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Launching her new EP Nothin’ But Love at the 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival, brings a massive musical year full circle for Queensland-based singer songwriter Sarah Head. At last year’s festival she was named one of the Top 4 grand finalists in the 2013 Toyota Star Maker competition, something which launched a whirlwind year of more accolades and the progression of her professional recording career. The year that was 2013 saw Sarah as a finalist in coveted awards such as the MusicOz Awards for Independent Artists and the People’s Choice Awards for Most Promising Future Star. It’s no surprise she has been receiving such recognition, this 2007 graduate from the Australian College of Country Music has been working diligently on her music for over a decade, honing her skills as both a singer and songwriter and performing at all sorts of venues around the country.

Sarah says she can’t believe what a huge year 2013 has been for her, and can’t wait to kick off 2014 with her new release. “I pinch myself every day thinking about what I’ve experienced and achieved last year,” she says. “I am so excited about the future, and to keep doing something that I love and am so passionate about. I can’t wait to release my new EP and songs at Tamworth – I think there is going to be something there for everybody. I’m really excited about just how perfectly the tracks reflect my style and personality.”

The EP Nothin’ But Love, and the first single from it – Gypsy Soul – were written and recorded in Nashville. Sarah moved to the country music capital for nine-weeks to co-write with some of the biggest names in the business and lay down tracks for her latest release. She won the 2013 Arts Queensland Individual’s Grant for ‘artists engaging in projects that deliver highly transformative and unique career opportunities’, which assisted in funding her trip. She also created a successful crowd-funding campaign to help finance the recording of her EP. “I am sincerely humbled by the amount of encouragement shown by fans, community members and local businesses for my recording project,” says Sarah. “It’s this kind of support that keeps my chasing my dream and reaching for new heights, and for that I am so very thankful.”

While residing in Nashville, Sarah attended co-writing sessions with the likes of world-class songwriters Lauren Lucas and Ben Daniel, and leading industry icons such as Bob Regan and Byron Hill. She also worked with producer B.James Lowry (whose guitar prowess features on #1 hit songs in 2013). Byron Hill, whose songs have been recorded by Toby Keith, Ray Charles and Kenny Rogers to name a few, wrote two tracks with Sarah for the EP. “Sometimes you sit down with a new co-writer and just know you’ll come up with something good,” says Bryon. “That was the feeling for me when Sarah and I wrote for the first time.”

The first single from the EP Gypsy Soul was co-written with Bob Regan – who has penned tracks for Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood and Reba McIntyre to name a few) and producer B.James Lowry. The track is about self-discovery, written around the story of a woman’s moment of realisation where she embarks on a voyage of self-worth and revelation, determined to chase her dreams no matter what. “I do a lot of travelling with my music career and I always joke that I have a gypsy soul – never wanting to settle for the ordinary, always pushing the boundaries and daring to dream,” says Sarah. “That’s where the idea for Gypsy Soul came from – it’s about that point in your life when you realise you’ve been underestimated, like you’re faking being happy with the mundane and that you’re ready to show the world exactly who you’re supposed to be.”

Australia’s Nicki Gillis has ended the year on yet another positive note – being the most
popular female country recording artist in the UK. In the Hotdisc chart for 2013, Nicki’s self
written song, “I’ll Go My Own Way” just pipped good friend Hayley Oliver and Michelle
Wright as the highest charting female for 2013.

On the back of Nicki’s two tours to the UK in 2013 plus a tour of Germany, Nicki was
surprised by this news. ‘Wow I never thought I would be in the yearly chart, let alone the
leading female’, said Nicki as she took a break from rehearsing with Frank Ifield, Keith
Potger and Wayne Horsburgh for their new stage show, “When Aussies Ruled Britannia”,
‘and it’s so great to see Hayley (Oliver) in the chart as well, I’ve really loved the times we
have sung together on my last two tours in England.”

Nicki has had yet another busy year, apart from her overseas tours she has continued to
co-host Canterbury Country each month with Bob Howe while building her own event
management business and performance school. Much of her time in 2013 was spent
working in the community and speaking at various industry and business functions on
surviving in the entertainment industry and developing an international career as a mother
of two.

Aussies can get to see Nicki on stage in “When Aussies a Ruled Britannia” in late January
throughout regional NSW and Victoria.