EVERY year since she was just nine years old, Charlie Collins has attended Tamworth Country Music Festival (TCMF), and without it, she's feeling a "little empty".
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Former Tamworthian-cum-ARIA award nominee Collins reminisces on what could've been if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn't taken over the world.
She currently resides in Sydney, from where she spoke to the Leader over the phone, and said her January "feels empty" with no festival.
She usually performs for country music punters.
"I thought about jumping on a plane and coming but I have other stuff I have to do, and it's sad," Collins said.
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"I went to Tamworth for Christmas which was nice, and that was nice to see the family ... even though it wasn't the festival.
"I try to come back maybe like two to three times a year, but now that things are quiet, I could probably go a lot more. It's always nice to go back to Tamworth and get out of the city and eat mum's curry."
Like many other artists, the alt-country singer has been greatly impacted as a result of the coronavirus.
I think this record is a lot about moving into myself and letting go of a lot of past things.
- Charlie Collins
She admits that she hasn't minded lockdown as she's "a bit of an introvert", and loves "being at home with my cat", but minimal gigs has been tough.
"There was a few festivals I was meant to be playing but I got to play a headline show a couple of months ago, and it was so nice to be able to play again. But it's definitely been hard not being able to play frequent shows or tour," she said.
"I think the industry is really adapting to what's happened, there's all the online concerts and stuff like that. Out of a bad situation the industry has put their heads together."
The 32-year-old has made the best of a bad situation, too, saying she's been "pretty productive" with so much time spent at home.
"I've been writing a heap more so it's good times ... I'm definitely working towards album two," she revealed.
Her 2019 debut album Snowpine was her last release, and was nominated for the 2019 ARIA Award for Best Country Album.
She said her new material was about "letting go of the past and evolving as a person and finding new love".
"I kind of went through a bit of a life changing experience of moving on with a lot of things and I think this record is a lot about moving into myself and letting go of a lot of past things," Collins said.
"Definitely there will be a single this year, which is exciting."
Jessica Worboys
Education and youth reporter at the Northern Daily Leader. Get in touch via jessica.worboys@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Education and youth reporter at the Northern Daily Leader. Get in touch via jessica.worboys@austcommunitymedia.com.au
