Music
Press
Mudgee-born Jess Holland had her biggest pay day as a performing artist when she won the Voice of Urban Country at Caboolture in Queensland recently.
Miss Holland won $2500 in cash, a $1500 music store voucher, 30 hours of recording studio time and a host of other prizes for her Voice of Urban Country win on May 1.
Miss Holland made it to the semi-final of Tamworth’s Starmaker quest in January,
But the Urban Country talent search, named after Caboolture’s hometown recording sensation Keith Urban, has given the Mudgee singer/songwriter her greatest success.
She now hopes it will launch her recording career.
“I had planned to record my debut album and now, with the recording studio prize, I am planning to be recording by the end of July,” Miss Holland said.
“All the songs I have planned for the album are my own compositions.”
Miss Holland said she hoped to release the album in October.
The Mudgee girl, who works as an agronomist, based in the NSW/Queensland border town of Muningdi, was chosen as one of seven finalists for the open contest for the “Voice of Urban Country” three weeks before the semi final on April 30.
In the heats, held at Caboolture’s Historical Village, Miss Holland performed the Dixie Chicks song “Long Time Gone” to play her way, along with three other semi finalists, into the final the next day.
For the final she had to play “Long Time Gone” again and for a second song performed “Playing The Part”, written by American country music star Jamey Johnson.
“The four of us were lined up on stage for the awards to be announced they started by announcing fourth place,” Miss Holland said.
“I went to Caboolture to do my best and was very happy with the way I performed.
“Even so, I thought that I would be the first name announced, and would have been pretty happy with that.
“When they announced the second place and my name hadn’t been announced, I was surprised, but suddenly realised I had won.
“It was a wonderful experience and a great thrill to win a competition that is named after Keith Urban.”
With her new found fame behind her, Jess Holland quietly returned to her home town for a live performance at the Lawson Park Hotel on Friday night, when for the first time she was introduced locally as the ‘2011 Voice of Urban Country’ award winner.
Holland said is hoping to be back in Mudgee to play another local gig in the near future.
Don’t miss the Mudgee Guardian’s entertainment guide for details of her next performance in town. - Don Mahoney
Lead singer for Mudgee band McGee, Mungindi’s Jess Holland has made the finals of the Australia’s premier country music talent search, Toyota Starmaker 2011.
For a number of years Holland had thought about entering Starmaker but was always “too chicken” to go ahead until this year.
“I decided this year that it would be now or never that I throw my hat into the ring for Starmaker,” Ms Holland said.
“I am very happy but shocked to be chosen, especially when I look at the honour roll of past winners like Keith Urban, Gina Jeffreys and Lee Kernaghan.”
Ms Holland now can’t wait for this Sunday, when the top 20 Starmaker finalists for 2011 play their heart out for a place in the final five on Sunday night at 7.30pm at Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.
She will sing two songs at the Sunday session and has chosen the poem Test For A Cowboy, which was written by Mudgee poet Kevin Pye, as her first.
Ms Holland, at the request of Mr Pye, put music to the words and sang it at his poetry launch.
Her second choice is the Janis Joplin standard Me And Bobby McGee.
If she plays her way into the final five she said she will perform Cold Chisel’s Bow River.
“I am really happy that the members of McGee are coming to Tamworth on Sunday for support.”
Ms Holland said her career started when she started to play piano by ear even before she went to school.
“There was always music in our home (her parents are Max and Betty Holland), I grew up with music,” she said.
“I first started performing publicly when I was in years 11 and 12 at Mudgee High School.
“I was then part of an all girl band Rusty Halos.
“After school that evolved into McGee and it was a career highlight for me when we opened up the Day on the Green concert at Craigmoor in October 2008.”
While Jess Holland waits for that lucky break to launch into a full time music career, she works as an agronomist at Mungindi on the New South Wales/Queensland border north west of Moree.
She returns to Mudgee regularly to play gigs with McGee and the band also play at venues in Moree.
- Moree Champion
Monday, 20 December 2010 15:51 |
The top 20 finalists from across Australia have been selected to compete in the 32nd Toyota Star Maker final, proudly supported by 60 years of Toyota LandCruiser.
Following in the footsteps of Australian country music royalty including Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Gina Jeffreys, James Blundell, Kylie Sackley and Samantha McClymont (of The McClymonts), the finalists will battle it out for what is recognised as Australia’s oldest and most prestigious music talent search, awarded at the Tamworth Country Music Festival to be held as the main event on the first weekend Sunday, 16 January 2011.
The 20 hopefuls invited to travel to Tamworth this January are...
AARON JURY, Kaitangata New Zealand
AMANDA HALLORAN, Bongaree Qld
ANGELA EASSON, Bridgewater SA
CAMERON CUSACK, Tura Beach NSW
CHRIS MATTHEWS, Kununurra WA
DAMIAN HOWARD, Thornbury Vic
DAVID AGIUS, Greystanes (Sydney) NSW
ELIZABETH PAPALIA, Greenbank Qld
EMMA KELLY, Blackburn South Vic
FIONA FIELDS, Glenmore Park NSW
HOLLY DENTON, Woodvale WA
JESS HOLLAND, Mungindi NSW
KAYLEE BELL, Avanhead New Zealand
LACHLAN BRYAN, South Melbourne Vic
LOUISE EGAN, Lavington NSW
LUKE DICKENS, Bondi Beach NSW
MITCHELL STEELE, Bendoble Qld
NATALIE BRANDT, St Clair NSW
PJ GORDON, Rankin Park NSW
ROSEMAREE DINARO, St Clair NSW
Toyota Star Maker 2011, proudly supported by 60 years of Toyota LandCruiser, will be staged at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment & Conference Centre (TRECC) on Sunday, 16th January.
“The Top 20 will run through the day starting at 12.30pm,” said Barry Harley, General Manager of Star Maker organisers Rural Press Events. “The Grand Final later that evening, at 7.30pm, features the five best new talents in Australian country music plus special appearances from past Star Maker winners.”
The 2011 Toyota Star Maker prize package is bigger and better than ever. Valued at more than $150,000, the winner’s prize includes...
1. Use of the title Toyota Star Maker 2011;
2. An album recording contract;
3. A big budget recording session with Australia’s top musicians and producers;
4. 12 months use of a brand new, fully serviced Toyota motor vehicle;
5. A fuel card for the 12 months after winning Toyota Star Maker;
6. 50 copies of the prize album for personal distribution;
7. Distribution and promotion of at least two tracks to radio and other media;
8. Production of a professional video clip of one of the tracks by an award winning director;
9. A Maton acoustic guitar;
10. Fender products;
11. Media promotion including monthly exposure in Australia’s only monthly country music magazine Country Music Capital News, media exposure in the Directory of Australian Country Music;
12. Photographic portfolio with Image Design Photography;
13. An album launch at the National Music Muster at Gympie Queensland;
14. Guaranteed performance bookings at a designated list of events including the Tamworth Country Music Festival, National Music Muster at Gympie, the Urban CM Festival at Caboolture, Mud Bulls and Music, plus a special showcase performance at the Toyota Star Maker Grand Final in 2012;
15. Return air tickets to Nashville for the CMA Music Festival in June 2011 courtesy of Travelworld; and
16. 12 months membership of the Country Music Association of Australia.
Tickets for the Toyota Star Maker Final and Grand Final are on sale now through the Tamworth Visitor Information Centre on 02 6767 5300 or on-line via www.tamworthcountrymusic.com.au (follow the link to tickets).
STAR MAKER WINNERS | 1979 Grand Junction|1980 Tommy Miller|1981 Leanne Douglas|1982 Lee Kernaghan|1983 Vic Lanyon Band|1985 Great Divide|1986 Jane Maddick|1987 James Blundell|1988 Jenine Vaughan|1989 Craig Robertson|1990 Keith Urban|1991 Gina Jeffreys|1992 Warren Derwent|1993 Beccy Cole|1994 Clint Beattie|1995 Tanya Self|1996 Darren Coggan|1997 Lyn Bowtell|1998 Kate Ballantyne|1999 Brendon Walmsley|2000 Grant Richardson|2001 Kylie Sackley|2002 Kieran Lancini|2003 Todd Williams|2004 Travis Collins|2005 Samantha McClymont|2006 Cat Southern|2007 Kirsty Lee Akers|2008 Talia Wittmann|2009 Liam Brew | 2010 Luke Austen
- CMAA
Lead singer for Mudgee band McGee, Jess Holland has made the finals of the Australia’s premier country music talent search, Toyota Starmaker 2011 at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
Ms Holland had thought about entering Starmaker for a number of years but was always “too chicken” to go ahead until this year.
“I decided this year that it would be now or never that I throw my hat into the ring for Starmaker,” she said.
“I am very happy but shocked to be chosen, especially when I look at the honour roll of past winners like Keith Urban, Gina Jeffreys and Lee Kernaghan.”
Miss Holland now can’t wait for this Sunday at 12.30 when the top 20 Starmaker finalists for 2011 play their heart out for a place in the final five on Sunday night at 7.30pm at Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre.
She will sing two songs at the 12.30pm session and has chosen the poem Test For A Cowboy, which was written by Mudgee poet Kevin Pye, as her first.
Miss Holland, at the request of Mr Pye, put music to the words and sang it at his poetry launch.
Her second choice is the Janis Joplin standard Me And Bobby McGee.
If she plays her way into the final five she said she will perform the Cold Chisel’s Bow River.
“I am really happy that the members of McGee are coming to Tamworth on Sunday for support,” she said.
Miss Holland said her career started when she started to play piano by ear even before she went to school.
“There was always music in our home (her parents are Max and Betty Holland). I grew up with music,” she said.
“I first started performing publicly when I was in years 11 and 12 at Mudgee High School.
“I was then part of an all girl band, Rusty Halos.
“After school that evolved into McGee and it was a career highlight for me when we opened up the Day on the Green concert at Craigmoor in October 2008.”
While Miss Holland waits for that lucky break to launch into a full time music career, she works as an agronomist at Mungindi on the New South Wales/Queensland border north west of Moree.
She returns to Mudgee regularly to play gigs with McGee and the band also play at venues in Moree.
When not playing with McGee, Jess Holland plays as many solo gigs she can get in the north west of the State.
Winning Starmaker could make her dream come true, as one of the prizes is a recording contract.
Starmaker is organised by Rural Press Events.
- Mudgee Guardian
Discography
2008 "McGee" - debut album with band McGee. With songs such as "Sounthern Comfort" and "Piece of My Heart".
2009 "Pick of the Bunch" - Compilation CD showcasing McGee's new single "When You Know".
2010 "AMES Unsigned & Original Compilation CD" - Jess was included on this CD with "Ain't Much Better.
2011 "Test For a Cowboy EP" - released September, with songs such as "Hometown Lights" and "Test For a Cowboy".
2011 "Introducing Jess Holland" - Jess's debut solo album released November, with songs such as "My Kinda Town" and "Iddy Biddy Pride".
Photos
Bio
With reviews like ‘a voice that could peel the pain off walls’ [Mike McClellan] it’s evident that country starlet Jess Holland is one of those musicians to watch out for.
Stepping out of the shadows of her band to record her debut solo release, this 2011 Voice of Urban Country winner at the Urban Country Music Festival and Top 20 finalist in the 2011 Toyota Star Maker Competition has already been making waves on the country scene.
Jess isn’t a new face on the music scene; she’s been honing her skills for years, and comes from music royalty. Her grandfather was a founding member of well-known bush band The Stringybark Band, so it’s no surprise that Jess felt a resonance with country music. As a three-year-old, Jess taught herself to play the piano, and by the age of nine she was performing in musical groups in her home town of Mudgee.
In high school she formed her own rock band McGee, which saw this powerhouse vocalist showcasing her talents, while also playing mandolin, keyboard or acoustic guitar. McGee had incredible local success for a fledgling band. They released their debut self-title EP in 2008, which included songs such as ‘Southern Comfort’ and ‘Witness to Babylon’, and secured performance spots on the likes of the 2008 A Day on the Green. Here, Jess performed along side acts such as Operator Please, Dragon, The Angels and Hoodoo Gurus.
In 2009 Jess participated in a compilation CD recording, Pick of the Bunch showcasing McGee’s new single, When you know, along with other local talent from the Central West. The following year, Jess took the definitive step and launched her solo career as a country music artist, touring Central Western NSW and Southern Queensland. Stepping out on her own was a brave step, but a natural progression for Jess which allowed her to showcase her versatility as an artist.
Jess kicked off 2011 with a great start to her solo career, being chosen as a Top 20 finalist for the Toyota Star Maker. Soon after Star Maker, Jess began to establish herself as a country music artist and continued to increase her professional status amongst the industry. She continued to tour around Central Western and Northern NSW, supporting artists such as Ladies of Jazz (Paulini, Christine Anu and Grace Knight), Luke Dickens, Uncle Bobs Jug Band and Adam Kilpatrick. In her television first, she performed at the wedding for Scott Warby on Channel 9’s show Farmer Wants a Wife.
Earning the title of 2011 Voice of Urban Country at the 2011 Urban Country Music Festival in Caboolture was a great stepping stone forward for Jess. This accolade allowed her to not only record her debut album, but also star in her debut video clip for My Kinda Town.
In August 2011, Jess recorded and released an acoustic EP, Test for a Cowboy - a five song dedication to friend and Mudgee poet, Kevin Pye, who wrote the poems for Jess to record.
Soon after, Jess was accepted into and graduated from the 2011 CMAA Country Music College in Tamworth. Her musical abilities were soon recognised and encouraged, being mentored by musicians such as Lynn Bowtell, Mike McClellan and Lawrie Minson.
Jess released her debut solo album in November 2011, titled ‘Introducing Jess Holland’ which wrapped up an incredible year of achievements. The album features ten of her own tracks including ‘Iddy Biddy Pride’, Hell & Back’ and ‘My Kinda Town’. If this album is anything to go by, country music is definitely where Jess has found her niche.
Jess also won a performance place at the 2012 Telstra Road to Discovery competition, held at the Toowoomba Festival of the Flowers, which provided her with experience and exposure to industry professionals.
2011 has certainly helped confirm to this impressive multi-instrumentalist that country music is where her future lies. If her success so far is anything to go by, 2012 is going to be a massive year for Jess, with the release of more tracks from her and performances and touring opportunities
Links
