos and have now released their new single into the world.

A song for the road when you miss the ones at home. Sore Eyes depicts the balancing act of a traveller feeling the strain of following their dream while being away from the ones they love most.

The duo’s short and sharp existence has already seen them support the likes of CW Stoneking, Andrew Farris, and Catherine Britt & Lachlan Bryan’s new duo, The Pleasures. In April, the boys made their way to Tamworth to perform across venues for the Tamworth Country Music Festival. July saw them release their single ‘Sad Songs’ which was paired with a small tour along the south coast of NSW, teaming up with a local brewing company for the run of shows. Recently, Matt and Dylan travelled to Mackay to open up the main stage of NQ's Rock'n Country Festival.

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This inspirational story of Jemma will encourage anyone who is finding their feet in any creative industry.

Jemma Beech and Rae Leigh catch up for the first time after meeting in 2016 DAG Singer Songwriter Retreat in Tamworth Australia. Jemma talks about living on stations, nannying and balancing life and music.

“We only have one life so I’m going to do what makes me happy”

The pressure and demand of trying to keep up with others in the country music industry got to her when she was younger and she is coming back fully passionate about doing it as she wants to, how she wants and when she wants to do it.

Raised in the quiet town of Yanderra, NSW, singer-songwriter, Jemma Beech has Country in her blood. Her hard-hitting blend of modern and classic Country music spins tales of love and rural life.

When Jemma was just 3 years old she fell in love with music – despite the fact that nobody close to her could play or sing. 90’s Country queens like Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain and The Chicks would be her inspiration. "I was three years old in the back seat of the car when Mum was flicking through radio stations driving around Queensland on a holiday,” recalls the now 30-year-old. “A Trisha Yearwood song came on and I was hooked from that moment on.”

Growing up in a small town meant a fair dinkum Country upbringing - everything from horse riding to dirt bikes. “We had a few acres of land with a front paddock where my horse was kept,” reminisces Jemma.“ The back half of our property was slowly turned into a motorbike track – mostly for my two younger brothers – I really enjoyed riding the PeeWee 80 around the track and over the jumps and side berms they made.” Although her potential motocross career was short-lived, as the track later became a learner driver’s course when she got a ’97 Toyota Corolla.

A string of odd jobs followed. Bartender, Truck Stop Worker, Nanny – you name it. Music began to take centre stage in Jemma’s life when the she attended the 2015 Senior Academy of Country Music in Tamworth. Previously studying as a beauty therapist she crowd funded the lion’s share of the costs to get her to the Country Music capital.

Jemma’s latest track, ‘You Fool’, drops on November 11th. Recorded at the renowned Music Cellar by Rod McCormack and written alongside Rod and Sally Barris.

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Escaping into Disney movies Britany loved to sing and would put on ticketed shows at her house whenever people would come around. the typical outgoing child who loves to entertain and share her passion of music but what wasnt so typical was having to grow up too early being the only girl in a family of four and her mother suffering multipal brain tumors and the constant ongoing of having a mother in and out of hostpial never knowing if she was going to come home. 

In this podcast Brittany shares her joys, lessons, passions, how and why she now trusts herself 100% when it comes to her artists nature. Flying in and out of LA and now full time in Sydney she is on a new venture and taking full control of her futre in the Australian country music scene. 

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Australian singer/songwriter Rachel Koster believes that creativity can be a force for good in the world. With a love for her craft she shares her years of writing experience in the industry and how she feels the full circle of hearing a song on the radio to sitting in the room with those same artists and writing. 

She explains her incredible journey and experiences. Her songwriting collaborations have involved musicians including long term co-writer Stuart Fraser, as well as Gary Pinto, Stephen Cummings, Sean O’Boyle, Michael Barker, Chris Haigh, Bruce Haymes, Luke Austen, Limmel, Nashville’s Karin Papperelli, Australian Idol finaists, and others. Songwriting is Rachel’s joy and she is passionate about writing for other acts in all genres from country to pop to EDM.

Much of her commissioned work involves writing for artists, projects, musicals, children’s music, theme songs & awareness campaigns. Rachel is also a solo pop & acoustic artist, and releases alongside her debut album Deciduous are Breathe, December, Carnival (with Blake Gannon) and Table. New singles wait in readiness for 2023 including the track Dundas Street, and collaborations with Rick Price. Rachel has run Songwalk songwriting workshops since 2020 in Australia with fellow writers Boi Crompton & Eskae Van Eck.

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Jesse from Hinterland the Aussie country band sits with Rae Leigh live in the Gold Coast studio to talk music, songwriting, and her mistakes, lessons, and successes.

Brother & sister, Robbie & Rachel Bostock with childhood friend Jesse Emmanuel make Hinterland. Together they’ve been kicking down doors in the Australian country music industry since their launch in 2020. Hinterland has amassed some consistently impressive stats–all 6 of their singles dominating Top 10 charts all over the country including 3 x #1s (“Treating Me Good”,“Giddy Up”, “In The Hinterland”), streams in the millions and a viral moment for theirsong& EP “Loud” in March of 2021 thanks to mainstream airplay on rock station Triple M.Their sound is one of a kind–an eclectic mix of their strongest influences such as The Corrs, Fleetwood Mac, The Chicks, Brad Paisley and Zac Brown Band–blending different styles of country, pop, and rock with a focus on catchy hooks, dreamy melodies and shows topping musicianship: Rachel shredding on the violin, Robbie melting faces with his electric guitar and Jesse holding down a solid rhythm on 2nd guitar. In full band mode, they are a sensational force–with the kind of musical chemistry that can only come from decades of experience, collaboration, friendship, and family. They love what they do, and they are simply exceptional. Despite launching the band during the pandemic, Hinterland performed coveted stage-storming sets at Groundwater, Savannah In The Round, Bush To Bay, and Tamworthfestivals. They are looking forward to releasing their long-awaited debut album and dominating the circuit once again in 2023. There is no one doing country music like Hinterland.

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MacKenzie Porter, what an inspirational artist, strong and determined women. In this podcast Rae and Mackenzie discuss the art of being a women in the arts, "rejection is just redirection' and the power of taking the yes's and no's with a pinch of salt and have fun on the journey. Mackenzie is working hard touring the world and writing and recording with an incredible Nashville team to put her best music out there along with some exciting acting things when they come up. 

With a string of #1 hits and collaborations MacKenzie stole the hearts of Australian country lovers while she was hear and we hope to see her back very soon. 

There is nothing better than seeing someone passionate and living a life of joy and love for their craft sucseed. We are very excited to see what comes next for this increible women.

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