Hayley Marsten drops new single ahead of tour

Find out the story behind her new single and debut album.

ON THE ROAD: Hayley Marsten will be an opening act for Troy Cassar-Daley at Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre on Saturday and will return on tour next Saturday, August 31. Picture: TEGAN NEILSEN

GLADSTONE born and raised musician Hayley Marsten has released a new single, Red Wine, White Dress, ahead of her first-ever headline tour beginning next Friday.

The 25-year-old singer-songwriter said she had worked hard to write and release her debut album Spectacular Heartbreak and was really proud of it.

Her new single, co-written with Brad Butcher, was released last Friday and Marsten said she had received a great response following the release.

"I had tried to write this song a whole heap of times, and it wasn't until I was going through a break-up that I felt like I could probably write it properly," Marsten said.

"It's just about feeling like a relationship or a person has sort of stained your life, and the way that you go through life, the way you think about relationships.

"They're the red wine and you're the white dress and you just can't escape what you shared together."

Marsten said her new album was about more than just love and heartbreak.

"It's a lot about strength and getting through stuff that maybe makes you feel a bit not great," she said.

Marsten said she had waited a long time to make her first album but had released two EPs, Even and Lonestar, in previous years. "I think I was always waiting to just feel like I was ready, and I'm so glad that I waited because this is exactly the album I would want to make as my first album and it's exactly everything I want to say."

Marsten will begin her first solo-headline tour in Brisbane and then head to Gladstone the following day for her second performance.

"I always like to launch my records with Gladstone and Brisbane first," she said.

"You only get one first album and so it's really exciting to be able to share that, especially in Gladstone."

Marsten said she was grateful for the hometown support from people who have watched her grow as a musician since day one.

"It's really just very humbling and lovely to have those same people come out again and watch me launch this album that I've worked so hard on.

"I honestly don't remember a time when I didn't want to be a musician ... I've never wanted to do anything else."

Marsten said she is excited about being back out on the road and performing after spending the last five months planning the tour and album release.

"It's really exciting. I think sometimes I just need to step back and remember how exciting it is," she said.

"It's so different every single time, every night ... that's why I love touring around, because every night is different."

Marsten will be an opening act for Troy Cassar-Daley at Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre on Saturday before beginning her tour.

She will perform 14 headline shows in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

Spectacular Heartbreak will be available for purchase in stores following its release.

Find out more about her tour dates here.

Originally published as Hayley Marsten drops new single ahead of tour