HE's well and truly outnumbered.
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Jarred Taylor is Tamworth's only finalist, and the only male, in the 2020 Toyota Star Maker competition.
It's the most female finalists the talent quest has ever seen and among them is Zoey Mills from Mackay.
"I think it's awesome. I saw a big uproar about it when it first came out on social media," she said.
"I saw a post from [Tamworth Regional Council's country music co-ordinator] Cheryl Brown saying it's not anything about wanting a girl to win.
"It's just the fact that women were better this year.
"There's so much going on in the world at the moment with equal rights; if more girls got in because they were better, then we rock."
In the competition, the alternative country artist will perform a song she wrote herself and a co-written number.
Tamworth's Jarred Taylor is playing an original, too - and a cover because his mum told him to.
"Mum said if I didn't play this song I would have to move out," he said.
"That's a direct quote from my mother."
If you live in Tamworth, Taylor's probably shouted you a beer at The Longyard Hotel.
He's performed on The Wolfe Brothers' Lonely Hearts Tour after he quit his job to do music full-time.
"I think it's just about trying to be as positive as possible about it without overthinking it," Taylor said.
"If you get too nervous, you'll walk out there and forget what you were meant to do."
The winner's career will get a big boost: in a $100,000 package, they will perform at a number of Australian festivals, record an EP, film video clips and more.
Gold Coast artist Chloe Styler brought the rain with her to Tamworth. She also competed in 2018 Star Maker.
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"Brad Cox won that year and I saw how amazing it was for his career," she said.
"I thought, 'Why not give it another go?' I've done so much in the past two years, released a new song today, and I really wanted to get back on that stage.
"I'm going to take it by the horns and give it a red-hot go."
The 2020 Toyota Star Maker competition is on at Toyota Park, Sunday night from 7pm. The concert is free.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
