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Review from Rave Magazine issue #855
DREADLOCK COWBOY – Dreadlock Cowboy
TUESDAY, 26 AUGUST 2008
(Independent)
Brisbane acoustic artist proves that looks can be deceiving.
With a name that’s laughable at best and an album cover that looks like it was shot in the middle of The Nimbin Mardi Grass Festival, Dreadlock Cowboy (who is actually a female) gently reminds me that beautiful gems are found in ugly rock. Instead of hippy garbage, this is pleasant acoustic pop. It’s good to see an emerging recording artist release an album with such a distinct Australian feel marinated within the eleven original tracks. Hayley Small, the face behind Dreadlock Cowboy, has a lovely voice and songwriting skills to boot. It’s when she sings about topics that deal with the treasured ones within her life that the passion shoots through. These heartfelt, personal songs are vivacious and sweet and the pick of the bunch. I’ll gladly eat my words complete with a side of humble pie, served from the oven of shame. I thoroughly enjoyed this album.
LINDSEY CUTHBERTSON
- Rave Magazine
ARCHIVE : Capital News July 2008 Vol 33 No. 7
Dreadlock Cowboy
Deborah Minter
DREADLOCK COWBOY
DREADLOCK COWBOY Independent
Long blonde dreadlocks and a nose ring aren’t usually what comes to mind when you think of ‘cowboys’ but if you are willing to take a walk on the wilder side of country, let me introduce you to HAYLEY SMALL, alias DREADLOCK COWBOY. Hayley’s music skips blithely between folk and what she calls ‘fairy rock’, but it holds a remarkable dose of country charm. Her vocals are sparkling and her subjects range from love, respect, darkness and hope. Beautiful Girl is filled with a mother’s love. Dealing To The River has a rolling breezy appeal, a bit like the US West Coast country bands of the 70s. Mission Man tells of a friendship more than skin deep. In The World With You is a delicate and beautiful love song. The album closes with an unnamed, hidden track, a simply gorgeous lullaby. You can tell Hayley loves the music and the music loves her.
Independent DCH1974
Available from www.dreadlockcowboy.com.au
<< more from this issue
- Capital News
Discography
Dreadlock Cowboy Debut Album
Beautiful Girl
Kisses for You
Still with You
Dealing to the River
Mission Man
Walking in the Rain
Memoirs from a park bench
Diary of a Serial Killer
Little Green Monster
In the world with you
Sweet Days
Little River
All songs from the album have received airplay from Caboolture Radio Station 101.5fm and Redcliffe Station 90.6fm, also the album has been a feature album on Downunder Thunder Radio an online initiative. Also available for sale on itunes.
Photos
Bio
Hey there good people, my name is Hayley. I am a singer/songwriter acoustic guitar/stomp box player of what has been called folk/rock fairy/pop.
I have been playing and writing music for about 6 years now. Starting off in a duo we played The Indie Temple in the Valley and various pub gigs around town. Then I branched off and found another duo partner who was more into bringing our music to the masses. Together we started busking in the city, performing at Busking by the Bay and The Woodstock Festival and played various gigs from Brisbane to Coolum to Pittsworth, becoming regular artists at The Sundowner Hotel, Brighton Tavern and Coolum Tavern. Also performing for a cause in the Hotel Care Week, raising money for Medical Research and Regional Hospitals and busking for Cure for Cancer.
I am on my own again now and am more focused than ever having finished recording my debut album Dreadlock Cowboy, with Duncan Wood@Touchwood Productions, with the help of some very cool and talented muso's. John Te-Anini on Bass, Nikk Sandland and Kevin Boorman on lead, Scott Oldfield singing harmonies for me in Memoirs and Jordan Aarts on didge, You guys Rock!
The album, which will be ready for release in June 08, has 12 tracks that range from mellow to funky, some sweet, and some strange but all groovy tunes that will appeal to all who listen. There is a diverse range of instrumentation and feel to the album which kind of makes it a mood album. Every emotion felt has a song to suit.
I love music in all its glorious forms. I love listening and I absolutely love playing! I think it's important for artists to get the feeling across to the listening audience and to get them involved. Whether you’re in your car, at a festival or at the pub on a Sunday arvo I want everyone to share in the passion I feel for music. Music is my heart, my soul, my essence, and to be able to share this love I have with others is truly awesome.
I am currently looking at playing festivals and events where I can showcase my music, as a proud to be born and bred Aussie, to those who are looking for something a little different. If I can play a gig and see at least one person either with a tear in their eye or a huge smile on their face then I have accomplished my goal and I am stoked. It gives you that warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside where you know "This is what I'm here for"
And so to quote the fabulous Ferris Beuler "Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Yipya!
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