.

.

Interview with
COURTNEY KEIL

(16th October 2023)

Interview with Dave Bruce

.

.

Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
I sure have, I was drawn to music at a very young age and was constantly songwriting and singing around the house. I did my first songwriting workshop in 3rd grade at school and loved it from there. My passion for music has only grown and developed over the years and couldn’t imagine doing anything else!

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I like to think my music is a combination of contemporary country, with classic sounds of 90s country woven through. I hope that people resonate with my music due to shared life experiences.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today?
I have always been such a huge fan of Whitney Houston, she was an incredible vocalist and really changed the industry in my eyes.

.

.

Your new single ‘Nothin’ Like A Sure Bet’ has just been released! Describe its origin and evolution.
Believe it or not, my new single ‘Nothin’ Like A Sure Bet’ came to me while having an afternoon nap (who doesn’t love a nap!!). The idea of gambling it all on love for the right person,  laying your cards on the table and going all in. I noted it down and then got to work on it with my producer and co-writer Rod McCormack and Nashville based writer Sally Barris. We wanted it to have a subtle confidence and sass to it and during the first writing session, it flowed so nicely.  We couldn’t wait to get into the studio to record it.

Is there an EP or Album on the drawing board?
Absolutely, I have started working towards more music to drip feed over the next 12 months, with another album as the end goal. It’s exciting working on my new chapter of music.

Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
I sure do! The ‘Fierce & Fearless’ tour that I am taking on the road with my good friend and fellow Country Artist Bonnie Kellet is all about supporting each other in music, banding together and empowering women. It’s a high energy, fun show, where we love to see people up and dancing! We are so excited to take this show to the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival, playing our headline show on Sunday 21 January at Moonshiners, with more dates to be announced very soon!

.

.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why?
Johnny Cash (& June Carter-Cash). Johnny was an Incredible songwriter who penned over 1,000 songs during his lifetime. He didn’t shy away from supporting social justice issues using his platform and status to the extent of recording songs and actively supporting the Native American community.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist?
My biggest long term goals are to continue releasing music I love, working with good people and getting to tour the world. I am excited to see where this journey takes me and would love to explore any opportunity that comes my way.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
I love having the opportunity to connect with the audience through shared life experiences. It’s such an honour to do this with people. One career highlight has been singing the Australian national anthem at several key sporting events which I feel very privileged to have done.

.

.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers –
FAVOURITE:
Album – Rumours by Fleetwood Mac
Artist – Lainey Wilson
Movie – The Holiday – yes a Christmas movie!!
Place to visit – Florence, Italy
Venue to play – Tamworth Country Music Festival
Food –  Japanese!
Drink – Gin & Tonic
Person in History –  Johnny Cash!
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) I don’t have one, but love the idea of something small somewhere, maybe music related or a small butterfly as they remind me to find peace in any situation.

.

.

Follow COURTNEY KEIL
Facebook – Instagram – Tiktok – Website

.

.

Press Release 6th October 2023 (below)

.

.

It’s the first taste of new music since her acclaimed debut album, The Good Kind, released earlier this year. Country songstress, Courtney Keil, is drawing on the queen of hearts in her catchy new single, ‘Nothin’ Like a Sure Bet’.

“Tonight my losing streak is through / I could win it all on you,” sings Courtney in her unmistakable honeyed vocal. The single is rampant with clever risk taking references, delivered with a heft of swagger – a classic country feel-good song with a dash of attitude and the confidence of only accepting the best.

The idea came to Courtney unexpectedly. “The concept first dropped when I was in that half-awake, half-asleep state – it’s not usually how song ideas come to me, so I quickly put some thoughts down around what it’s like to gamble on love” she recalls. The singer-songwriter then penned the track alongside producer Rod McCormack and Music City hit-maker, Sally Barris.

Brilliantly produced by multi-instrumentalist Rod McCormack at The Music Cellar – who intertwined banjo, dobro, mandolin and acoustic guitar as the core instruments of the track – which gave the song an authentic country twang, bold and full of sass.

For the track’s accompanying video, Courtney once again enlisted the expertise of 5x Golden Guitar winner Duncan Toombs of The Filmery. The clip is a perfect example of light and shade, highlighting the singer’s confidence and sass, while still showing her carefree side.

“We were fortunate to film on location at the Hawkesbury Brewing Co on the Central Coast. I fell in love with the venue the first time I stepped inside for a weekend gig and am so grateful that they allowed me to film in their space. Duncan and I had a fun day, experimenting with their giant LED screen, used different aspects of the brewery and added some quirky scenes using playing cards – as you can see, I am no card trick expert!”

The singer has been turning heads since her 2020 debut single ‘I Just Wanna Hold You’ reached #15 on national Country radio and was named as a Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition Top 40 finalist. It began the road to her highly anticipated album, which debuted as the #1 Australian Album on the iTunes Country Australian Album chart. Proving that more than lady luck is on her side, she also took home ‘Best Female Vocal’ at the 2023 Australian Country Music People’s Choice Awards in Tamworth.

Since opening for artists including The Whitlams Black Stump Band, Gina Jeffreys, Tania Kernaghan, Karise Eden and Andrew Swift on stages around the country, Courtney has honed a magnetic live show. She’s recently joined forces with fellow artist Bonnie Kellet for ‘The Fierce & Fearless Tour’ – two of Australia’s sharpest young guns sharing stories and sass. The next stop on the tour bus is none other than the 2024 Tamworth Country Music Festival.

‘Nothin’ Like A Sure Bet’ is certain to be a crowd pleaser for Courtney with its effortless hooks and playful production harp back to what has garnered her so much praise thus far. Off the back of her recent debut album this spirited track adds further depth to the artist and songwriter Courtney Keil.

.

.

AMNPLIFY – DB