By all accounts, it’s been a remarkable year for country-rock performer Briana Dinsdale.
The young talent from Logan released her maiden album “Beginnings” in January, performing all over South-East Queensland and has just graduated from high school at Canterbury College in Waterford.
The debut album was recorded in Browns Plains at the Wheatley Street productions studio, and featured twelve tracks in different styles, showcasing Briana’s musical versatility.
“Oh, it’s been an absolutely amazing, I’ve always dreamed to being able to do some of the stuff that has happened this year.”
.The song “Lost at Sea” is one of three tracks on beginnings (the others being “Why Did I Fall For You” and “Ball and Chain” to receive its own music video, which was released on ANZAC DAY this year.
This heart-stopping, melancholic ballad tells the story of James Martin, the youngest Australian soldier to die in World War One at the age of 14.
“My sister went on a trip to Canberra when she was 11, and learned about James Martin’s story.
“We’ve been performing that song for about five years now, and will continue to perform it for my whole life because it’s just so special.”
Briana Dinsdale admits that she wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so much without the backing of her highly supportive and musical family, and her band members.
The Briana Dinsdale Band: (from left to right) : members Matt Bannan-Cane, Brodie Campbell, Briana Dinsdale, Ashlyn Dinsdale and Jackson Thompson
“My sister is the bass player, and we’ve grown up doing music together. We both had that spirit that we want to be in a band together when we’re older and now we get to do it and that’s so cool.
“One of my guitarists – his name is Jackson Thomson, we started working together about July last year. He started working as a studio musician, doing guitar laydowns for the album. He’s a great friend.
“I’ve also got Brodie Campbell who’s also a guitarist. We met a few years ago at the Redlands Country Music Club. That was a really amazing place for getting my start. Met him there, and asked him if he wanted to join the band..
“We actually had a different drummer last year. My producer’s husband Jonathan Wheatley was a teacher at my school, but he didn’t really have the time for the band which was understandable.”Our new drummer is Matt Bannan-Cane, who was good friends with Brodie, and Brodie brought him in.
“It’s all kind of like a little TV Show/family tree how it all leads together, hahaha.”
Added to this is Briana’s dad, who acts as manager and musical director for her band.
Briana’s parents have been a pillar of strength
“He loves music and helps with the business side of things.”
As already mentioned, sister Ashlyn is a key part of the band.
“My sister is an insane musician, she plays piano, guitar and bass guitar, and has an incredible voice”
“We write together and perform together and she actually features on one of the tracks on the album”.
“My family is so special and gives me so much support”.
Mum, an English teacher, is not musical, but her love of poetry enables her to provide music advice.
Balancing a music career with studying in Grade 12 at Canterbury College has been a challenge, but Briana says she was determined to achieve success in the classroom as well as on stage.
“My school has been really understanding that I am self-employed with my music career, and have been understanding if I can’t make it to a school music event.
“I’ve never missed a day of school.”
“I’ve told myself that “I’m not going to slack off from school just to pursue my music career”.
“The school music program is amazing as well, and we had a school rock concert which was my final event performing at the school.”
Along with her album premiere, performing at Queen St Mall in Brisbane City with the band was a highlight of the year for Briana.
“Just the amount of people that had stopped and watched our whole set. It was just after a lockdown, and it was so amazing to see people out and about enjoying music again.”
And that joy has been extended after winning the Keith Urban Country Music Scholarship to Tamworth, which will help her to take her talents to the next level.
The scholarship will enable her to attend a 10-day senior course, which would normally cost $3000, at the CMAA Academy which will give here the opportunity to work with artists of the calibre of INXS’s Tim Farriss, Kasey Chambers and Kevin Bennett.
“I’ve been applying for the Academy at Tamworth for a few years, and didn’t really have the time.”
“I got a call from Sam Phillips who’s one of the directors down at the Academy, saying I’d won the Keith Urban scholarship and I just burst into tears.
“It’s a 10-day course in the heart of Tamworth.
Happy-go-lucky: Briana will be belting out ballads at the Academy in Tamworth next January
Musical mentors for Briana have included noted Yeppoon country musician Brad Butcher, winner of two Golden Guitars, who she met when she was quite young.
“He’s always got really good advice, and he’s so down to earth. Especially being so young, being able to watch these artists growing up.”
Briana says that she gets the inspiration for her music from many places.
“Lady A’s album “What a Song can Do” and it’s just incredible. It’s sparked so many inspirations.
“I have a little notepad on my phone called the Hook Book, and whenever I get an idea, a line or something like that, I’ll write it down or use my voice memo or something like that.
“I don’t know why, but my biggest inspiration is live music, I’ll get a lot of inspiration, I don’t know why, but it’s really special.”
And fans of the upcoming Logan country music star can look forward to much more over the next year with a new project in the works.
“We’ve been filming a new video for a single coming up. Lots of new music coming up, exciting times”
Despite all of her newfound exposure and upcoming brush with fame in January, Briana remains grounded about her future career prospects, hoping to enter a career in education.
“I want to go to Fine Arts/Music and hopefully be a music teacher in future.
“Of course, I still want to do my song writing and my gigging and all of that, that’s the ultimate dream, but I’ve always had that little spark in me that wants to be a teacher.”
Briana Dinsdale will be performing next Saturday night at the Distillery Road Trucks and Tunes event in Eagleby from 5:30-8:45pm.
