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
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cheryl Lee (00:06):
that Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still Rockin' itpodcast, where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith one of the loveliest ladies
in Australian music, six timesGolden Guitar winner, Australian
(00:28):
singer-songwriter, AmberLawrence.
She is one of Australia's mostcelebrated and hardest working
country artists.
In 2023 announced the FemaleArtist of the Year at the CMAA
Golden Guitar Awards, and in thesame year at Tamworth Country
Music Festival, she was inductedinto the prestigious Galaxy of
(00:49):
Stars, alongside legends such asKasey Chambers and Lee
Kernighan.
She will also be this year'shost of the 2025 Deni Ute Muster
, held Friday the 3rd andSaturday the 4th of October, and
tickets are available now.
Deniutemustercomau Accumulatingover 6 million artist streams
(01:10):
to date.
I hope you enjoy getting toknow Amber Lawrence.
To catch up on podcasts fromother favourite artists, simply
go to thatradiochickcomau.
Amber Lawrence (01:22):
You're with that Radio Chick and I'd like to
welcome into the Zoom room todaya country legend.
Cheryl Lee (01:29):
Amber Lawrence, thank you for joining us today.
Amber Lawrence (01:31):
Amber, Thanks for having me.
Good to be here.
I know you've got a really busyschedule so we appreciate your
time this morning.
Cheryl Lee (01:39):
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 goback a tiny bit to the start and
then zoom up to all theexciting things that are coming
up right now.
Sounds good, yeah, you pickedup a guitar relatively quite
(02:00):
late in life, at 22.
But when did you realize that?
Music was your thing, were you?
Amber Lawrence (02:06):
little, not at all.
Um, that's why I picked it upquite late, because I, you know,
I wasn't really all thatinterested.
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 startedlearning the guitar at 22,
roughly again it wasn't for theoh my God, I want you know, I've
seen TV show and I want to goon it, or anything like that.
(02:29):
It was just, you know, it wasjust a passion of sort of
wanting to learn an instrumentand then write songs.
And then one thing led toanother.
I went to Tamworth in 2004, sojust over 20 years ago went in a
talent quest, came second inthat talent quest, and that was
when sort of the first doorsstarted opening for me.
Cheryl Lee (02:47):
What led you to country music?
What led you to Tamworth?
Amber Lawrence (02:53):
Yeah, well, I didn't grow up in the country,
so I grew up in the city ofSydney, which is the busiest
city in Australia, and look, Ithink really I was just
listening to country music, andthat was by accident.
I went to a CD shop one day andI bought a Leanne Rimes album.
Her song Blue was quite popularand one-way ticket and I just
loved her voice and I loved, Ijust loved that sort of yodeling
(03:14):
break in her voice and I thinkI started modeling my sound on
that.
And then, yeah, I basicallykept adding to my country music
collection from that point on,and Dixie Chicks were next, then
Australian Female they sort ofstumbled across a compilation
album that had Melinda Schneiderand Tamara Stewart and Felicity
Urquhart and Becky Cole, andyou know they were all ready in
(03:35):
their careers and I hadn't evenstarted yet.
But I loved the Australiancountry music and you know I'd
read the back of the CDs and I'dfind out who played on what.
Yeah, so that's sort of wherethe love of country music came
from.
Cheryl Lee (03:46):
And from then on, you've been making up for lost
time.
Amber Lawrence (03:50):
For lost wine, as they say.
Cheryl Lee (03:52):
Wanted to congratulate you on your 2022
ARIA number one country album.
Living for the Highlights Greatalbum.
Amber Lawrence (04:01):
Thank you, yeah, that was certainly sort of a
COVID sort of influenced album.
Thank you, yeah, that wascertainly sort of a COVID sort
of influenced album.
You know, it sort of sums upthose two to three years where
we were all a little bit inlimbo.
Yeah, I guess you know it'scalled Living for the Highlights
because it's about living forthose.
You know, 50% of life is likeall the good stuff and then the
other half is the grind and youknow the bad news.
(04:23):
Sometimes it comes, it comes,but for me glass half full is
always the aim.
So that's what living for thehighlights sort of represented.
So that album was a realjourney of the highs and lows of
covid, but the overwhelmingpositivity came out at the end
you are listening to stillrocking the podcast with Cheryl
(04:44):
Lee.
Cheryl Lee (04:45):
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 comeback and speak more to Amber
about the new song.
Amber Lawrence (05:01):
Yeah, the next album is on its way and it'll be
quite different to Live In Forthe Highlights, just sort of in
my fun and friendship era.
Yeah, absolutely.
Cheryl Lee (05:13):
The third single from that album is what we're
going to be talking about in aminute.
I watched it last night.
It absolutely made me want toget the girl posse together.
Amber Lawrence (05:24):
Get out there do some bits have a great night it
just literally uplifted me thatmuch You've achieved what you
set out to achieve with that?
Cheryl Lee (05:34):
I think.
Amber Lawrence (05:35):
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 typeof person to go, well, let's
write this song becauseso-and-so will like it, or this
will.
You know, maybe that's notsmart, maybe that's why you
should write songs, but I justfind it's more authentic to be
okay.
What do I want to say?
(05:56):
I'm going to say it andhopefully people resonate.
And you know, I've got somereally good friends still from
high school and some gooduniversity friends, and these
were my friends that I hadbefore music.
And you know we used to go outa lot.
You know, when we're 18, 19, 20, every week was someone's
birthday.
You know, another 18th, another21st, and we were.
You know we were good fun, weused to have a lot of fun.
(06:17):
We'd stay out late and one ofour friends' dad would come and
pick us up and it would alwaysbe the same songs and we can
still dance to those same songsthe same way we did at 20.
And so I sort of wanted toreminisce about that in this
song, because when I catch upwith those friends it is still
the same night and we do callourselves comeback queens and
it'll be the next morning on thephone texting each other.
(06:38):
You know, someone's still inbed because they're not feeling
too good after the night out andwe'll have a good laugh because
nothing's changed.
You know, and for one nightonly, we're those comeback
queens.
Just you know, we're livingspinning around with Kylie
Minogue and Shania Twain on thedance floor having a good time.
Cheryl Lee (06:53):
The video clip certainly captured the vibe.
Everybody looked like they werehaving a genuinely good time
making that film clip.
Amber Lawrence (07:02):
Yeah, totally.
And, to be honest, there's noway they couldn't have had a
good time making that film clip.
Yeah, totally, and, to behonest, 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 Ishouted for them at the bar and
then dance.
I mean, I just didn't want todo 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.
(07:23):
I'm sort of over it.
And so I'm like like to thedirector can we do it in four
hours?
We'll be quick, you know.
So for the extras that came anda lot of them are my friends,
um school mums and a lot ofpeople from Facebook that travel
to be part of it they were kindof stunned how quick it was and
I'm like, well, that's becauseI just wanted it to be quick.
But you know, have fun guys,drink up, dance, just enjoy
(07:44):
yourselves.
That was all they had to dothat was the brief.
Cheryl Lee (07:46):
I think they nailed it totally and then it totally
inspired me.
I've got my denim on.
Amber Lawrence (07:52):
Yeah nice and my hat my kid wear I don't know if
you can see my little earringsthere and watch out double denim
.
Cheryl Lee (07:59):
Can I do this?
Show you my denim boots withoutgiving you a flash.
Amber Lawrence (08:02):
She's flexible, you could have been in the video
.
Next time it's a lot warmerwhere you are, because it's
freezing in Sydney today andI've just done school drop-off,
so I'm definitely I'm notdressed as the comeback queen
today.
Cheryl Lee (08:14):
I'm indoors with the heat of gone, full blast, nice,
nice.
Amber Lawrence (08:18):
It's the soundtrack of every girl's night
out and, as I I say you girlsabsolutely nailed it.
Cheryl Lee (08:24):
I do love that line.
Come back, queens, in your levijeans singing 90s shania just a
little off key.
Amber Lawrence (08:32):
That is so appropriate.
That is so me.
We all identify with that.
It's all of us.
And even if you're a singerlike when I go out I don't sing
well, you know, I'm singing offkey too still Still rocking that
podcast with that radio chick,cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee (08:47):
Enough talking about it, let's play it now.
Such a fun, fun song.
Come Back, queens.
And then we're back to speaksome more to Amber Lawrence
about her tour.
After this, it must be time toget together again, climb the
docks and grab the West Coastcoolers.
Let's raise a glass of two.
(09:07):
The first single kicked thedoors down, and the second
single was you can admit youlike country music.
I love that as well.
Yeah, it is true, like Iprobably wouldn't have admitted
it long ago.
Now I love it and I'm loud andproud about it.
Amber Lawrence (09:24):
That's right and that's what I've found
happening Like, again, becauseof where I live and you know the
people I meet all the time.
They sort of say, oh, I lovecountry music.
I'm like really I've never saidthis before, but it has had
very much a resurgence, or noteven a resurgence, just a growth
.
And yeah, maybe that's just asign of the times that the other
music that used to be popularis sort of I don't know, not
(09:48):
that good Country music is.
Like we've kept our standardsand I think people just like
music that they can actuallyunderstand the lyrics and
they're not getting, you know,profanities shouted at them or
you know, like a lot of countrymusic themes are pretty simple.
Of course, they're aboutcatching up with friends and
having a drink.
But maybe that's what the worldneeds, yeah you're not twerking
(10:10):
at us, I think.
Cheryl Lee (10:12):
for me, what I like about it is the authenticity in
the stories.
Amber Lawrence (10:17):
Yeah, it's not just shouting out words.
Cheryl Lee (10:21):
Most of the country music songs are a story, really,
aren't they?
Amber Lawrence (10:24):
Yeah, yeah.
Look, even when you write aparty song for me, there's still
some kind of story.
You know, in Comeback Queensit'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 backanymore and we can hold our
liquor.
You know, maybe we can't, butyou know you're still finding a
story in that song and itactually comes from a real place
(10:47):
.
So I think that's what peoplelike.
Cheryl Lee (10:49):
And the reminiscing, I think, is a fabulous part of
it as well and the rememberingthe good times.
That's it exactly.
Come Back.
Queens is the third single fromthe upcoming album due out
later this year.
Do we have an ETA Amber?
Amber Lawrence (11:04):
I think I'm actually going to release it in
January, so that actually doesnot count, as this year it's in
the next 12 months.
It was going to be October, butI'm going to Europe in
September and I just thought,you know what?
Maybe I'm doing a festival inEurope and then some travelling,
and I just thought it's goingto be too much to be trying to
organise an album launch fromEurope on the other side of the
(11:24):
world and maybe I should justenjoy the croissants rather than
plan an album launch.
So I've just pushed it back alittle bit, just a couple of
months, but January is when it'scoming out.
Cheryl Lee (11:32):
Absolutely.
You just enjoy your time awaytaking the family.
Yeah, yeah, Awesome.
How long are you away for?
Amber Lawrence (11:40):
Two and a half weeks, so that's not really that
long for Europe, but that'sstill a nice trip.
Cheryl Lee (11:45):
Enjoy because I'm looking at your dates here.
Oh my goodness, You've got 24dates between here and October.
Amber Lawrence (11:56):
You've got 24 dates between here and october.
You've got four in a row.
Oh no, I mean, touring life isquite fun.
You get adrenaline when you,when you perform.
So the tiredness you don'treally feel till you get home,
which is annoying for yourfamily, because you come home
and you've had the best timeaway, and then you're like, oh,
I need to sleep.
So, yeah, when you're actuallyon the road, you sort of manage
pretty well.
But yeah, you come home andyou're wrecked.
Cheryl Lee (12:16):
Very, very busy.
To get the dates of when Amberis in your town, go to
wwwamberlawrencecomau.
That's it.
Coming to a town near you Forthe Adelaideans.
Amber is here in October andyou've got three chances
Corntown Hall on the Friday,murray Delta Joint on the
(12:38):
Saturday and the Gov, adelaide'sfavourite venue, on the Sunday.
Yeah, you played at the Govbefore.
Amber Lawrence (12:45):
Amber, yeah, so actually I have.
I opened last year.
Early last year I opened for GoWest and Nick Kershaw.
So Go West, we know King ofWishful Thinking, and Nick
Kershaw's song was Wouldn't itbe good to be in your shoes?
Cheryl Lee (13:00):
Yeah, which is a huge song.
Amber Lawrence (13:02):
People absolutely loved that when he
played it.
So, yeah, I played the Gov thenand it was great, loved the
venue.
Can't wait First time playingthe Gov in Adelaide and love
Murray, delta, joint and what agreat town Corn is.
So, yeah, we've got a nice tourthere in October.
What dates are we coming inOctober?
Cheryl Lee (13:25):
Let's have a look.
24th, 25th and 26th, that's it.
You are listening to, stillRocking it, the podcast with
Cheryl Lee.
I think we should have thefirst single now from the
upcoming album out in January.
(13:46):
Kick the Doors Down and thenwe're back to say goodbye to
Amber.
And another big thing thatyou've got coming up is the
Danilica Newtmaster and you arethe host.
Amber Lawrence (13:57):
Yeah, yeah, busy month for me.
Lots of gigs in October andstarts on a long weekend in
Denny.
And last year I was one of theheadliners on the Saturday night
main stage, which was greatwith my band and we had an
awesome time.
We had a great, great show.
We loved it.
And this year I get to comeback as the emcee and the host
for both stages, introducing allthe acts, which is a great gig,
(14:20):
and I'll be sort of around andabout and doing all other sorts
of things, like the Blue SingletCount and, you know,
introducing the Wiggles, andit's an amazing festival.
So I'm just glad to be back aspart of the family.
It's going to be awesome.
Congratulations.
Cheryl Lee (14:32):
That is a big tick to be invited to be the host.
The emcee, Well done it is agood gig.
Amber Lawrence (14:39):
Yeah, it's one of the major festivals in
Australia, so it's the oneeveryone wants to play and yeah,
it's great.
And the Wiggles, they've gone alittle 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 firstKids Country album.
I did it before they did, you'vedone three right, I have Kids
(15:01):
Gone Country number number one,number two and Aussie, aussie
Christmas.
So you know, everyone mightthink the Wiggles are cool, but
I did it first.
You were the trendsetter, amber, that's right.
They were just clever enough topick up on it, so true.
Cheryl Lee (15:13):
So you're getting to them.
Young Amber.
What I really love is that youhave taken the time to make
these children's albums, becausemusic is so important for the
development of children.
I love that you've done thatExactly.
Apart from all the fabulousmusic there there's John
Williamson, casey Chambers, troyCasadei, the Wolf Brothers,
(15:34):
even Furness and theFundamentals.
There's so much else isn'tthere at the Denny, u must say,
on top of the fabulous musicalline-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 (15:53):
They've just grown it as not only an iconic
Australian festival butsomething for families.
I think they realised over theyears that more and more, all
the people that came when theywere 20 are now still coming
when they're 40 and they've gotkids.
So they've just expanded theproduct, I suppose the offerings
.
There's something for everyone.
It's incredible, and if you'relistening to this and you've
never been try it out this year,it's going to be great.
Cheryl Lee (16:14):
I've never been, but geez, I'm hanging to now that
I've read this.
I've done Monday, Mondays.
Amber Lawrence (16:19):
Yeah, nowhere near as big, no, but it's out in
the desert, you know, out inthe country.
Cheryl Lee (16:24):
Yeah, there's about 20,000 people go, can't wait.
They donate $100,000 back tocommunity groups.
Amber Lawrence (16:32):
Which is awesome , but nothing else.
If you don't want to go for themusic and all the other
fabulous events, go because youknow it helps fundraise for
fabulous causes.
Totally yeah for a festival tostill be thriving.
Yeah, congratulations,absolutely well, congratulations
for being part of it.
Cheryl Lee (16:48):
I think my time might nearly be up.
I wanted to ask you one morequick thing, if I may.
Did you ever have a plan B?
Like had you had this musicthing not panned out?
Amber Lawrence (16:56):
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 Ijust started playing music and
music took over.
So I did it the opposite way,yes, you did.
Cheryl Lee (17:13):
Plan C could have always been to return to
accounting.
I've been in accounting all mylife.
There you go.
Amber Lawrence (17:18):
It's not too late for me.
I've just turned 60.
Cheryl Lee (17:21):
Maybe I can pick up a guitar and follow your
footsteps Not too late.
Amber Lawrence (17:25):
Exactly, you've got to do what you want with
your life, that's for sure.
Cheryl Lee (17:27):
Congratulations on all your successes and
everything else that I know isto come for you.
Amber Lawrence (17:34):
It's been a pleasure chatting to you this
morning.
Thank you for spending sometime with us, and you look
pretty great for 60, by the way,thanks.
Thanks for having me See you inOctober.
See you then, bye.
Cheryl Lee (17:46):
Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick,
cheryl Lee.
Now I'm going to play thefabulous song you Can Admit you
Like Country Music.
I have, I've embraced it and Ido love it and I hope you love
it too.
You can't admit you kind oflike it, country music.
I do love it and I hope youlove it too.
(18:09):
You're with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
down the front.
that Radio Chick Cheryl Lee here.
Welcome to the Still Rockin' itpodcast, where we'll have music
news, reviews and interviewswith one of the loveliest ladies
in Australian music, six timesGolden Guitar winner, Australian
(00:28):
singer-songwriter, AmberLawrence.
She is one of Australia's mostcelebrated and hardest working
country artists.
In 2023 announced the FemaleArtist of the Year at the CMAA
Golden Guitar Awards, and in thesame year at Tamworth Country
Music Festival, she was inductedinto the prestigious Galaxy of
(00:49):
Stars, alongside legends such asKasey Chambers and Lee
Kernighan.
She will also be this year'shost of the 2025 Deni Ute Muster
, held Friday the 3rd andSaturday the 4th of October, and
tickets are available now.
Deniutemustercomau Accumulatingover 6 million artist streams
(01:10):
to date.
I hope you enjoy getting toknow Amber Lawrence.
To catch up on podcasts fromother favourite artists, simply
go to thatradiochickcomau.
Amber Lawrence (01:22):
You're with that Radio Chick and I'd like to
welcome into the Zoom room todaya country legend.
Cheryl Lee (01:29):
Amber Lawrence, thank you for joining us today.
Amber Lawrence (01:31):
Amber, Thanks for having me.
Good to be here.
I know you've got a really busyschedule so we appreciate your
time this morning.
Cheryl Lee (01:39):
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 goback a tiny bit to the start and
then zoom up to all theexciting things that are coming
up right now.
Sounds good, yeah, you pickedup a guitar relatively quite
(02:00):
late in life, at 22.
But when did you realize that?
Music was your thing, were you?
Amber Lawrence (02:06):
little, not at all.
Um, that's why I picked it upquite late, because I, you know,
I wasn't really all thatinterested.
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 startedlearning the guitar at 22,
roughly again it wasn't for theoh my God, I want you know, I've
seen TV show and I want to goon it, or anything like that.
(02:29):
It was just, you know, it wasjust a passion of sort of
wanting to learn an instrumentand then write songs.
And then one thing led toanother.
I went to Tamworth in 2004, sojust over 20 years ago went in a
talent quest, came second inthat talent quest, and that was
when sort of the first doorsstarted opening for me.
Cheryl Lee (02:47):
What led you to country music?
What led you to Tamworth?
Amber Lawrence (02:53):
Yeah, well, I didn't grow up in the country,
so I grew up in the city ofSydney, which is the busiest
city in Australia, and look, Ithink really I was just
listening to country music, andthat was by accident.
I went to a CD shop one day andI bought a Leanne Rimes album.
Her song Blue was quite popularand one-way ticket and I just
loved her voice and I loved, Ijust loved that sort of yodeling
(03:14):
break in her voice and I thinkI started modeling my sound on
that.
And then, yeah, I basicallykept adding to my country music
collection from that point on,and Dixie Chicks were next, then
Australian Female they sort ofstumbled across a compilation
album that had Melinda Schneiderand Tamara Stewart and Felicity
Urquhart and Becky Cole, andyou know they were all ready in
(03:35):
their careers and I hadn't evenstarted yet.
But I loved the Australiancountry music and you know I'd
read the back of the CDs and I'dfind out who played on what.
Yeah, so that's sort of wherethe love of country music came
from.
Cheryl Lee (03:46):
And from then on, you've been making up for lost
time.
Amber Lawrence (03:50):
For lost wine, as they say.
Cheryl Lee (03:52):
Wanted to congratulate you on your 2022
ARIA number one country album.
Living for the Highlights Greatalbum.
Amber Lawrence (04:01):
Thank you, yeah, that was certainly sort of a
COVID sort of influenced album.
Thank you, yeah, that wascertainly sort of a COVID sort
of influenced album.
You know, it sort of sums upthose two to three years where
we were all a little bit inlimbo.
Yeah, I guess you know it'scalled Living for the Highlights
because it's about living forthose.
You know, 50% of life is likeall the good stuff and then the
other half is the grind and youknow the bad news.
(04:23):
Sometimes it comes, it comes,but for me glass half full is
always the aim.
So that's what living for thehighlights sort of represented.
So that album was a realjourney of the highs and lows of
covid, but the overwhelmingpositivity came out at the end
you are listening to stillrocking the podcast with Cheryl
(04:44):
Lee.
Cheryl Lee (04:45):
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 comeback and speak more to Amber
about the new song.
Amber Lawrence (05:01):
Yeah, the next album is on its way and it'll be
quite different to Live In Forthe Highlights, just sort of in
my fun and friendship era.
Yeah, absolutely.
Cheryl Lee (05:13):
The third single from that album is what we're
going to be talking about in aminute.
I watched it last night.
It absolutely made me want toget the girl posse together.
Amber Lawrence (05:24):
Get out there do some bits have a great night it
just literally uplifted me thatmuch You've achieved what you
set out to achieve with that?
Cheryl Lee (05:34):
I think.
Amber Lawrence (05:35):
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 typeof person to go, well, let's
write this song becauseso-and-so will like it, or this
will.
You know, maybe that's notsmart, maybe that's why you
should write songs, but I justfind it's more authentic to be
okay.
What do I want to say?
(05:56):
I'm going to say it andhopefully people resonate.
And you know, I've got somereally good friends still from
high school and some gooduniversity friends, and these
were my friends that I hadbefore music.
And you know we used to go outa lot.
You know, when we're 18, 19, 20, every week was someone's
birthday.
You know, another 18th, another21st, and we were.
You know we were good fun, weused to have a lot of fun.
(06:17):
We'd stay out late and one ofour friends' dad would come and
pick us up and it would alwaysbe the same songs and we can
still dance to those same songsthe same way we did at 20.
And so I sort of wanted toreminisce about that in this
song, because when I catch upwith those friends it is still
the same night and we do callourselves comeback queens and
it'll be the next morning on thephone texting each other.
(06:38):
You know, someone's still inbed because they're not feeling
too good after the night out andwe'll have a good laugh because
nothing's changed.
You know, and for one nightonly, we're those comeback
queens.
Just you know, we're livingspinning around with Kylie
Minogue and Shania Twain on thedance floor having a good time.
Cheryl Lee (06:53):
The video clip certainly captured the vibe.
Everybody looked like they werehaving a genuinely good time
making that film clip.
Amber Lawrence (07:02):
Yeah, totally.
And, to be honest, there's noway they couldn't have had a
good time making that film clip.
Yeah, totally, and, to behonest, 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 Ishouted for them at the bar and
then dance.
I mean, I just didn't want todo 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.
(07:23):
I'm sort of over it.
And so I'm like like to thedirector can we do it in four
hours?
We'll be quick, you know.
So for the extras that came anda lot of them are my friends,
um school mums and a lot ofpeople from Facebook that travel
to be part of it they were kindof stunned how quick it was and
I'm like, well, that's becauseI just wanted it to be quick.
But you know, have fun guys,drink up, dance, just enjoy
(07:44):
yourselves.
That was all they had to dothat was the brief.
Cheryl Lee (07:46):
I think they nailed it totally and then it totally
inspired me.
I've got my denim on.
Amber Lawrence (07:52):
Yeah nice and my hat my kid wear I don't know if
you can see my little earringsthere and watch out double denim
.
Cheryl Lee (07:59):
Can I do this?
Show you my denim boots withoutgiving you a flash.
Amber Lawrence (08:02):
She's flexible, you could have been in the video
.
Next time it's a lot warmerwhere you are, because it's
freezing in Sydney today andI've just done school drop-off,
so I'm definitely I'm notdressed as the comeback queen
today.
Cheryl Lee (08:14):
I'm indoors with the heat of gone, full blast, nice,
nice.
Amber Lawrence (08:18):
It's the soundtrack of every girl's night
out and, as I I say you girlsabsolutely nailed it.
Cheryl Lee (08:24):
I do love that line.
Come back, queens, in your levijeans singing 90s shania just a
little off key.
Amber Lawrence (08:32):
That is so appropriate.
That is so me.
We all identify with that.
It's all of us.
And even if you're a singerlike when I go out I don't sing
well, you know, I'm singing offkey too still Still rocking that
podcast with that radio chick,cheryl Lee.
Cheryl Lee (08:47):
Enough talking about it, let's play it now.
Such a fun, fun song.
Come Back, queens.
And then we're back to speaksome more to Amber Lawrence
about her tour.
After this, it must be time toget together again, climb the
docks and grab the West Coastcoolers.
Let's raise a glass of two.
(09:07):
The first single kicked thedoors down, and the second
single was you can admit youlike country music.
I love that as well.
Yeah, it is true, like Iprobably wouldn't have admitted
it long ago.
Now I love it and I'm loud andproud about it.
Amber Lawrence (09:24):
That's right and that's what I've found
happening Like, again, becauseof where I live and you know the
people I meet all the time.
They sort of say, oh, I lovecountry music.
I'm like really I've never saidthis before, but it has had
very much a resurgence, or noteven a resurgence, just a growth
.
And yeah, maybe that's just asign of the times that the other
music that used to be popularis sort of I don't know, not
(09:48):
that good Country music is.
Like we've kept our standardsand I think people just like
music that they can actuallyunderstand the lyrics and
they're not getting, you know,profanities shouted at them or
you know, like a lot of countrymusic themes are pretty simple.
Of course, they're aboutcatching up with friends and
having a drink.
But maybe that's what the worldneeds, yeah you're not twerking
(10:10):
at us, I think.
Cheryl Lee (10:12):
for me, what I like about it is the authenticity in
the stories.
Amber Lawrence (10:17):
Yeah, it's not just shouting out words.
Cheryl Lee (10:21):
Most of the country music songs are a story, really,
aren't they?
Amber Lawrence (10:24):
Yeah, yeah.
Look, even when you write aparty song for me, there's still
some kind of story.
You know, in Comeback Queensit'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 backanymore and we can hold our
liquor.
You know, maybe we can't, butyou know you're still finding a
story in that song and itactually comes from a real place
(10:47):
.
So I think that's what peoplelike.
Cheryl Lee (10:49):
And the reminiscing, I think, is a fabulous part of
it as well and the rememberingthe good times.
That's it exactly.
Come Back.
Queens is the third single fromthe upcoming album due out
later this year.
Do we have an ETA Amber?
Amber Lawrence (11:04):
I think I'm actually going to release it in
January, so that actually doesnot count, as this year it's in
the next 12 months.
It was going to be October, butI'm going to Europe in
September and I just thought,you know what?
Maybe I'm doing a festival inEurope and then some travelling,
and I just thought it's goingto be too much to be trying to
organise an album launch fromEurope on the other side of the
(11:24):
world and maybe I should justenjoy the croissants rather than
plan an album launch.
So I've just pushed it back alittle bit, just a couple of
months, but January is when it'scoming out.
Cheryl Lee (11:32):
Absolutely.
You just enjoy your time awaytaking the family.
Yeah, yeah, Awesome.
How long are you away for?
Amber Lawrence (11:40):
Two and a half weeks, so that's not really that
long for Europe, but that'sstill a nice trip.
Cheryl Lee (11:45):
Enjoy because I'm looking at your dates here.
Oh my goodness, You've got 24dates between here and October.
Amber Lawrence (11:56):
You've got 24 dates between here and october.
You've got four in a row.
Oh no, I mean, touring life isquite fun.
You get adrenaline when you,when you perform.
So the tiredness you don'treally feel till you get home,
which is annoying for yourfamily, because you come home
and you've had the best timeaway, and then you're like, oh,
I need to sleep.
So, yeah, when you're actuallyon the road, you sort of manage
pretty well.
But yeah, you come home andyou're wrecked.
Cheryl Lee (12:16):
Very, very busy.
To get the dates of when Amberis in your town, go to
wwwamberlawrencecomau.
That's it.
Coming to a town near you Forthe Adelaideans.
Amber is here in October andyou've got three chances
Corntown Hall on the Friday,murray Delta Joint on the
(12:38):
Saturday and the Gov, adelaide'sfavourite venue, on the Sunday.
Yeah, you played at the Govbefore.
Amber Lawrence (12:45):
Amber, yeah, so actually I have.
I opened last year.
Early last year I opened for GoWest and Nick Kershaw.
So Go West, we know King ofWishful Thinking, and Nick
Kershaw's song was Wouldn't itbe good to be in your shoes?
Cheryl Lee (13:00):
Yeah, which is a huge song.
Amber Lawrence (13:02):
People absolutely loved that when he
played it.
So, yeah, I played the Gov thenand it was great, loved the
venue.
Can't wait First time playingthe Gov in Adelaide and love
Murray, delta, joint and what agreat town Corn is.
So, yeah, we've got a nice tourthere in October.
What dates are we coming inOctober?
Cheryl Lee (13:25):
Let's have a look.
24th, 25th and 26th, that's it.
You are listening to, stillRocking it, the podcast with
Cheryl Lee.
I think we should have thefirst single now from the
upcoming album out in January.
(13:46):
Kick the Doors Down and thenwe're back to say goodbye to
Amber.
And another big thing thatyou've got coming up is the
Danilica Newtmaster and you arethe host.
Amber Lawrence (13:57):
Yeah, yeah, busy month for me.
Lots of gigs in October andstarts on a long weekend in
Denny.
And last year I was one of theheadliners on the Saturday night
main stage, which was greatwith my band and we had an
awesome time.
We had a great, great show.
We loved it.
And this year I get to comeback as the emcee and the host
for both stages, introducing allthe acts, which is a great gig,
(14:20):
and I'll be sort of around andabout and doing all other sorts
of things, like the Blue SingletCount and, you know,
introducing the Wiggles, andit's an amazing festival.
So I'm just glad to be back aspart of the family.
It's going to be awesome.
Congratulations.
Cheryl Lee (14:32):
That is a big tick to be invited to be the host.
The emcee, Well done it is agood gig.
Amber Lawrence (14:39):
Yeah, it's one of the major festivals in
Australia, so it's the oneeveryone wants to play and yeah,
it's great.
And the Wiggles, they've gone alittle 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 firstKids Country album.
I did it before they did, you'vedone three right, I have Kids
(15:01):
Gone Country number number one,number two and Aussie, aussie
Christmas.
So you know, everyone mightthink the Wiggles are cool, but
I did it first.
You were the trendsetter, amber, that's right.
They were just clever enough topick up on it, so true.
Cheryl Lee (15:13):
So you're getting to them.
Young Amber.
What I really love is that youhave taken the time to make
these children's albums, becausemusic is so important for the
development of children.
I love that you've done thatExactly.
Apart from all the fabulousmusic there there's John
Williamson, casey Chambers, troyCasadei, the Wolf Brothers,
(15:34):
even Furness and theFundamentals.
There's so much else isn'tthere at the Denny, u must say,
on top of the fabulous musicalline-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 (15:53):
They've just grown it as not only an iconic
Australian festival butsomething for families.
I think they realised over theyears that more and more, all
the people that came when theywere 20 are now still coming
when they're 40 and they've gotkids.
So they've just expanded theproduct, I suppose the offerings
.
There's something for everyone.
It's incredible, and if you'relistening to this and you've
never been try it out this year,it's going to be great.
Cheryl Lee (16:14):
I've never been, but geez, I'm hanging to now that
I've read this.
I've done Monday, Mondays.
Amber Lawrence (16:19):
Yeah, nowhere near as big, no, but it's out in
the desert, you know, out inthe country.
Cheryl Lee (16:24):
Yeah, there's about 20,000 people go, can't wait.
They donate $100,000 back tocommunity groups.
Amber Lawrence (16:32):
Which is awesome , but nothing else.
If you don't want to go for themusic and all the other
fabulous events, go because youknow it helps fundraise for
fabulous causes.
Totally yeah for a festival tostill be thriving.
Yeah, congratulations,absolutely well, congratulations
for being part of it.
Cheryl Lee (16:48):
I think my time might nearly be up.
I wanted to ask you one morequick thing, if I may.
Did you ever have a plan B?
Like had you had this musicthing not panned out?
Amber Lawrence (16:56):
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 Ijust started playing music and
music took over.
So I did it the opposite way,yes, you did.
Cheryl Lee (17:13):
Plan C could have always been to return to
accounting.
I've been in accounting all mylife.
There you go.
Amber Lawrence (17:18):
It's not too late for me.
I've just turned 60.
Cheryl Lee (17:21):
Maybe I can pick up a guitar and follow your
footsteps Not too late.
Amber Lawrence (17:25):
Exactly, you've got to do what you want with
your life, that's for sure.
Cheryl Lee (17:27):
Congratulations on all your successes and
everything else that I know isto come for you.
Amber Lawrence (17:34):
It's been a pleasure chatting to you this
morning.
Thank you for spending sometime with us, and you look
pretty great for 60, by the way,thanks.
Thanks for having me See you inOctober.
See you then, bye.
Cheryl Lee (17:46):
Still rocking that podcast with that radio chick,
cheryl Lee.
Now I'm going to play thefabulous song you Can Admit you
Like Country Music.
I have, I've embraced it and Ido love it and I hope you love
it too.
You can't admit you kind oflike it, country music.
I do love it and I hope youlove it too.
(18:09):
You're with Cheryl Lee, thatradio chick.
Thank you so much for joiningme on the Still Rocking it
podcast.
Hope to catch you again nexttime.
Get out when you can supportAussie music and I'll see you
down the front.
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