Singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddle player Bonnie Kellett is one of the busiest live performers in Australia, between solo performances and touring with Amber Lawrence. But in 2023 she also found time to release her debut album, Hidden Spirit, and a completely new single, ‘Bare Feet’.

Having seen Kellett play several times in 2023, with Amber Lawrence and under her own steam, and when we spoke late last year I was keen to find out more about her and discovered just how rich her background in music and performance is. It was a very interesting conversation and I'm sure you'll enjoy getting to know Kellett better, as I did.

(My tripod fell over twice during the interview - out of hundreds of interviews it's ever happened before - and the second time I managed to not set it up again properly, so you'll see the top of my computer for the last few minutes.)

For more about Bonnie Kellett: https://www.bonniekellett.com/

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When 'Sinner', the debut single from Central Coast (NSW) artist Ruby Shay - featuring her band The Red Horse - was released in October 2023 it was immediately clear that Shay is an artist with power and presence. Her voice is rich and captivating, layered with so much emotion and compassion that it was obvious in that song she had much to say and one song was never going to contain it all.

Having now heard her second single, 'When They Call Me', due for release in early 2024, it's clear that impression was not misplaced. Interviewing Shay recently gave me the opportunity to find out more about this singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist and we were quickly in the territory of life, death, art and inspiration. Shay brings her whole self - light and dark, shades in between, past, future and present - to her music and I loved talking to her about it all.

For more about Ruby Shay: https://www.instagram.com/rubyshaymusic/

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Jock Barnes and Trent McArdle both grew up in South-east Queensland and met through sport. One afternoon a decade ago they jammed together, and as Route 33 they have played together ever since. They’ve released two albums: The Switch in 2017 and Coro Drive in 2019. 

They now have a new single, ‘Summer You’, a pop-country anthem that was produced by Matthew Copley. It marks a new songwriting era for the pair, who wrote the song together, and they have plenty of plans for the future, as I discovered when we spoke recently.

For more about Route 33: https://www.facebook.com/route33entertainment/

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Shyanne Irwin is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who grew up in the Hunter region of New South Wales and currently lives in Newcastle. She released the album Out of This Town last year and has a brand new single, ‘Where I Want to Be’.

'Last year was my first year of living away from home and studying at uni, so this song has all the feelings of loneliness and sadness of moving away,' says Irwin. 'It’s all about leaving behind familiar faces and the memories of a small town to pursue my dreams in the city and how I navigated that change. Despite the feelings of loneliness, it’s also got a feeling of purpose and determination because I know I’m where I should be for my future.'

Irwin is a multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer and songwriter, and it became clear during our recent chat that she is passionate about and devoted to music, and to sharing it with others.

For more about Shyanne Irwin: https://shyanneirwin.com.au/

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Jo Caseley is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales who recently released her moving third album, High on Heartstrings. It’s been a big year because she also attended the Academy of Country Music in Tamworth at the start of the year.

In this interview Caseley talks honestly about the challenges of finding time for a creative life amidst marriage, motherhood, running a household and running a business. She also talks about the songs she hasn't released, and what's ahead at the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

For more on Jo Caseley: https://www.jocaseley.com/

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Zac Cross Band are a four-piece from Rockhampton in Queensland with members Zac Cross (lead vocals, guitar), Lachlan Plant (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe O'Shaughnessy (bass) and Bailey Connor (percussion). They released the EP Times Like These last year and have an album in the works. 

Their new single is ‘Too Far Gone’, which was initiated by Connor. 'Bailey was constantly sending me lyrics,’ recalls Cross. 'They all had a similar sentiment in that feeling of missing someone. The feeling just straight up sucks. So, we wanted to make a song that tells a story of a fresh love and those first-

time feelings that you experience with someone new.'

Recently I spoke to Zac Cross about the song, the formation of the band, and about his own songwriting process, which comes from a place of authenticity and a willingness to connect with an audience. 

For more on Zac Cross Band: https://www.zaccrossband.com/

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Les Thomas is a Naarm/Melbourne born and based singer and songwriter whose his first album, Survivor’s Tale, was released in 2013. His latest album, All My Friends are Superstars, was released this year. His songs are thoughtful, compassionate and vivid evocations of daily life, and they are just as impactful performed live as on the record. 

Thomas also runs the website Unpaved, which documents the music scene in his home town, and has a background in journalism. When we spoke recently he had lots of interesting things to say about songwriting, community and activism. It was a great pleasure to interview him.

For more on Les Thomas: https://lesthomasmusic.com/

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Katie Brooke grew up on the land and - after time away, including some years in Tamworth - has returned to live on the land in the Northern Rivers district of New South Wales. She released a self-titled EP in 2020 and her debut album, Sticks, Stones and Stories, last year. She now has a really lovely new single, ‘Too Far Down’, which is actually a song about standing up for oneself.

'“Too Far Down" is a vulnerable song,' Brooke says. 'It speaks of comparison and the temptation to stray from your path, abandoning yourself in attempt to seek approval or personal gain.'

We spoke recently about the song, the album and Brooke's musical life - as well as some of the more esoteric parts of creativity.

For more about Katie Brooke: https://www.katiebrookemusic.com/

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Denvah is a singer and songwriter from central Queensland who has had a big 2023 and the year isn’t over yet. She was the winner of the 2023 Gympie Music Muster Talent Search, a 2023 Toyota Star Maker Grand Finalist and has just been named the winner of the Groundwater Kix Start competition. She released an EP in 2020 and there have been other singles since. Her latest is ‘Do Without’.

The song is, says Denvah, 'the result of me stopping and comprehending all that had happened, almost as if the song was a diary entry. The writing process for this song happened quickly, for I feel the lyrics consist of all the things I never said, so it spilled out from my head to paper rather fast.'

We talked about the new song, and other songs, and also about Denvah's experiences with those prestigious competitions.

More about Denvah: https://www.denvah.com/

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James Johnston’s debut album RAISED LIKE THAT made history as Australia’s largest debut country album. It has reached #1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Albums (All Genres) and the #1 on the ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums. Johnston has spent over 115 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Country Hot 50 National airplay chart, amassed over 55 million global streams, delivered six #1 airplay hits, received two Golden Guitar awards (from six nominations) and played many festivals. 

I first interviewed Johnston towards the end of 2021, with the interview published in January 2022, and the trajectory of his career has been absolutely no surprise. Johnston worked diligently at honing his performance and songwriting skills for years before he recorded and released even one song. Since those first singles he's also become expert at social media, something we discussed in relation to his single 'Same Songs'. This latest interview is the fourth time we've spoken, and this time it's about the album, which is a magnum opus from an artist who is only just beginning. In this chat Johnston talks about how being 'raised like that' was the theme for not just that first single but the album itself. We also spoke about his current tour.

For more about James Johnston: https://jamesjohnston.com/

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