Can it get anymore country than the Calgary Stampede?
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For Hayley Jensen, the entertainer who cut her teeth learning jazz music, playing in rock bands, and appearing on reality shows, the news that she has been booked to play at the Canadian event firmly establishes her country credentials.
But before then, Jensen is in Tamworth tomorrow night, for a gig at Legends Bar at West Tamworth Leagues Club.
She first came to Tamworth in January 2016 as a Toyota Star Maker finalist, which you could say was her beginning in country music. But her musical journey has been much longer.
As a teenager she won a scholarship to study jazz, later performed in rock and dance outfits, and she finished in the top 4 of Australian Idol in 2004.
In the wake of Idol she released her first album, Note To Self.
While it was aimed at the adult contemporary market, the album did not go unnoticed in the country music world, with one magazine giving it a glowing review.
"At the time there was so much going on, in the big whirlwind of it all, that it kind of passed me by," Jensen said. "It's interesting to reflect and think 'I wish I had have stuck to (country)."
She would later appear on another reality program, The Voice, and it was during this time the rock band she had been fronting, Silver Cities, split. Jensen found her career at a turning point.
"I sat down at my keyboard and just started writing. I was at a dead end at what to do musically, and just tried to write from the heart, songs that would mean something to me."
The result was the emotive, and undoubtedly country, Young Years. That was mid 2014. Eighteen months later Jensen was on stage in Tamworth at Toyota Star Maker.
"I've loved all of my detours through my music career, of trying different styles, which I guess have expanded my stage presence and given me confidence," she said.
But looking back she recalled that Amber Lawrence supported her on her first album launch in 2005.
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It was an album produced by Matt Fell. And she had teamed up early to write songs with Jay Collie and his late brother Jasper from Jonah's Road.
Maybe, it should be no surprise she would find her place in country music.
"Found my home is what I call it."
Over the past couple of years, Jensen has become a regular at country festivals, and in 2019 she has been touring to promote Turning Up The Dial - her third solo album, which was released last year.
Next Big Thing is the latest song to receive attention, with a video released recently, and three remixes of the song. But Jensen says her show tomorrow night will include music from throughout her career as well as the latest album.
After Tamworth, attention turns to Canada.
As well as playing at the Calgary Stampede in early July, Jensen will play Canada's longest running country music festival, Dauphins Countryfest at the end of this month.
"Pretty much after the Tamworth show I'm heading home, unpacking my bags, repacking and heading off to Canada," Jensen said.