Naked In The Woods

Naked In The Woods

Naked In The Woods is the third annual compilation album released as part of the Victoria Rocks FReeZACentral initiative and heralds an exciting partnership of established and emerging female Victorian songwriters.

Tracks from the limited edition compilation album range from roots and folk, to contemporary funk and soul and explore a variety of themes for the everyday woman including death, loss, relationship break-ups, personal growth, friendship and temptation.

The bar is set high as Olympus with newcomer Sophia Katos and renowned Australian blues artist Kelly Auty, getting you grooving with their mature and upbeat soul numbers Black Bird and Don't Wanna Be.

Feel the world fade to nothingness when Arowe whispers about love and friendship alongside sorrowful strings on Deaf Silence, while you'll want to stay up all night with Milly Moodie and her funky grooves on Black Coffee - about an independent single girl.

The allure of Suzannah Espie (MBAS Blues Performer of the Year 2008) and Sarah Carroll's distinctive and catchy rhythm and blues influenced grooves on Let It Slide and Crying at Midnight add yet another layer to this album.

Newcomer, Gwendolyne O'Dea and multi-instrumentalist Liz Stringer both fuse blues, country and folk with vocal depth and power on Bad's Good and You Say So Many Things. The line from O'Dea's track "I'm running naked in the woods" even inspired the compilation album title!

Hidden Hands, the title track from ARIA nominee Jen Cloher's new album, catches you with poignant words and beautiful melodies and is a credit to her masterful song-writing.

Harnessing the power of the piano, Suzy Blue offers Pretty Lies, a quirky cabaret folk number about truth, alongside the introverted dream tale, Six Storey Caryard Apartment Block from Kate McMahon.

Australian music legend Rebecca Barnard (Rebecca's Empire) and Sally Ford, best known from award-winning band Texicali Rose, explore death and loss with different approaches. Barnard offering moody indie on Sirens, in contrast to the angelic harmonies of Ford on Mother's Day - sure to pluck the heart strings with jazz-cabaret influenced sounds.

Katy Steele who's recently re-located from Perth to Melbourne and been busy with her latest Little Birdy release, Confetti, strips things back to a roots groove with her distinctive vocals on the vulnerable new track Brother, while any warm blooded Melbournian will be hard pressed not to relate to the four sisters of Rezzalp on Year of the Tear.

ARIA Award winner and Ex-Frente songstress, Angie Hart explores self esteem and being yourself on the heavily layered and warm Don't Be Shy, while Victoria Dunbar and Jennifer Westwood take an upbeat and sincere approach on their tracks A Poem and Build This Life. To close, Jessica Hoven delivers a mature, serene piano ballad which carries you away.

Katy Steele, Jen Cloher, Sophia Katos, Arowe and Rezzalp will embark on a three-date launch tour to promote the album. Entry to all shows entitles ticket holders to receive a free copy of the Naked In The Woods compilation.

1.Sophia Katos - Black Bird
Sophia Katos was first making her mark in her home town of Geelong as the lead singer in Sweethearts Motown Band and various performances before the NIDA graduate thrilled sell-out crowds with her cabaret act Flaw Play. Performing alongside Barry Crocker in the cult musical, Reefer Madness, and a lead vocalist in Bacharach Retrospective, 21 year old Sophia makes her mark with her blues inspired upbeat soul number.

2. Kelly Auty - Don't Wanna Be
Kelly Auty is a renowned Australian blues artist who also facilitates the Noisy Girls program which assists young women in writing and recording original songs. Kelly has performed at many festivals and sung support for Manhatten Transfer, the Drifters, The Platters, the Divinyls and more. Auty explores love and hope for the future on her soulful roots ballad Don't Wanna Be.

3. Arowe - Deaf Silence
Already an accomplished lyricist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and sound engineer, Alex Rowe is a talented 24-year-old singer/songwriter from Melbourne awaiting the release of her debut album. The maturity and sorrowfulness in her jazz infused vocals are accompanied and complemented by her melodic guitar style as she invites us to explore friendship in Deaf Silence.

4. Suzannah Espie - Let It Slide
Suzannah Espie was first part of the band GIT, who over 10 years made 5 albums and toured throughout Australia and to the US. Since GIT's finale, Suzannah has been concentrating on her solo career. Last year she won the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society (MBAS) Blues Performer of the Year Award and went to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge. Her catchy soulful blues song Let It Slide has a little something to take away from it for every listener.

5. Milly Moodie - Black Coffee
Former top ten Australian Idol finalist, Milly Moodie has a long history with lead roles in numerous theatre productions including the professional hit Jump Sugar Jump at the age of 16. The versatile singer draws inspiration from rhythm and blues artists to add to her funky grooves in her song about single girls and independence. Her experience and maturity continues with her debut EP To Whom It May Concern now available via MySpace.

6. Sarah Carroll - Crying at Midnight
Sarah Carroll has played music professionally for some 16 years, playing in bands such as GIT, The Junes and The Unconscious Brothers. She also performs solo, in duos with her husband, Chris Wilson, and with Andy Baylor, Dan Warner and Marcel Borrack. Don't miss her Aretha Franklin blues styled track about relationships, Crying at Midnight.

7. Gwendolyn O'Dea - Bad's Good
Australian singer/songwriter and guitarist Gwendolyn O'Dea has hit the scene with her own brand of folk rock music. Passionate, raw and real, Gwendolyn sings true original tales of travels and heartaches that are expressed through her own unique musical style. With performances at the Apollo Bay Music Festival and appearances as a guest on both ABC 774 and Triple R Gwendolyn's fast paced folk and country vocals give her the edge with the smooth balance of Bad's Good

8. Liz Stringer - You Say So Many Things
Liz Stringer is a Melbourne based singer/songwriter multi-instrumentalist who fuses blues, country, bluegrass and folk. She has played major festivals, toured Australia extensively supporting artists such as Mia Dyson, Ash Grunwald, Joe Henry, Ember Swift and appeared on SBS's RocKwiz. You Say So Many Things is an upbeat synergy of everything Liz Stringer is know and loved for.

9. Jen Cloher - Hidden Hands
Jen Cloher released her debut album Dead Wood Falls to critical acclaim in 2006 and was nominated for an ARIA award in the category of Best Female Album. It saw the band headline their own national tour as well as touring in support of Josh Pyke, Jose Gonzalez, Ben Lee and Laura Veirs. Jen's colourful country song Hidden Hands is a credit to her masterful song writing.

10. Susy Blue - Pretty Lies
Performances at the Apollo Bay Music Festival and Woodford Folk Festival have given this singer/songwriter from Queensland the stage to explore new musical paths such as jazz, Latin and gypsy swing. After a year long musical adventure in South America, Susy was awarded a Buzz Grant to record her debut self titled EP of jazz/world/folk flavoured songs. Her inspiring performances are a playful mix of quirky and sultry, with the cabaret style of Pretty Lies showcasing her fresh and unique sound.

11. Kate McMahon - Six Storey Caryard Apartment Block
Growing up in the notoriously musical town of Ballarat, Kate started her classical music training at the tender age of 10 and hasn't looked back. Breaking into Ballarat's music scene in early 2008 Kate has always been a singer that has fused her unique style of song-writing with the honest individuality of her performances. Now Melbourne based, Kate entertains punters with her emotive mix of raw melodies as heard in the rolling, introverted piano ballad of Six Storey Caryard Apartment Block.

12. Little Birdy - Brother
The song Brother from the album Confetti is a compelling piece of acoustica inspired by a lifetime with Katy Steele's brother Luke and father Rick. It opens with the unforgettable couplet, "My brother he taught me how to fly. My papa he taught me how to cry". The raw-boned track features guest vocals and harmonica from Australian music legend Paul Kelly.

13. Rebecca Barnard - Sirens
Rebecca Barnard is a legend in the Australian music scene, spending many years performing. Her band, Rebecca's Empire became one of Australia's most-loved bands, touring extensively and appearing on Triple J's Hottest 100 albums 3 years in a row. You'll hear Sirens is a powerful and addictive song you'll play again and again.

14. Sally Ford - Mother's Day
Sally Ford is best known for her vocals and saxophone with award-winning band Texicali Rose. She has also worked with a roster of well-known names from Paul Kelly to Joe Camilleri and played all major music festivals from Womadelaide and Broome to Port Fairy and Queenscliff. The beautiful piano driven Mother's Day is sure to pluck the heart strings.

15. Rezzalp - Year Of The Tear
In 2006, Rezzalp released their debut EP, The Preview, which was featured as the ABC Album of the Week. On the back of this, Rezzalp were finalists in the ABC National Fresh Air competition for their song Animosity. The four Plazzer sisters, originally from Horsham, bring their sibling harmonies, the trademark of their unique sound, to audiences with the heartfelt Year of The Tear.

16. Angie Hart - Don't Be Shy
Angie Hart is the co-founder of Aria Award winning band, Frente who supported many international bands including Everything But The Girl, Crowded House, Counting Crows, Alanis Morrisette, as well as headlining successfully throughout the world. With songs featured on Melrose Place, My So Called Life and an appearance on Home & Away, there's no need to tread light with her quiet mantra Don't Be Shy.

17. Victoria Dunbar - A Poem
Playing piano at the age of six, guitar at the age of eight and songwriting at fourteen, Victoria's musical ability has grown into a gripping and creative force that is filled with original musical magic. Launching the sweet singing pop reggae and funk fueled band Fingers Crossed in 2008 Victoria has established her place in Melbourne's music scene. Her debut album Fly Away offers more of the poetic and creative fun heard on A Poem.

18. Jennifer Westwood - Build This Life
The upbeat anthem of Build This Life is the melodic expressive sound we have come to enjoy from 23-year-old singer/songwriter Jennifer Westwood. 2004 saw her form a gospel vocal group called Capture, with their debut album of nine original tracks, Something in the Middl, selling in over three continents. Performing for 12 years, and writing songs on her guitar and piano for five years, Jennifer can be regularly found gigging around Melbourne as a solo artist, and also as the front of popular Motown band, Jenny & The Joyriders.

19. Jessica Hoven - We Spent Everything
With the completion of her Advanced Diploma of Music in 2005 and a live performance at Apollo Bay Music Festival in 2009, Jessica has steadfastly developed her passion for emotive and dark music. Singing in a jazz quartet, as well as the constant expansion of her original catalogue, Jessica is paving the way for the release of her debut EP in early 2010. Her musical ability continues to evolve with the soft and subtle piano ballad We Spent Everything.