NB: Saralyn’s sound was softer on the recording than it sounded when we spoke, so there are subtitles on this full-length interview. If you'd rather watch this with subtitles, you can find the full interview on YouTube.

From the time she started releasing songs in 2023, it was clear Saralyn was an artist with a distinctive sound and point of view, and that she had a lineage in country music and cared about offering songs that don’t shy away from emotion, such as ‘White Butterfly’ and ‘I Hope That You’ll Remember’. She also likes a driving beat, as on songs such as ‘Cowgirl Blues, which is one of five tracks on her debut EP, Goldline.

The title track is an origin story, of sorts, and a moving one at that. We talk about that in this new interview, in which Saralyn delves into her artistry and the stories that matter to her. There are songs about the love that sustains her and the dreams that drive her. As ever when we have chatted, Saralyn is clearly passionate about music, which has been in her life almost from birth. Even though being an independent artist is hard work – especially given she is the mother of two young children – she loves all the parts of it.

Saralyn’s music will appeal to people who love a contemporary country sound that is created along traditional lines, with storytelling that connects to the hearts of listeners and strong vocals that reinforce that connection because we can hear her own heart in each song.

She has several shows coming up, both of her original material and her Lainey Wilson cover show, Trailblazer – catch the last show of the current Trailblazer tour this Saturday at The Beer Shed in Sydney.

Saralyn on tour:

3 October – Port Macquarie, NSW

17 October – Muswellbrook, NSW

23 October – Central Coast, NSW

7 November – Sydney, NSW | Day Cruise with Viper Creek Band

- SOLD OUT

13 November – Hunter Valley, NSW

15 November – East Maitland, NSW

28 November – Paterson, NSW

21 January 2027 – Tamworth, NSW

Listen to Goldline on Apple Music

Listen to Goldline on Spotify

Listen to Goldline on YouTube

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[Mild language warning]

In this new interview, Toowoomba-raised country-blues artist Sue Ray tells me that, ‘like a bad country song’, she moved back to the Queensland city to have her children. But it’s also where she formed as an artist, as a member of the Toowoomba Country Music Club along with Duncan Toombs and Lyn Bowtell, and as the child of a rock ’n’ roll father (about whom she shares a wild story – no, I’m not going to tell you what it is!).

Before we talked about Ray’s own music, we covered live music and why it’s so wonderful – that’s because these interviews are conversations, so I don’t stick strictly to the questions I’ve prepared and if an artist mentions something that is interesting to pursue, I’ll do that.

Ray started playing guitar relatively late but she was writing well before that; ‘songs come to me constantly,’ she says, and she has over 11 000 voice memos on her phone to draw from for her songs, which have appeared on two studio albums and one live album. Her latest single, ‘Before the Rain’, is the title track from her forthcoming album.

Ray is an artist I’ve been aware of for quite a while, impressed by her voice and her songwriting, but this is the first time I’ve had a chance to interview her, and as you can tell by the length of it (almost 40 minutes), there was a lot to chat about and all of it was so interesting! She talks with insight about the ups and downs of artistry – including tall poppy syndrome – and how she has learned to make full use of her voice and talents, as well as about her time living in Nashville.

Listen to Sue Ray on Apple Music

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There is many a songwriter in this fair land who will have either written a song with Jen Mize or been mentored by her in their songwriting. Mize has been a regular mentor and teacher at Song Muster and the DAG Sheep Station, amongst other places, and the number of times her name comes up is a clear indicator of how wonderful a collaborator she must be.

Collaboration is also at the heart of The Rough N’ Tumble, the seven-piece band with whom she released an eponymous album in 2023. Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble are back with new album Tilt, which will indeed make you tilt and sway, and swoon, and in this new interview we talk about not only this album but Mize’s collaboration with band member Jeremy Edwards, a solo artist in his own right with whom she produced the album.

At the time we were speaking Mize was due to perform at the Gympie Muster, which has now passed (due to a few other commitments I wasn’t able to publish this interview before that took place) and she had already mentored at this year’s Song Muster. She has a fully committed creative life, which is no doubt why she came up with a phrase I loved, during the conversation: ‘creative gym’. I’ll let you find out in which context it was mentioned!

Mize is always wonderful to talk to, in part because she’s so passionate about music and the people she meets through it. Plus it’s always great to hear how collaborations happen and great music is made. I hope you enjoy our chat.

Listen to Tilt by Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble on Apple Music

Listen to Tilt by Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble on Spotify

Listen to Tilt by Jen Mize & The Rough N’ Tumble on YouTube

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