Amy Cushway

Coast talent Amy
tipped for success
‘I have
started to
build a local
following and I
want to
support the
people who
support me ’
TALENTED Amy Cushway (right) has
quickly risen to the top of the local music
scene and is tipped a singer to watch over the
next few years.
With a mere eight solo shows under her belt,
the young songstress received a people’s choice
award from the Gold Coast Music Industry
Association and a finals birth at the Byron
Beach Hotel acoustic competition on July 2.
The 22-year-old from Mermaid Beach looks
set for success with some of Australia’s major
record labels nipping at her heals and growing
support from community and commercial
radio stations.
With the major record companies primarily
based in the southern states, Amy said
she would focus on touring down south later
in the year to gain a more direct music industry
connection.
‘‘For the moment,
however, I
have started to
build a local following
and I want
to support the
people who support
me,’’ she
said. Thanks to
cyber space, her
fan base is gaining
momentum
and includes a
local Australian
Idol finalist.
‘‘My Myspace fan base has grown dramatically
in the past three months and has even led
to me being offered a support by Brianna
Carpenter,’’ she said.
Brianna discovered Amy via her Myspace
website while searching for an acoustic act to
perform with her at a Brisbane gig.
The pair will perform at the Globe Niteclub
in Brisbane on June 6.
Amy will also play a solo show the following
night at Brisbane’s Red Brick Hotel.
Later in June she will perform at the Ammi
Scott Charity Event at Burleigh Heads and the
Hard Rock Cafe at Surfers Paradise.
Visit www.myspace.com/amycushway for
songs and tour dates. - Gold Coast Bulletin

Singer is
on song
AMY Cushway is By JESSICA ELDER
making her mark on
t h e Q u e e n s l a n d
music industry with a
host of gigs and an EP
on the way.
Miss Cushway, 22, of
Mermaid Waters, says
solo singing came to her
late in life.
‘‘I went to school with
Ricki-Lee Coulter, and
up against her I thought
my voice wasn’t the
best,’’ she said.
‘‘I was in a band
through school, but it
was when the music
scene changed and emostyle
music came in I
realised you don’t have
to hit the high notes to
make it solo.
‘‘My voice is more
mellow and I write my
own original songs to
complement it.’’
She was recently
named a finalist in the
QSong Awards,‘‘There were 1400
entrants and she is
the only female in
contention.’’
The awards are run
by Queensland Music
Network Inc, which will
name the winners at a
ceremony on August 12.
Miss Cushway said
she hoped to spend the
rest of her life working
as a musician and doing
what she loved.
‘‘My family and
friends have been very
supportive‘‘Hopefully I can
land some gigs with
the big summer music
festivals.’’
Miss Cushway will
play at the Gold Coast
Arts Centre tomorrow
and, on July 17, at the
Byron Bay Beach Hotel.
For more information
on upcoming
gigs visit
www.myspace.com/
amycushway. - Gold Coast Sun