Career sparked by a broken heart

Now teaming up with X Factor heart throb Jason Owen

By SHIRLEY BROUN

A BROKEN heart and a new guitar for Christmas was the recipe that created one of Australia’s exciting country music sweethearts Amber Lawrence.

Amber Lawrence

Amber admits singing wasn’t even a consideration when she was young but breaking up with her boyfriend who had given her a guitar for Christmas broke her heart and gave her a reason to write songs. “I was 22 when I started singing and although I’m a city girl from Sydney I am always out in the country. I have the best of both worlds,” said Amber.

Now 34, Amber has built up a strong fan base around the country as well as making inroads overseas.

Amber has toured extensively throughout Australia and has also written songs in Nashville. “I write all my own songs,” she said.

Albums feature original material

It seems once Amber started writing songs her passion grew and her albums feature all her original material. “I like the feeling you get when your songs connect with the audience. It is such a great feeling and inspires you to keep writing.”

Amber describes her music as quite contemporary and written to appeal to many different tastes.

Of the hundreds of songs Amber has penned `Always Kiss me Goodnight’ holds a special place in her heart. “I’m proud of all my songs but this is one I wrote about my dad who passed away about five years ago. I get to sing and talk about my dad at every show and it is such a privilege,” she said.
Amber’s warm, all-embracing and unique vocal talents have seen her nominated six times in the Australian Country Music Award’s Golden Guitars in Tamworth and she has also won the Independent Album of the Year twice.

Hard work pays off

Her commitment and hard work for which she is well known in the industry has seen her go from strength to strength with 13 single releases all of which have been Top 5 radio favourites including seven Number 1’s. She has more than 10 awards to her name including the Tamworth Telstra Horizon Award at the 2011 Golden Guitars and was nominated in the Female Artist of the Year category at this year’s Golden Guitars.

Despite the accolades and awards Amber remains humble and says: “I just love what I do. I am not aspiring towards any particular goal. I just love the fact that people want to come to my shows and listen to my music. That’s what I conceive to be the definition of success.”

Amber usually embarks on solo tours but this year she has teamed up with 2012 X Factor Runner-up Jason Owen for a special `Islands in the Stream’ tour. It followed the success of their single of the same name.

On the road with the X Factor

Amber and Jason hit the road in June and after a month off are set to hit the road again with performances beginning in Canberra on November 9 and then heading up the East Coast to Queensland. “I saw Jason on X Factor and thought it would be a great idea for us to team up on a tour and so far, our audiences have loved it with full houses in many of the venues,” said Amber.

This two-hour show will feature Jason and Amber performing with their touring band, their own hits and songs as well as special duets throughout the show including their hit single `Islands in the stream’ which the pair have sung more than 200 times already this year.

Amber presents some of her fan favourites including Wrecking Ball, Good Girls, Don’t Do Lonely Well, Women Like Me and from her latest album `3’ Everybody’s A Mess, Man Across the Street and Try.

Jason’s performance in his first ever experience of taking his show on the road aptly echoes his debut album `Life Is a Highway’ with songs such as Always On My Mind, Against The Wind, If Tomorrow Never Comes, and Sweet Home Alabama to name a few.

Album to follow tour

Asked if she has noticed any unusual quirks about Jason while on the road, Amber laughed: “Well, at only 19 he does text an awful lot, and is always on the phone or taking self-portraits but I guess I do that too … and I’m 34.”

When the tour finishes in May next year Amber plans to release a new album of Australian country songs. “I can’t wait,” she said.

Amber admits it has been a tumultuous year of relationship break-ups and the search for new loves which for the talented songwriter means great inspirational material for her new album. “I think it will be my best yet,” she said.

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