Merilyn Steele

If I Were A Bird the quirky title of Merilyn Steele’s second radio release from her latest album
Extraordinary Daze, is out now on NfS radio compilation this month.

Described by Capital News writer Deb Minter as ‘A wonderfully positive new album ... ...
great songwriting and Merilyn’s vocals are strong and vibrant as ever.’

Merilyn wrote the track sometime ago and reviewed it after considering it for inclusion on this,
her second album ‘It’s a song of pure escapism and imagery, like going back to your school
days.’

The Sydney based artist signed a national and US|Canada deal with WJO Distribution last month, boosting her career with the distribution through music retail stores and online direct
to consumers.
‘I signed a national and US/Canada deal with them in August. They specialise in independent artists and are associated with Leading Edge Music so it’s a really good move.’
Merilyn added.
The second single taken from Merilyn Steele’s new album ‘Extraordinary Daze’ has been described in a
review as ‘light and hopeful with an Irish air and a childlike delicacy of spirit’. Indeed, the Irish folk
overtones certainly stand out in this tune. It has been voted as one of the most popular songs off the CD
which was a real surprise to Merilyn.
‘It’s a song of pure escapism and imagery, like going back to your school days when the teacher used
to ask ‘if you could be any animal, what would it be and what would you do as that animal?’ type of
thing. It’s a song from years ago that I have rewritten but thought it would be viewed as pretty corny.
Strangely it has turned out to be everyone’s favourite.’

It’s sure to become your radio favourite too once you hear this hauntingly catchy tune!
- BLURB

OCTOBER 2008

It was only in 05/06 Sydney singer/songwriter MERILYN STEELE was fighting back from a debilitating series of health crises that
would have crippled a lesser woman.

THE recently released new album Extraordinary Daze is the follow up to her debut release This
Passion.

Along with a new physical makeover (including a vibrant new hair colour) Merilyn has added depth to her musical mind-set.
“It’s vastly different (to This Passion),” she said. “It’s a much more rootsy, sometimes bluesy sound with a bit of folk weaved in. My
fans have embraced and welcomed the new maturity and style. I think it’s essential to keep
evolving, not just as an artist and musician
but as a person too.”
Then choice of CD title seems entirely
appropriate considering the ‘whirlwind of
events’ Merilyn has lived through over the last
few years.
“I decided to use ‘daze’ instead of ‘days’ to
add a further twist to the title as a couple of
those experiences did seem to leave me in a
bit of a ‘daze’!” she said. “Most of the songs
are about ‘here and now’, living in the present,
making most of life etc. It’s a bit of a soul
searcher really – because that’s what I am.”
Merilyn’s newest single is If I Were A Bird;
a sunny track with ‘an Irish air and a childlike
delicacy of spirit.’ “It’s ironic in that while it
sounds like a simplistic song on the surface,
there is a deeper message underneath saying
that it’s better to face your problems than
running away from them,” she explained. “The
song also acknowledges that I am thankful for
what I have and who I am. There are lots of
others worse off than I am.”
While You Can is another positive, uplifting
song with a clear and simple message; live
life while you can as no one knows what can
happen tomorrow. “It’s my latest philosophy
on life!” Merilyn said. “As we get older our
mortality becomes more apparent. Don’t put
off your dreams and desires! Don’t take your
life or health for granted! Get that silverware
and crystal glasses out of the cabinet, invite
family or friends over for dinner and use them
tonight! What are you waiting for? I think you
have the idea by now.”
Information Blues is a tongue in cheek
dig at today’s modern technology and
communication. “We seem to have so many
avenues of communication now – phones,
mobiles, SMS, instant messaging, Facebook,
My Space, emails, faxes, letters and so on.
Some days it just seems to be overload! But
with all this communication ironically people
are not connecting with each other on a
personal level at all any more. We have so
many modern conveniences that are meant to
save us time and effort, yet nobody has time
to relax, chill out and just talk.”
Another positive for Merilyn’s future is
her recent signing with distribution company
WJO Distribution. “It is SO exciting and
I’m wrapped!” she enthused. “It’s great
timing too with the new release and the
singles coming up.” WJO Distribution /
Salamander Sound are associated with
Leading Edge Music – an Australia-wide
group of independent music stores.
Merilyn’s indomitable courage and
fighting spirit have brought her out of the
dark times. She knows that every step forward
is a blessing to be appreciated and anticipated
with hope and gratitude.
BY DEBORAH MINTER

- COUNTRY MUSIC CAPITAL NEWS