An interview with my co-writer, Louella Jolly Aussie singer/songwriter

Janice: Louella, it may be peculiar a co-writer asking you about the process of our recent collaboration Óur Star’ but it dawned on me that it could be interesting; a re-evaluation and learning process for us both!

Louella: I think its a good question Janice. I have done a little co-writing when I first started singing but the experience with you has been a great experience & learning curve.

Janice: When I sent you the first (of many) drafts can you recall your initial response?

Louella: Yes. My initial response when I first read/felt into the lyrics & over all idea was I liked & connected with the story.

The story of a lonesome Cowboy has been such a classic theme in movies, music & arts for many years. As we started tweaking the lyrics the story evolved.

The process of writing with you was interesting in seeing your approach to arranging the lyrics & the melodic lines to make the song coherent based on your writing skills & experience in the music industry.

Janice: My fascination with cowboy/cowgirls began as a child, I wanted to be one! Well a kid in the suburbs was unlikely to be one...did you have any associations with country music or country life?

Louella: I grew up in a suburban area, Pennant Hills but I did love watching the Western movies as a child & also used to play Cowboys & Indians with my sister & friends, that was a normal thing to do back then.

I was also influenced by my parents’ record collection. My Mum had slightly more folky/country tastes ie: Carpenters, Bing Crosby, John Denver whereas my Dad loved Nat King Cole, Gladys Knight amongst others. There was one particular album I dearly loved & that was a Country Hits album with hits from Lorretta Lyn, Johnny Cash etc so that was one of my first connections to Country music. I fell in love with Stand By Me especially.

Janice: I wasn’t particularly tuned into country music when I was growing up! My influences were via the USA Jazz musicians my eldest brothers record collection but over the years I’ve contributed as a backing vocalist on a few well known artist’s tracks: Anne Kirkpatrick’s Shoot the Moon album with Alison MacCallum and in London a cover version of County Road, recorded of Olivia Newton John with Bones; a three girl group formed in London via Joy Yates, with Bridget Lokelani Dudoit & myself. I grew more interested as rock began to have an influence on country music. The number of Australian country artist’s shows how much Aussie’s love their country music. Are there any Australian country artists who work you’ve been influenced by or are a fan of?

Louella: Yes. I remember when I was 19yrs, old listening to a country music radio station on a bus trip to Melbourne & thinking the country music industry in Australia was going to grow within the next 10 years, which it did.

I wasn’t a huge follower of country music then though some of the country style tunes did catch my ear with artists like Lorretta Lyn, Dolly Parton, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Slim Dusty.

The Eagles were probably the biggest influence when I was young. In primary school I used to go into my brother’s room & listen to his collection of their albums & know all the words by heart. I was particularly drawn to their harmonies which I also used to sing along with.

Other bands ie; Creedence Clearwater Revival also were an influence. In later years Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Gina Jefferies, Troy Cassar- Daley & various others artists I used to come across in my days as a presenter at 2Bob Radio, a community station in Taree, where I did a show there for 7years.

Janice: There are so many accomplished country musicians; both from the past and present and in Australia those who’ve made country their own: Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daly, Warren H Williams, Felicity Urquhart are still standouts for me.... but there are interesting up and coming artists as well...

Louella: There is a much larger range of country artists in Australia now days with various styles ranging from Australiana, American style influence, Americana, Bluegrass. These styles also crossover into independent artists & singer songwriters.

Louella Jolly

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