JAKE Davey has made the journey down the Pacific Highway from his hometown of Taree to Newcastle for weekend covers shows more times than he cares to remember.
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Despite being only 23, the country-pop musician already has a decade of live experience in the bank.
Davey has his sights set on far bigger journeys with the release of his second original single On Your Mind, co-written with 2019 Star Maker finalist, Chelsea Berman.
The track was co-produced by Rhys Zacher at Glendale's Spinlight Studio and displays Davey's ability to conjure up smooth, radio-friendly melodies.
"It's basically all about communication in a new relationship and experiencing that to a full degree," Davey said. "We channelled that Nashville country-pop energy within the track because I love artists like Jordan Davis and Dan + Shay, who are kind of outside of the box a little bit, but still have that mainstream country sound."
Davey plans to continue releasing singles over the summer, in between appearances at Country At The Beach on December 7 on the Gold Coast and the Tamworth Country Music Festival in January.
Then in May he'll realise his dream by travelling to Nashville with Berman for six weeks.
"We're going to be heading over and purely songwriting, recording, networking and just experiencing Nashville," he said.
LEECE ADDS LAYER
BEN Leece spent 15 years performing in rock bands like The Delta Lions, but it was when he followed his heart to alt-country and Americana that he truly found himself.
The result was his best work, last year's solo record No Wonder the World Is Exhausted.
On November 1 the Newcastle artist will release his new single Paper Thin, which serves as an ode to the music community that has fostered his rebirth as a songwriter.
"It's been a rough year, both personally and for this greater musical community," Leece said.
"We've lost some friends and felt a darkness, but there has also been an awareness of the folks around me - everyone is looking out for each other.
"We all hurt. We all deal with our own madness. Paper Thin is an affirmation to be there for the people that have been there for me."
Leece will launch Paper Thin with Georgia State Line at Maitland's Grand Junction Hotel on November 10.
GROWLING FOR YOU
LOS Angeles underground heroes The Growlers are bringing their brand of "beach goth" to town at the height of the Novocastrian summer.
The Growlers will perform at 48 Watt Street on January 9 on their tour for their sixth album Natural Affair, out on October 25.
Since releasing their first album in 2009, The Growlers have performed with the likes of The Black Keys, Julian Casablancas and Mac DeMarco and developed a unique blend of indie, garage and surf-pop and as well as their own annual Beach Goth festival held around Halloween.