Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Amy Sheppard, Chugg Music/Kaos 2022.
Blue Guitar is the second single lifted from Amy Sheppard’s debut solo EP Nothing But Wild, set for release on 16 September.
The first single, the title track form the EP, was released a while ago and has been well received.
Amy, as part of the famous Sheppard siblings, has achieved world-wide chart success and now she feels the time is right to try her solo project.
For Blue Guitar she teamed up with producers Lindsay Rimes (Kylie Minogue, Troye Sivan) and Stuart Stuart (Sheppard, The Veronicas) to write an ode to classic country ballads as sung by iconic names such as LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill, and Shania Twain.
Amy claims it’s the first country song she ever wrote.
She took it to her brother who added his touch and now it’s her favourite song from the upcoming EP.
Amy explains: “I really leaned into the beauty of country music storytelling. The storyline follows a woman who returns to visit her small hometown.
“When she enters a local bar she is taken aback by a familiar voice. The man singing is her former lover who never quite made the big time.
“She notices he’s still playing his blue guitar – the same one he used to write love songs to her on.
“She’s filled with the same old feelings she had for him and wonders if the songs he is singing today are still about her.”
An impressive list of co-writers has been involved in producing the songs for the EP including: Trannie Anderson (Reba McEntire, Gabby Barrett), her brother George and Jason Bovino from Sheppard, The Wolfe Brothers, and Phil Barton (The Buckleys, The McClymonts) to name a few.
With writing talent of this quality, it’s hard to go wrong.
If the EP doesn’t sell it’s unlikely to be because of the quality of the songs.
To coincide with the EP’s release Amy will be embarking on a tour of selected Australian venues throughout August, September, and October so keep an eye out for her coming to a venue near you.
