MOVE over Taylor Swift, there’s a new country princess in town.
Mandurah’s Courtney Conway’s debut album 21 Days was released last week after the singer completed a life-long dream of recording in Nashville, thanks to her producer Sam Hawksley.
“It was something I always wanted to do,” she said.
“The producer I worked with on my EP was amazing and I vowed that no matter what, I would record my album with him.
“It just so happens that he now lives in Nashville so it was the perfect opportunity to go over there.
“It’s the capital of country music so it was very inspirational and for a country singer it’s like heaven.
“You step into a taxi and there’s country music playing on the radio and in the hotel foyer there’s country music playing; everything is country music.
“It makes you want to do better.”
Recorded at the Fool On The Hill studios, the album features some of the best musicians Nashville has to offer including Nick Buda, who is best known for his drum work on Taylor Swift’s records.
With the help of Hawksley and the band, Conway created a mostly uplifting album, despite a couple of heart breaking love songs, including her first ballad and second single, Burning Your Memory.
“It wouldn’t be a country album without them,” she joked.
“I spent two long years working towards getting this album finished because I really wanted to consider how the album’s direction and songs were a true representation of me.
“When we finally got into the studio to record in Nashville, it was such a great feeling.
“To have all those world-class musicians working on my songs and making them come to life was so incredible.
“It made the wait worthwhile.”
Conway will be at The Monkey Bar on Saturday at 8pm and at the Boddington Lines Rodeo on November 1.
For more information go to courtneyconwaymusic.com