Brittany Elise makes 2022 Toyota Star Maker Competition

Country music singer and songwriter Brittany Elise is about to take on Australia’s biggest country music competition that helped launch Keith Urban to stardom. Read more about her year ahead.

After two long years of limited performing opportunities, a Mackay-born country music singer will perform on the same stage that launched the careers of country stars Keith Urban and Lyn Bowtell.

Brittany Elise was the only Queensland country music artist to make the top 10 in the 2022 Toyota Star Maker competition in Tamworth, New South Wales.

The past two years of lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions were immensely tough for all Australians, especially for the music industry.

Brittany Elise takes on Australia's biggest country music competition in April 2022. Picture: Brittany Elise

Elise said there was a multitude of people in the industry who their lost jobs because of festivals and music events being postponed or cancelled.

“I think people think about live music being the singer on stage but we have band members, travel agents and vendors and food stalls at our festivals,” Elise said.

“It is a really big community when it comes to live music.

“It has been extremely tough and we have had to keep banding together.”

Brittany Elise takes on Australia's biggest country music competition in April 2022. Picture: Brittany Elise

Elise took advantage of the past two years off the road to nurture her sound and write a new album.

“I think for myself it was one of those things that a lot of negative things came out of Covid, but I ended up going back to the drawing board,” she said.

“I wrote my best songs that we are planning to release and we are really excited.

“I guess we would have never had that time as we are normally on the road, so that’s the positive we have taken out of it.”

Mackay born country music singer, songwriter Brittany Elise. Picture: Brittany Elise

Elise was announced as Queensland’s most popular new independent artist for 2022.

She said her 2021 single House of Home encompassed the important, universal themes of life which many people reflected on during lockdown times.

“It is funny how like people go through different phases in life, so do albums and they all tell different stories or times,” she said.

“This album in particular, definitely covers the topics of leaning on each other, family, finding what makes you, you.

“A lot of us are only human and we probably prioritise certain things that we won’t go back to after Covid times because realistically they were not important.”

Elise has many irons in the fire for 2022, with upcoming music festivals and a new album on the horizon.

She will compete in the Toyota Star Maker competition in Tamworth on Tuesday April 19.

This 42-year-old competition has launched the careers of renowned country artists such as Keith Urban, who won the competition in 1990.

“I already feel like I am a winner being in the top 10 and all the benefits and opportunities you gain from that,” she said.

“Just to be recognised as one of the top 10 up and coming finalists is pretty amazing.

“This is a dream come true for me.”

Mackay born country music singer Brittany Elise makes top 10 for Toyota Star Maker competition. Picture: Brittany- Elise

Her Sunshine Hurricane Tour continues this year, after it was postponed several times last year.

“We had a few shows in Queensland in November and December in 2021,” she said.

“Our next show is to Raise Your Voice in the Gladstone region.

“We have a show in April on the Gold Coast and we are hoping to get to New South Wales.”

Queensland’s most popular new independent artist for 2022 Brittany Eise. Picture: Brittany Elise

She said her ultimate goal was to keep performing nationally, with hopes to also go back to Nashville in the United States.

“I have been fortunate enough to experience a bit of Nashville and go back there,” she said.

“Hopefully one day I will win a Golden Guitar award.”