"I was revisiting the 10 albums that made the Australian Music Prize shortlist this year when I took time out to listen to this second album from Melbourne's Laura Jean. I have little doubt that Eden Land will be among the final 10 next year. It is an outstanding record ..." Bernard Zuel, Sydney Morning Herald

Sydney-born, Melbourne-based songwriter Laura Jean first came to national attention in 2006 with the release of her debut album Our Swan Song, which marked her as a powerful, exotic new voice in Australian music.   Making waves overseas, Laura was invited to join popular UK band Snow Patrol for two successive Australian tours in 2007, which in turn lead to her supporting other international bands as M Ward, Midlake, Okkervil River and Richard Buckner, as well as homegrown stars of the likes of New Buffalo and Darren Hanlon. This attention culminated in her signing a deal with UK label Co-Operative/V2, who will release Eden Land later this year, after bringing British listeners up to speed with a condensed EP version of Our Swan Song.

After this kind of reception, Laura Jean felt confident enough to aim for the stars on her next album. An unashamed concept record, Eden Land explores ideas of self-discovery, sexual awakening and loss of innocence through a suite of nine interconnected songs.  As opposed to Our Swan Song, which was a three year labour of love, Eden Land came effortlessly, the songs written in seemingly direct communication with Laura’s subconscious, and recorded in just five days.  Singularly assured and strikingly beautiful, Eden Land is a powerful, ambitious record, suffused with an otherworldly atmosphere which struck even Laura as she was writing it. “I realised that I was speaking about a reality that wasn’t necessarily earthly, but could be from a parallel place,” she says. “I decided about halfway through that I could hear a land called Eden Land.”
www.laura-jean.com

‘Her deep fruity voice has flavours of soaring purity and sliding breathiness…and a stage charisma that has the audience singing along…’ - The West Australian

A professional singer since the age of fourteen, Elana Stone has spent the better part of a decade exploring her considerable range. After immersing herself in the technical base of jazz and soul, her wandering eye soon saw the young singer drawing folk, classical, rock and modern pop music into her growing repertoire. Stepping outside the confines of jazz, her prodigiously talented group provide an exciting foundation for Elana’s growing song writing ability.

As a jazz singer Elana has received high accolades. She was named Best Jazz Artist at the Musicoz awards in 2004, won the prestigious National Jazz Award competition in Wangaratta and was a semi finalist in the Montreux Jazz Vocal Competition in Switzerland in 2005. Elana and her band have toured Europe and appeared at festivals around Australia including the Perth International Arts Festival, Melbourne International and Fringe Festivals and have supported such artists as Holly Throsby, Jackson Jackson, Bluejuice and Kate Miller-Heidke.Elana has also toured as a guest vocalist with The Cat Empire and tours regularly with Melbourne based dance act Jackson Jackson.

Elana is due to release her brand new album, 'Your Anniversary' in February 2009.

www.myspace.com/elanastoneband

WINNER: BEST JAZZ ARTIST AT THE MUSICOZ AWARDS, 2004 WINNER: NATIONAL JAZZ AWARDS AT WANGARATTA JAZZ FESTIVAL 2005 SEMI-FINALIST: MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL VOCAL COMPETITION
 

“Blessed with an angelic voice, deft at lyrical wordplay and armed with a seemingly inexhaustive melody well, Conway creates songs which become best friends for life.”
Daily Telegraph

From her mid 1980’s debut with seminal band Do Re Mi (and their chart topping single Man Overboard), through film and stage appearances, to an extensive solo career, Deborah Conway remains a constant beacon for high quality, creative independence. Her first solo album, 1991’s ARIA award winning String Of Pearls, set the standard – attaining platinum status and spawning the single It’s Only The Beginning. 1993’s Bitch Epic and the experimental Ultrasound followed. After a stint in the UK Conway released My Third Husband, Exquisite Stereo, PC (The Songs Of Patsy Cline) and Summertown.

Along the way Conway also starred in the stage show Always …Patsy Cline; collaborated with classical composer George Dreyfus, Paul Grabowsky’s Australian Art Orchestra and Brisbane band george. Most recently she has devised and produced Broad.

www.deborahconway.com

 

"A beguiling singer and accomplished songwriter, it is Stringer's prodigious command of the steel-string guitar and banjo that distinguishes her from the pack. Man can she play." - The Age

Melbourne based original acoustic contemporary roots artist Liz Stringer has emerged triumphant with the critically acclaimed release of her debut album Soon, and her recent sold out shows & Album Launch at Northcote Social Club.

This emergence seemingly come from nowhere has led many aficionados of the genre to wonder where this exceptional new comer appeared from.
Liz’s humble origins are simple, and have provided the perfect grounding for musical growth. From a deeply musical family, her innate musicality helped her to teach herself how to play the piano and guitar and she began song writing at an early age.   When teenage restlessness sent her to Germany, she developed her writing and live performance on a borrowed fender in an alternative rock band, where rehearsals frequently took place in a damp World War 2 bunker. It was here that she began to fall in love with performing live, succumbing to the heady experience of playing music to an audience of like-minded folk who understood.

After many years abroad in Germany & the UK, she has arrived a veritable new comer to Melbourne’s music district (& her home town).

Hand picked from the pack by touring circuit staple, Mia Dyson, Liz was recently secured for a national tour with the Aria award winner. Added to her glowing supports with other indie dignitaries such as Jen Cloher & the Endless Sea, Ash Grunwald, Ember Swift & Jess McAvoy, Liz is now consolidating her place on the national festival circuit, with recent bookings including the Coast and Queenscliff Festivals.

A passionate advocate of independent music, Liz’s has recorded and produced Soon, a truly exceptional independent release. Amazingly & without label backing, Liz has a ground swell of interest within the independent and greater music industry, and in an ocean of mediocrity, Liz is the quintessential breath of fresh air.

A difficult genre to place, she has seamlessly fused folk, blues, and bluegrass in the most gentle of recordings that packs dynamite when the mood calls for it. Simply, Liz harnesses a sublime simplicity and depth, that effortlessly draws in the listener, and leaves you with a feeling that you are witnessing the humble beginnings of artist who is truly something special.

www.lizstringer.com

"This is a fresh, inspiring album full of great songs... the singing is just sublime.” Capitol News

After taking out the 2008 Female Artist of the Year Golden Guitar at the Country Music Awards of Australia in January this year, Dianna has hit the road with her brilliant album "Then There's Me", the album which follows her 2003 debut “Little Bit Crazy”.  Showcasing her pristine soprano voice and distinctive song writing talents, the album features material primarily written by Dianna.

Born and raised in Parkes in the Central West of New South Wales, Dianna spent her childhood on motorbikes, horses and driving around the country with her parents performing at talent quests. In 2003 she recorded her self financed debut album "Little Bit Crazy" which was picked up by Compass Brothers Records after label head Graham Thompson heard her on Saturday Night Country. "I was sitting at home one Saturday night in 2003 planning our releases for the following year and turned the radio on to listen to John Nutting", remembers Thompson. "The first thing I heard was this amazing voice that I didn't recognise. I immediately called Johnno who put me in touch with Dianna and we signed her as soon as we could. It was one of those beautiful little twists of fate that can be so pivotal in the career of an artist or a label".

Having toured with the likes of  Adam Brand, collaborating on songs with Melinda Schneider and Karl Broadie, getting to know and enjoying the admiration of premier poet Graeme Connors, appearing at festivals in Australia and New Zealand, and joining the increasingly prestigious Compass Brothers stable of premier Australian country artists, and being one of seven emerging creative talents to be handed a $10,000 grant at the second APRA Professional Development Awards, Dianna is an Australian star on the rise.

www.diannacorcoran.com