FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
 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. The first single My Kinda Town from her release Introducing Jess Holland will show another side of this 2011 CMAA Country Music College graduate, and no doubt earn her fans far and wide.
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, and secured performance spots on the likes of the 2008 A Day on the Green. Stepping out on her own was a brave step, but a natural progression for Jess. “The decision to go solo with this album was certainly a big step for me,” she explains. “But I am more comfortable with myself as a person and a musician, and I think that the end result proves this. I think this album was the right move for me, as I was able to branch into the genre I love, and write the songs I wanted to write. I could also experiment and introduce different instruments that I wouldn’t have before, such as the harmonica and the mandolin and use my versatility on each track.”
Jess kicked off 2011 with a great start to her solo career, being chosen in the Top 20 finalists for the Toyota Star Maker. She has also toured through central, western and northern New South Wales in support of the likes of Luke Dickens, Uncle Bobs Jug Band and Adam Kilpatrick. She also performed at the wedding for Scott Warby from the Channel 9 show Farmer Wants a Wife. Earning the title of 2011 Voice of Urban Country was a great stepping stone forward.
“2011 was such a great year for me as an artist,” Jess says. “It was definitely a step in the right direction and I achieved a great deal in that time. These accolades have allowed me to record my debut album. They have exposed me to all aspects of the country music industry, and greater knowledge of what I need to achieve to be a successful musician.”
If her success so far is anything to go by, 2012 is going to be a massive year for Jess. “It will see the release of more tracks off my debut album,” she says. “I will also be gigging all over Australia. I also have several festivals that I will be playing at, including Gulgong Folk Festival, Can Assist With Music 2012, and Urban Country Festival.” Jess and her band the Silver Spurs are also planning an Australian tour Mudgee to Melbourne (M2M).
Jess Holland’s debut album Introducing Jess Holland is due for release on November 30.
For more information, please visit www.wix.com/jessicaholland/jessicaholland
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