Canberra’s Golden Guitar nominee and Australian Idol Alumni Hayley Jensen returns home to perform at Googfest on Saturday 10 February. CD caught up with Ms Jensen to discuss the music festival going country this year.
1. Tell us about your show at Googfest.
Get ready for a high-energy county-pop/rock show!
I’ll be performing songs from my ARIA #1 Country Album Breakin’ Hearts as well as a few newer songs and a sprinkling of covers that I love to play live with the band.
2. Are you excited that this year’s event is dedicated to country tunes?
As a former Canberran, I’ve had my eye on Googfest for a number of years as a festival that I’d love to be part of and I’m super excited that it’s going to be a country music affair this year.
Country festivals are a LOT of fun and the country music fans really know how to bring the party!
I’m looking forward to it being a massive event this year, and performing alongside my buddy Travis Collins, you guys are in for a real treat.
3. Why do you think Aussie’s love country music?
Country music is so diverse these days. You’ve got everything from traditional to country mixed with blues, fused with pop, R’n’B and rock. The thread that runs through it all though is the art of storytelling. I find most country music fans and artists to be super down-to-earth people too.
4. Do you have a favourite song to perform?
I have a medley/mashup that I perform of one of my songs I Took You Back and In the Air Tonight, I love performing it live!
As soon as people hear that massive drum solo, everyone is singing (or screaming) along. Such great energy on and off stage.
5. What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on writing and producing some brand-new music and have a pretty jam-packed year of festivals and touring which is awesome.
It’s exciting to be back in music creation mode, rather than purely promotion, and to be experimenting with different sounds. The hardest part is keeping it on the down-low until it’s released. I can’t wait to share it with everyone as the year progresses.
Catch Hayley Jensen at Googfest 2024 at Rockley Oval, Googong, Saturday 10 February 5pm-9pm; googong.net
