Still Rockin' It - Cheryl Lee
Still Rockin' It - Cheryl Lee
What has Amber Lawrence been up to lately? OR The Accidental Country Star's Journey from Sydney to Tamworth
Join Cheryl Lee - That Radio Chick on STILL ROCKIN' IT for news, reviews, music and interviews with some of our favourite Australian musician
What happens when a Sydney accountant stumbles upon country music by chance and follows an unexpected path to stardom? Six-time Golden Guitar winner Amber Lawrence reveals all in this charming conversation about musical journeys and finding your passion later in life.
Amber's story begins with a surprising revelation – she didn't pick up a guitar until age 22 and had no childhood dreams of musical fame. A chance purchase of a LeAnn Rimes CD sparked her interest in country music, leading to a fateful trip to Tamworth in 2004 where she placed second in a talent competition. Fast forward twenty years, and she's one of Australia's most celebrated country artists, recently inducted into the prestigious Galaxy of Stars alongside legends like Kasey Chambers and Lee Kernaghan.
The conversation delves into her 2022 ARIA #1 country album "Living for the Highlights," which captured the emotional rollercoaster of the pandemic years while maintaining Amber's characteristically positive outlook. She shares the story behind her latest single "Comeback Queens," a joyful anthem celebrating those nights out with longtime friends where everyone recaptures their carefree youth – "spinning around with Kylie Minogue and Shania Twain on the dance floor having a good time."
Amber gives us a glimpse of her busy schedule, balancing an extensive tour, European travel, and preparation for hosting the iconic Deni Ute Muster festival in October. She also discusses her upcoming album (now scheduled for January release), her pioneering children's country music albums, and why country music's authentic storytelling continues to win over new fans who "can now admit they like country music."
Join us for this heartwarming conversation that proves it's never too late to find your true calling. Whether you're a longtime country music fan or just beginning to appreciate the genre, Amber's journey from corporate office to country stages will inspire you to follow your unexpected passions.
What has Amber Lawrence been up to lately? Let's find out!
Get out when you can, support local music and I'll see you down the front!!
Visit: ThatRadioChick.com.au
that Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here. Welcome to the Still Rockin' it podcast, where we'll have music news, reviews and interviews with one of the loveliest ladies in Australian music, six times Golden Guitar winner, Australian singer-songwriter, Amber Lawrence. She is one of Australia's most celebrated and hardest working country artists. In 2023 announced the Female Artist of the Year at the CMAA Golden Guitar Awards, and in the same year at Tamworth Country Music Festival, she was inducted into the prestigious Galaxy of Stars, alongside legends such as Kasey Chambers and Lee Kernighan. She will also be this year's host of the 2025 Deni Ute Muster, held Friday the 3rd and Saturday the 4th of October, and tickets are available now. Deniutemustercomau Accumulating over 6 million artist streams to date. I hope you enjoy getting to know Amber Lawrence. To catch up on podcasts from other favourite artists, simply go to thatradiochickcomau.
Amber Lawrence:You're with that Radio Chick and I'd like to welcome into the Zoom room today a country legend.
Cheryl Lee:Amber Lawrence, thank you for joining us today.
Amber Lawrence:Amber, Thanks for having me. Good to be here. I know you've got a really busy schedule so we appreciate your time this morning.
Cheryl Lee:Congratulations, six-time Golden Guitar winner, 2023 Female Artist of the Year, galaxy of stars the list goes on and on and on but we might go back a tiny bit to the start and then zoom up to all the exciting things that are coming up right now. Sounds good, yeah, you picked up a guitar relatively quite late in life, at 22. But when did you realize that? Music was your thing, were you?
Amber Lawrence:little, not at all. Um, that's why I picked it up quite late, because I, you know, I wasn't really all that interested. Well, I certainly I liked music, but I had no sort of plans or ideas to have a career in music. And even when I started learning the guitar at 22, roughly again it wasn't for the oh my God, I want you know, I've seen TV show and I want to go on it, or anything like that. It was just, you know, it was just a passion of sort of wanting to learn an instrument and then write songs. And then one thing led to another. I went to Tamworth in 2004, so just over 20 years ago went in a talent quest, came second in that talent quest, and that was when sort of the first doors started opening for me.
Cheryl Lee:What led you to country music? What led you to Tamworth?
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, well, I didn't grow up in the country, so I grew up in the city of Sydney, which is the busiest city in Australia, and look, I think really I was just listening to country music, and that was by accident. I went to a CD shop one day and I bought a Leanne Rimes album. Her song Blue was quite popular and one-way ticket and I just loved her voice and I loved, I just loved that sort of yodeling break in her voice and I think I started modeling my sound on that. And then, yeah, I basically kept adding to my country music collection from that point on, and Dixie Chicks were next, then Australian Female they sort of stumbled across a compilation album that had Melinda Schneider and Tamara Stewart and Felicity Urquhart and Becky Cole, and you know they were all ready in their careers and I hadn't even started yet. But I loved the Australian country music and you know I'd read the back of the CDs and I'd find out who played on what. Yeah, so that's sort of where the love of country music came from.
Cheryl Lee:And from then on, you've been making up for lost time.
Amber Lawrence:For lost wine, as they say.
Cheryl Lee:Wanted to congratulate you on your 2022 ARIA number one country album. Living for the Highlights Great album.
Amber Lawrence:Thank you, yeah, that was certainly sort of a COVID sort of influenced album. Thank you, yeah, that was certainly sort of a COVID sort of influenced album. You know, it sort of sums up those two to three years where we were all a little bit in limbo. Yeah, I guess you know it's called Living for the Highlights because it's about living for those. You know, 50% of life is like all the good stuff and then the other half is the grind and you know the bad news. Sometimes it comes, it comes, but for me glass half full is always the aim. So that's what living for the highlights sort of represented. So that album was a real journey of the highs and lows of covid, but the overwhelming positivity came out at the end you are listening to still rocking the podcast with Cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee:Let's play the title track from that album, the 2022 ARIA number one country album, living for the Highlights. And then we're going to come back and speak more to Amber about the new song.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, the next album is on its way and it'll be quite different to Live In For the Highlights, just sort of in my fun and friendship era. Yeah, absolutely.
Cheryl Lee:The third single from that album is what we're going to be talking about in a minute. I watched it last night. It absolutely made me want to get the girl posse together.
Amber Lawrence:Get out there do some bits have a great night it just literally uplifted me that much You've achieved what you set out to achieve with that?
Cheryl Lee:I think.
Amber Lawrence:Thank you. Yeah, comeback Queens, you know, I mean I tend to write songs purely for my own enjoyment. First, I've never been the type of person to go, well, let's write this song because so-and-so will like it, or this will. You know, maybe that's not smart, maybe that's why you should write songs, but I just find it's more authentic to be okay. What do I want to say? I'm going to say it and hopefully people resonate.
Amber Lawrence:And you know, I've got some really good friends still from high school and some good university friends, and these were my friends that I had before music. And you know we used to go out a lot. You know, when we're 18, 19, 20, every week was someone's birthday. You know, another 18th, another 21st, and we were. You know we were good fun, we used to have a lot of fun.
Amber Lawrence:We'd stay out late and one of our friends' dad would come and pick us up and it would always be the same songs and we can still dance to those same songs the same way we did at 20. And so I sort of wanted to reminisce about that in this song, because when I catch up with those friends it is still the same night and we do call ourselves comeback queens and it'll be the next morning on the phone texting each other. You know, someone's still in bed because they're not feeling too good after the night out and we'll have a good laugh because nothing's changed. You know, and for one night only, we're those comeback queens. Just you know, we're living spinning around with Kylie Minogue and Shania Twain on the dance floor having a good time.
Cheryl Lee:The video clip certainly captured the vibe. Everybody looked like they were having a genuinely good time making that film clip.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, totally. And, to be honest, there's no way they couldn't have had a good time making that film clip. Yeah, totally, and, to be honest, there's no way they couldn't have had a good time, because all they had to do was turn up, get free drinks that I shouted for them at the bar and then dance. I mean, I just didn't want to do a long video shoot because I'm you know, I've done like 30, 40 video clips in my time and the days of doing 12 hour shoots. I'm sort of over it. And so I'm like like to the director can we do it in four hours? We'll be quick, you know. So for the extras that came and a lot of them are my friends, um school mums and a lot of people from Facebook that travel to be part of it they were kind of stunned how quick it was and I'm like, well, that's because I just wanted it to be quick. But you know, have fun guys, drink up, dance, just enjoy yourselves. That was all they had to do that was the brief.
Cheryl Lee:I think they nailed it totally and then it totally inspired me. I've got my denim on.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah nice and my hat my kid wear I don't know if you can see my little earrings there and watch out double denim.
Cheryl Lee:Can I do this? Show you my denim boots without giving you a flash.
Amber Lawrence:She's flexible, you could have been in the video. Next time it's a lot warmer where you are, because it's freezing in Sydney today and I've just done school drop-off, so I'm definitely I'm not dressed as the comeback queen today.
Cheryl Lee:I'm indoors with the heat of gone, full blast, nice, nice.
Amber Lawrence:It's the soundtrack of every girl's night out and, as I I say you girls absolutely nailed it.
Cheryl Lee:I do love that line. Come back, queens, in your levi jeans singing 90s shania just a little off key.
Amber Lawrence:That is so appropriate. That is so me. We all identify with that. It's all of us. And even if you're a singer like when I go out I don't sing well, you know, I'm singing off key too still Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick, cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee:Enough talking about it, let's play it now. Such a fun, fun song. Come Back, queens. And then we're back to speak some more to Amber Lawrence about her tour. After this, it must be time to get together again, climb the docks and grab the West Coast coolers. Let's raise a glass of two. The first single kicked the doors down, and the second single was you can admit you like country music.
Cheryl Lee:I love that as well. Yeah, it is true, like I probably wouldn't have admitted it long ago. Now I love it and I'm loud and proud about it.
Amber Lawrence:That's right and that's what I've found happening Like, again, because of where I live and you know the people I meet all the time. They sort of say, oh, I love country music. I'm like really I've never said this before, but it has had very much a resurgence, or not even a resurgence, just a growth. And yeah, maybe that's just a sign of the times that the other music that used to be popular is sort of I don't know, not that good Country music is. Like we've kept our standards and I think people just like music that they can actually understand the lyrics and they're not getting, you know, profanities shouted at them or you know, like a lot of country music themes are pretty simple. Of course, they're about catching up with friends and having a drink. But maybe that's what the world needs, yeah you're not twerking at us, I think.
Cheryl Lee:for me, what I like about it is the authenticity in the stories.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, it's not just shouting out words.
Cheryl Lee:Most of the country music songs are a story, really, aren't they?
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, yeah. Look, even when you write a party song for me, there's still some kind of story. You know, in Comeback Queens it's still a story of these girls that turn up and you know, like I say in the song, we don't need to hold our hair back anymore and we can hold our liquor. You know, maybe we can't, but you know you're still finding a story in that song and it actually comes from a real place. So I think that's what people like.
Cheryl Lee:And the reminiscing, I think, is a fabulous part of it as well and the remembering the good times. That's it exactly. Come Back. Queens is the third single from the upcoming album due out later this year. Do we have an ETA Amber?
Amber Lawrence:I think I'm actually going to release it in January, so that actually does not count, as this year it's in the next 12 months. It was going to be October, but I'm going to Europe in September and I just thought, you know what? Maybe I'm doing a festival in Europe and then some travelling, and I just thought it's going to be too much to be trying to organise an album launch from Europe on the other side of the world and maybe I should just enjoy the croissants rather than plan an album launch. So I've just pushed it back a little bit, just a couple of months, but January is when it's coming out.
Cheryl Lee:Absolutely. You just enjoy your time away taking the family. Yeah, yeah, Awesome. How long are you away for?
Amber Lawrence:Two and a half weeks, so that's not really that long for Europe, but that's still a nice trip.
Cheryl Lee:Enjoy because I'm looking at your dates here. Oh my goodness, You've got 24 dates between here and October.
Amber Lawrence:You've got 24 dates between here and october. You've got four in a row. Oh no, I mean, touring life is quite fun. You get adrenaline when you, when you perform. So the tiredness you don't really feel till you get home, which is annoying for your family, because you come home and you've had the best time away, and then you're like, oh, I need to sleep. So, yeah, when you're actually on the road, you sort of manage pretty well. But yeah, you come home and you're wrecked.
Cheryl Lee:Very, very busy. To get the dates of when Amber is in your town, go to wwwamberlawrencecomau. That's it. Coming to a town near you For the Adelaideans. Amber is here in October and you've got three chances Corntown Hall on the Friday, murray Delta Joint on the Saturday and the Gov, adelaide's favourite venue, on the Sunday. Yeah, you played at the Gov before.
Amber Lawrence:Amber, yeah, so actually I have. I opened last year. Early last year I opened for Go West and Nick Kershaw. So Go West, we know King of Wishful Thinking, and Nick Kershaw's song was Wouldn't it be good to be in your shoes?
Cheryl Lee:Yeah, which is a huge song.
Amber Lawrence:People absolutely loved that when he played it. So, yeah, I played the Gov then and it was great, loved the venue. Can't wait First time playing the Gov in Adelaide and love Murray, delta, joint and what a great town Corn is. So, yeah, we've got a nice tour there in October. What dates are we coming in October?
Cheryl Lee:Let's have a look. 24th, 25th and 26th, that's it. You are listening to, still Rocking it, the podcast with Cheryl Lee. I think we should have the first single now from the upcoming album out in January. Kick the Doors Down and then we're back to say goodbye to Amber. And another big thing that you've got coming up is the Danilica Newtmaster and you are the host.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, yeah, busy month for me. Lots of gigs in October and starts on a long weekend in Denny. And last year I was one of the headliners on the Saturday night main stage, which was great with my band and we had an awesome time. We had a great, great show. We loved it. And this year I get to come back as the emcee and the host for both stages, introducing all the acts, which is a great gig, and I'll be sort of around and about and doing all other sorts of things, like the Blue Singlet Count and, you know, introducing the Wiggles, and it's an amazing festival. So I'm just glad to be back as part of the family. It's going to be awesome. Congratulations.
Cheryl Lee:That is a big tick to be invited to be the host. The emcee, Well done it is a good gig.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, it's one of the major festivals in Australia, so it's the one everyone wants to play and yeah, it's great. And the Wiggles, they've gone a little bit country, haven't they? They saw the trend, you know, they saw what was happening and they went country too. But I must say I did the first Kids Country album.
Amber Lawrence:I did it before they did, you've done three right, I have Kids Gone Country number number one, number two and Aussie, aussie Christmas. So you know, everyone might think the Wiggles are cool, but I did it first. You were the trendsetter, amber, that's right. They were just clever enough to pick up on it, so true.
Cheryl Lee:So you're getting to them. Young Amber. What I really love is that you have taken the time to make these children's albums, because music is so important for the development of children. I love that you've done that Exactly. Apart from all the fabulous music there there's John Williamson, casey Chambers, troy Casadei, the Wolf Brothers, even Furness and the Fundamentals. There's so much else isn't there at the Denny, u must say, on top of the fabulous musical line-up Mobile animal farms, drunken castles, laser tech, monster truck shows, mermaids slot cars, I mean over the years, and it's I mean over 20 years old.
Amber Lawrence:They've just grown it as not only an iconic Australian festival but something for families. I think they realised over the years that more and more, all the people that came when they were 20 are now still coming when they're 40 and they've got kids. So they've just expanded the product, I suppose the offerings. There's something for everyone. It's incredible, and if you're listening to this and you've never been try it out this year, it's going to be great.
Cheryl Lee:I've never been, but geez, I'm hanging to now that I've read this. I've done Monday, Mondays.
Amber Lawrence:Yeah, nowhere near as big, no, but it's out in the desert, you know, out in the country.
Cheryl Lee:Yeah, there's about 20,000 people go, can't wait. They donate $100,000 back to community groups.
Amber Lawrence:Which is awesome, but nothing else. If you don't want to go for the music and all the other fabulous events, go because you know it helps fundraise for fabulous causes. Totally yeah for a festival to still be thriving. Yeah, congratulations, absolutely well, congratulations for being part of it.
Cheryl Lee:I think my time might nearly be up. I wanted to ask you one more quick thing, if I may. Did you ever have a plan B? Like had you had this music thing not panned out?
Amber Lawrence:for you, it was the opposite for me. I did have a career. I was an accountant for Qantas. I went to university and then I just started playing music and music took over. So I did it the opposite way, yes, you did.
Cheryl Lee:Plan C could have always been to return to accounting. I've been in accounting all my life. There you go.
Amber Lawrence:It's not too late for me. I've just turned 60.
Cheryl Lee:Maybe I can pick up a guitar and follow your footsteps Not too late.
Amber Lawrence:Exactly, you've got to do what you want with your life, that's for sure.
Cheryl Lee:Congratulations on all your successes and everything else that I know is to come for you.
Amber Lawrence:It's been a pleasure chatting to you this morning. Thank you for spending some time with us, and you look pretty great for 60, by the way, thanks. Thanks for having me See you in October. See you then, bye.
Cheryl Lee:Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick, cheryl Lee. Now I'm going to play the fabulous song you Can Admit you Like Country Music. I have, I've embraced it and I do love it and I hope you love it too. You can't admit you kind of like it, country music. I do love it and I hope you love it too. You're with Cheryl Lee, that radio chick. Thank you so much for joining me on the Still Rocking it podcast. Hope to catch you again next time. Get out when you can support Aussie music and I'll see you down the front.