FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – MEDIA RELEASE
 The release of her new album ‘3’ sends Amber Lawrence’s multiple award-winning country music career soaring as high as the giant jumbo jets that fly over her home in Sydney’s inner-city suburb of Mascot, not far from the international airport.
Yes, Amber’s an inner city girl. She’s lived in the hustle, the noise and the hubbub all her life but it has never diluted her passion for country music and its endless themes of heartbreak, story-telling, love, joy, fun and core family values like loyalty. Now ‘3’, (simply named because it’s her third album) adds another dimension to a career that has been on a sharply vertical lift-off since Amber took up singing and song writing half a dozen years ago and rocked the industry with her burgeoning talents that include five Golden Guitar nominations, six number one songs, the Horizon award, TV performances on major shows like Mornings with Kerri-Anne and Spicks and Specks plus tours and stage appearances with artists including Adam Harvey, Beccy Cole, Melinda Schneider and Lee Kernaghan.
‘3’, with its mixture of upbeat optimism, personal happiness and resilience along with some references to deeper issues including courage in the face of hardship, is another step upward on a sharply-angled career path that has seen Amber delight audiences all over the country - from sold out Tamworth concerts to the Gympie Music Muster - and vastly expand her fan base.
Her own experiences of life’s upheavals, including the death of her father, becoming an aunt to her sister’s two children and lost loves and the pursuit of new ones, have broadened Amber’s musical experiences and her maturity shows on ‘3’. Throw in Amber’s early experience of being dumped by a boyfriend who had given her a guitar so she could learn to play and boost her career and you get some idea of what ironies shape her lyrics. Songs like Everything’s A Song, Everybody’s A Mess and Huge talk about the importance of personal contentment and emotional stability instead of looking enviously at other people’s lives that may not be as perfect as they look.
Everybody’s A Mess has already generated such enthusiasm among Amber’s fans that it will be the first song released from the album as a single. “My last album was on a positive note as well but it was more based on moving on after the death of my father” she says. “This album says I know what life is all about at this point in my life and I’m making the most of it, good or bad. I have my glass half-empty days like everyone else but most if the time its half-full”.
Adding to her already glittering career lustre is Amber’s insightful skill to write one and co-write the other 12 songs on the album with some of the best known lyricists in country music, including award winner Colin Buchanan, Mike Carr, who wrote song of the year “Real People’’ for Melinda Schneider, Sam Hawksley, Paul Greene, Suzy Connolly and Golden Guitar winning producer Rod McCormack, whose professionally deft touch in the studio is behind the unique sound.
Amber’s partnership with Buchanan produces the most poignant song on ‘3’, The Man Across The Street. It tells the true story of Bill, a young, returned Australian solider whose stark memories and ghastly experiences in Vietnam haunt his waking hours. He turns to alcohol for daily solace while sitting on the verandah of his house at Mascot across from Amber’s. One day Amber, a toddler, wanders toward the busy road risking serious injury or death from passing cars until she is scooped up by Bill and returned to her mother in the nick of time. Amber’s song was meant as a thank you for the now vanished Bill for saving her life but it became a metaphor for the actions of not just Bill, but all of the Australian soldiers who went to Vietnam and returned emotionally impaired unable to fit comfortably back into society. The song expanded into a bigger picture to embrace the hundreds of young Australians who sacrificed so much of their own promising futures to protect their country. Not just Bill, as Amber sings but a thousand more like him who paid the price. “Maybe he didn’t want to fight but he was told it was for the greater good of us all. So it became much bigger than him just saving my life when I might have crawled onto that road. It was really emotional writing it. Those soldiers tended to be written off when they came home because they were young and no one realised there was a problem. With hindsight we know how he suffered.” Amber’s family lost touch with Bill over the years after he moved but she remains hopeful their paths might cross if he hears the song. Amber also linked with Australia’s armed forces when she entertained troops in East Timor in 2007.
Amber’s debut album The Mile and its follow-up When It All Comes Down - which earned three Golden Guitar nominations - were commercial and critical successes. ‘3’ continues Amber’s evolvement into one of the most successful country music artists in the country, loved by fans and respected by industry super stars such as Lee Kernaghan and Adam Harvey, who brings his honeyed voice to track 6 The Peace I Keep.
“She writes great songs, sings with conviction and delivers a great show,’’ says Harvey. “Her talent and her connection with the audience put Amber ahead of the other young artists in the industry.”
Also joining Amber for a duet on the album is ex-Australian Idol finalist and Home and Away star – Axle Whitehead. Axle’s smoky vocals are a perfect fit for Amber’s on the sexy track 9 My Attraction. “Axle’s a great singer, who is a big fan of country music – so it was really fun to work with someone outside the normal realms of Australian Country Music”, says Amber.
By her own admission Amber was a late starter as a singer, spending her immediate post-high school years at the University of NSW completing a degree in Accountancy, a profession not known for producing an abundance of country music performers. But she says she is now secure in her confidence that country music is where she belongs and where she is staying. “I wouldn’t want to be any other place,” she says.
Amber came up with the ideas for her songs on ‘3’ but called in songwriting partners to give the finished product a distinctive twist in comparison to the first two albums. “I wrote almost all the songs by myself on the first two and didn’t want ‘3’ to sound the same,’’ she says. “But I still wanted the songs to be my songs, to tell my story. The songwriting sessions were successful because we had clear ideas in our minds as to where we were headed. It’s my truth, it’s my take on the world as I see it right now. Life throws us curve balls and the only thing that's constant is change which always makes for great song subject matter. ‘3’ represents where I'm at personally and creatively at the moment. I’m very proud of this album.”
Amber Lawrence will also be touring throughout 2012 in support of the release of ‘3’.
Amber Lawrence’s album ‘3’ is released on January 20, 2012.
2012 TOUR DATES
JANUARY 2012
Saturday 7th January
Jamm 4 Genes, Carrington Hotel, Katoomba NSW
www.jeansforgenes.org.au
Saturday 28th January
Capitol Theatre, Tamworth NSW
www.capitoltheatre.com.au
FEBRUARY 2012
Thursday 2nd February
Loxton Hotel, Loxton SA
(08) 8584 7353
Friday 3rd February
The Old Clarendon Inn, Clarendon SA
With Adam Harvey
www.oldclarendoninn.com.au
Saturday 4th February
Norwood Live, Norwood SA
With Adam Harvey
www.thenorwood.com.au
Sunday 5th February
Vine Inn Barossa, Nuriootpa SA
With Adam Harvey
www.vineinn.com.au
Saturday 18th February
Lake Charlegrark Country Music Marathon, Minimay VIC
www.lccmm.com.au
Sunday 19th February
Lake Charlegrark Country Music Marathon, Minimay VIC
www.lccmm.com.au
Sunday 26th February
Randwick Rugby Club, Coogee Beach NSW
Hometown Album Launch
www.randwickrugby.com.au
MARCH 2012
Saturday 10th March
Central Coast Country Music Festival, The Entrance NSW
www.centralcoastcountrymusic.com.au
Thursday 15th March
Bathurst RSL Club [Auditorium], Bathurst NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.bathurstrsl.com.au
Friday 16th March
Orange Ex-Services Club, Orange NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.oesc.com.au
Saturday 17th March
Condobolin RSL Club, Condobolin NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.condobolinrslclub.com.au
Sunday 18th March
Narromine United Services Memorial Club [Auditorium], Narromine NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.narromineusmc.com.au
Friday 23rd March
Goulburn Workers Club, Goulburn NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.goulburnworkers.com.au
Saturday 24th March
Yass Soldiers Club, Yass NSA
With Adam Harvey
www.yasssoldiersclub.com.au
Friday 30th March
Wagga Wagga Commercial Club, Wagga Wagga NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.commercialclubwagga.com.au
Saturday 31st March
Young Services Club, Young NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.youngservicesclub.com.au
APRIL 2012
Friday 20th April
Club Singleton, Singleton NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.clubsingleton.com.au
Saturday 21st April
Panthers Newcastle, Newcastle NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.newcastle.panthers.com.au
MAY 2012
Friday 11th May
Penrith Panthers Evan Theatre, Penrith NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.penrith.panthers.com.au
Saturday 12th May
Hornsby RSL Club, Hornsby NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.hornsbyrsl.com.au
Thursday 17th May
Bairnsdale RSL Club, Bairnsdale VIC
With Adam Harvey
www.bairnsdale.rslvic.com.au
Friday 18th May
Wonthaggi Workmens Club, Wonthaggi NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.wonthaggiworkmens.com
Saturday 19th May
Moe RSL, Moe VIC
With Adam Harvey
www.moersl.com.au
Thursday 24th May
St George RSL, St George QLD
With Adam Harvey
(07) 4625 1224
Friday 25th May
City Golf Club, Toowoomba QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.citygolf.com.au
Saturday 26th May
The Centre for Arts & Culture, Beaudesert QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.liveatthecentre.com.au
Sunday 27th May
Ipswich Civic Theatre, Ipswich QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.ipswichcivictheatre.com.au
JUNE 2012
Thursday 21st June
Hallam Hotel, Hallam VIC
With Adam Harvey
www.hallamhotel.com.au
Friday 22nd June
The Gateway Hotel, Corio VIC
With Adam Harvey
www.thegatewayhotel.com.au
Saturday 23rd June
The Commercial Hotel, South Morang
With Adam Harvey
www.thecommercialhotellounge.com.au
JULY 2012
Friday 13th July
St George’s Basin Country Club, Sanctuary Point NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.basincountryclub.com.au
Saturday 14th July
Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, Batemans Bay NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.baysoldiers.com.au
Sunday 15th July
Oaklands Event Centre, Pambula NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.oaklandsevents.com.au
Thursday 19th July
Port Macquarie Panthers, Port Macquarie NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.portmacquarie.panthers.com.au
Friday 20th July
Coffs Harbour Ex Services, Coffs Harbour NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.cex.com.au
Saturday 21st July
Twin Towns Services Club [Showroom], Twin Towns NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.twintowns.com.au
AUGUST 2012
Thursday 16th August
Glenmore Tavern, Rockhampton QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.glenmorehotelmotel.com.au
Friday 17th August
Northern Beaches Bowls Club, Mackay QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.nbbowls.com.au
Saturday 18th August
Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.dalrymplehotel.com.au
Sunday 19th August
Mareeba RSL Club, Mareeba QLD
With Adam Harvey
www.mareebarslclub.com.au
Thursday 30th August
Narrabri Crossing Theatre, Narrabri NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.crossingtheatre.com.au
Friday 31st August
Gunnedah Services & Bowling Club, Gunnedah
With Adam Harvey
www.gunnedahservicesclub.com.au
SEPTEMBER 2012
Saturday 1st September
Coonamble District RSL Club, Coonamble NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.coonamblersl.com.au
Sunday 2nd September
Cobar Bowling & Golf Club, Cobar NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.cobarbowls.com.au
Thursday 13th September
Tumut-Montreal Community Theatre, Tumut NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.montrealtheatre.com.au
Friday 14th September
Albury Commercial Club, Albury NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.commclubalbury.com.au
Saturday 15th September
Cooma Ex-Serviceman’s Club, Cooma NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.coomaexservices.com.au
Thursday 20th September
Taree RSL & Golf Club, Taree NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.tareerslandgolf.com.au
Friday 21st September
Saraton Theatre, Grafton NSW
With Adam Harvey
(02) 6642 1633
Saturday 22nd September
Lismore District Workers Club, Lismore NSW
With Adam Harvey
www.lismoreworkers.com.au
Sunday 29th September
Nelson Bay Diggers, Nelson Bay NSW
With Adam Harvey
(02) 4981 1344
For more information, please visit www.amberlawrence.com.au
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