IF you subscribe to rock cliches you'd think it would be impossible to blend careers in music and dietetics. However, University Of Newcastle nutrition and dietetics graduate and indie-folk songwriter Megan Core is proof to the contrary.
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"It's good to be able to use both sides of the brain and have a good balance," Core said.
Core's debut single Twenty Something has been warmly received since its release earlier this month. Core recorded the track with engineer Sean Cook at Carrington's Novotone Studios in December, shortly before she moved to Byron Bay.
"I've definitely got enough songs for an EP or an album, but I thought we'd start slow and steady and release singles and see how they're received," she said. "I'm also just enjoying learning about the process of actually recording and releasing a song."
Twenty Something deals with the pressures and anxieties of finishing university and preparing to take the next step in life. It's a topic she'll explore in future singles.
"I naturally sing a lot about mental health because I think that's an important topic and obviously people discuss that more and more," she said. "I think if I have a platform it's definitely important to sing about it for me."
HUNTER IMPACT
MUSICIAN and radio host, Henry Wagons, believes the Americana scene extending from Newcastle to Tamworth is one of most fertile in Australia.
The frontman of country-rock favourites Wagons - who have headlined Hunter Valley festivals The Gum Ball and Dashville Skyline - is also one of the foremost experts on alt-country in Australia and hosts Double J's weekly Tower Of Song radio show.
"William Crighton is such a huge talent, Ben Leece, Tori Forsyth, Melody Pool," Wagons said. "[They're] stunning talents. What's really interesting about it is the fact that this songwriting is impactful songwriting.
"It's not throwaway songwriting. It's not surf music you take your shoes off and hop in. It's weighty, heavy songwriting that's coming out of Newcastle and surrounds."
BACK ON STAGE
AFTER 13 continuous weeks of Friday night live streams during the COVID-19 lockdown, Cessnock country star Travis Collins has announced his return to performing in the flesh.
The Golden Guitar winner's cancelled April 3 show has been rescheduled for Cessnock Leagues Club on September 5.
BRITT'S STAG NIGHT
ANOTHER musician returning to live performing is Newcastle's country queen Catherine Britt, who will play an intimate dinner show at the Stag and Hunter Hotel on Friday night.
Joining the Boneshaker songwriter will be Newcastle's Natalie Henry and Suz Dorahy. The 32 tickets have already be snapped up.
TV TIME FOR TORI
IF you've watched US crime-drama Hightown on Stan you might have heard a slice of the Hunter.
Kurri Kurri alt-rocker Tori Forsyth had her track Be Here included as the closing song on episode two of the series, which is co-executive produced by hit TV and filmmaker Jerry Bruckheimer.
Considering Hightown has been US cable channel Starz's highest-rating show for the past month with a viewership of 1.45 million, it was a massive advertisement for Forsyth's music.
