Central Queensland's indie-country queen Hayley Marsten is back with another enchantingly beautiful ballad, 'Bittersweet At Best' – her first new music since 'I'm Fine, Thanks' released earlier this year.
Processing themes of heartache, emotional transitions and realisations, the concept of change is at the core of the song."Making this song was so easy, I knew from the beginning I wanted the keys to be the main character and we built it from there," shares Hayley.
"My production team are some of the people who know me best and really understood the feeling I wanted this song to give people.
"We really focused on trying to make it feel as tinged with melancholy as possible. When we added the strings and Melody Moko's beautiful backing vocals it was just the perfect little golden feeling song to me."
A Golden Guitar and Queensland Music Awards nominee, here Hayley shares five lady country-pop singer-songwriters who have shaped her own songwriting compositions.
Taylor Swift
I grew up an only child who was often entertained by trawling through the iTunes store for my next favourite song. In 2007 I downloaded a song onto my pink iPod mini, by an American country singer called 'Teardrops On My Guitar'.I was 13 and perpetually rejected (in my opinion at the time) and this song felt like I was reading from someone's diary, it felt so real it could've been my own.
Since then, I have been a Taylor fan through and through and it really does feel like listening to and learning her catalogue as I was growing up was my songwriting apprenticeship. I learned how to wrap a devastating lyric around an ear-worm hook from her, and for that I am eternally grateful.
She is a songwriter who can tell a story, no matter what genre she may play in; her pop albums are just as rich with imagery, characters, emotion and colour as her country stuff and that is an incredible feat.
So many times during my career people (mostly men) have told me that Taylor Swift isn't any good or just writes about boys; the same old broken record bullsh.t, so why would I aspire to be anything like her as a writer?
I think that if in 2022, with everything she's done, you still don't think that Taylor Swift is one of the best songwriters of our time, I'm sorry, you might just be really dull!
Shania Twain
Dancing to the Man! 'I Feel Like A Woman' music video is one of my earliest memories. As a four year old, seeing this very cool woman with a very shiny outfit was all I needed to see to decide I wanted to grow up to be just like her.Not only is Shania an incredible artist and songwriter, she also pushed the boundaries on what country music was and how a woman in that genre could dress or sing about or achieve.
Not only that but she was so steadfast in what she wanted to achieve and how she wanted to do it. Like choosing to get straight back into the studio and keep writing after the success of 'The Woman In Me' instead of going on tour.
Because she wanted to push herself to make an even bigger record before she went on the road, I think she got that, because that album was 'Come On Over'.
Growing up, 'Come On Over' was my favourite CD in my parents' collection and my family still hold Shania up as one of the greatest of all time.
Dolly Parton
Dolly wasn't a huge part of my early musical education, but I have always felt she's just been there. But as I've gotten older, hearing Dolly speak to her audiences, her sass and her quick wit are something I have always aspired to have even a tiny bit of.The Dolly quote I always hold dear when I think about planning my own shows is: "Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, give 'em a shock and send them home!"
Not only is Dolly the pinnacle of an entertainer, but she just seems to have inspiration and songs flowing out of her at all times. The way that she is so in-tune with her writing that she can write 9 to 5 on the set of the movie on her acrylic nails is incredible.
Fanny Lumsden
I bought Fanny's first album from a JB Hi-Fi on my lunch break when I worked in a Westfield and since then I have been ever inspired by Fanny, her artistry and her work ethic.She is without a doubt the hardest working, touring artist not only in country music but in Australia in my opinion. The way that she has constantly said 'well I'm doing it that way' to every crusty gatekeeper who told her 'well it's just not done this way' is incredibly inspiring.
She has carved out her own special way of touring with the Country Halls Tour that I have been an opener on before, and they are always halls in the middle of nowhere that Fanny and her crew fill to the brim with joy and people.
Over the years since my JB purchase I have been lucky enough to call Fanny a friend. She is generous with her enthusiasm and knowledge, and always one to lift other artists up with her, especially women. Plus nothing compares to the shock and awe I get going on my morning walk with my I Love Fanny cap.
Gretta Ray
The first time I heard 'Drive' I think my brain exploded just a smidge. I had never heard so many triple-word score words in one song that fit and flow so perfectly. Plus the fact it sounded like I was in my very own teen movie when I drove around with it on.Gretta's 2021 album 'Begin To Look Around' is a masterclass on how to up your vocabulary and put it to work with the most fantastical vocal acrobatics. I am in constant awe of how she manages to make such beautiful and exciting lines sound so effortless.
In fact, I have made the producers on my album listen to the specific backing vocals on 'Love Me Right' so many times they know the song back to front now too. I truly think she is one of the best songwriters Australia has ever had the privilege to produce.
Hayley Marsten 2022 Tour Dates
Fri 30 Sep - Deni Ute Muster (Deniliquin)Sun 30 Oct - Groundwater Country Music Festival (Gold Coast)
