Ashleigh Dallas has won five Golden Guitars and that’s because she is an artist of considerable talents as a singer, songwriter and musician. It’s those same talents that see her invited to perform in festivals such as Red Country in the Pilbara, where she’s just visited, and the Gympie Music Muster, which is coming up in late August. She’ll be taking her new single, ‘Love Still Has Something’.

Recorded in her father Brett's studio, ‘Love Still Has Something’ delves into Dallas's experiences with anxiety and depression. While recording the song she tapped into the raw emotions she felt when first writing the song during the pandemic, as she recounted during our recent interview.

‘I really wanted to tap into the heart and the sentiment of these lyrics,’ Dallas says. ‘I remember that feeling when I first finished it, writing it in this home space, and I wanted to capture that in the studio.’

The song's layered production, featuring Dallas's evocative fiddle playing, further enhances the emotional depth of the lyrics.

‘It's really purposely layered because the topic of this song is quite layered, and we, as humans, are layered,’ says Dallas. ‘Young 18-year-old Ash used to say it was about a friend of a friend, whereas now I would look down the barrel and say, “Love Still Has Something” exists because I wasn't okay. I was struggling with my mental health.’

This openness has been transformative, fostering deeper connections with her family, partner, and creative team. ‘It's been really great now that I think I'm in a place where it does start conversations with my parents, with my partner, my friends and family, and even my band,’ she says.

Dallas now nurtures the next generation of country music artists through her involvement with the Academy of Country Music. As both a graduate and now the assistant director, she is passionate about creating a supportive environment where young artists can authentically explore their craft and find their voice.

‘It's really lovely to be a part of it,’ she reflects. ‘Even though you might be tired and life is busy and you travel and you come in and you go, “Okay, shift gears. And we're here now.” It's just really refreshing being around that energy.’

Dallas herself has a knack of reinvigorating her audiences, bringing her whole heart and considerable skills to her performances, as she will at the Muster from 22 to 25 August.

For more about Ashleigh Dallas: https://ashleighdallas.com.au/

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