In the middle of the COVID19 pandemic and lockdown, 4 amazing women, award-winning country artists and great friends, Amber Lawrence, Aleyce Simmonds, Kirsty Lee Akers and Dianna Corcoran got together online to perform their version of TRUE BLUE. They sang in honour of not only frontline workers, here and abroad, but also as an uplifting, spirit building reminder to all Australians, that ‘we will get through this’.  With over 65k views on Facebook alone and hundreds of heartfelt comments, the girls heeded the request by all, to officially record their version.  This is the first ever commercially released female version of TRUE BLUE and it would be hard for anyone to top it, other than the man himself, John Williamson.

Originally released in March 1982 by the iconic John Williamson, TRUE BLUE, is one of the top ‘Alternative’ National Anthems in Australia and is authentically Australian having been adopted by the Australian Cricket Team and Australian Rugby Union teams as their unofficial theme song.  In 2018, as part of Triple M’s “Ozzfest 100”, True Blue ranked number #27 in the ‘most Australian songs of all time’ poll.

On hearing the girls’ version of the song John Williamson commented,

‘What a nice surprise.  Who would have thought that ‘True Blue’ could sound so sweet!’

Amber initially floated the idea that the 4 girls reunite to sing together via the internet with a ‘cover song challenge’. It has been 12 years since the 4 girls toured together as CHIC FRONTIER.  It was an immediate YES from all and Dianna said,

“what about TRUE BLUE, its traditionally Australian and something that was indicative to our survivalist nature and is important because of where we are and what we are going through as a nation”.

“It really summed up the response from all Australian’s in these terribly dark times”, said Amber.

“It’s a song that best represents the turmoil that we have and are still facing and unites us as True Blue Australians,” says Aleyce.

Dianna resides in Nashville but was back home in Australia for part of the pandemic, and Amber, Aleyce and Kirsty are based in NSW. All 4 vocal parts were recorded separately then mixed in the studio by Dianna.  Similarly the music video has been filmed in 4 different locations and edited together with some beautiful Australian landscape and poignant moments of our recent struggles with Bushfires, flood, drought and Covid19 etc – much of the B roll footage was filmed by Dianna Corcoran with editing by Kirsty’s husband Jesse Anderson, as well as additional filming.

TRUE BLUE is OUT NOW through ABC Music/Universal Music Australia.

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Further Q&A with the girls:

How long have you known each other?
Amber:  We’ve known each other since 2006.  And then of course got to really know each other in 2007/8 whilst touring around the country together.
Aleyce:  I feel like we’ve known each other forever!  I’ve known Kirsty since she was a knee-high to a grasshopper and Amber and Corky and I have known each other about 17years.
Kirsty:  I’ve known Aleyce the longest, probably since I was 12 (20 years now) and met Amber and Dianna when I was about 14 (18 years ago).
Dianna:  I honestly cannot remember.  Must be between 15 – 20 years for me knowing each gal.

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AMBER LAWRENCE

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Any other professional or personal connections between each other?
Amber:  Dianna has lived in Nashville for 8 years and hosted the girls at her place for songwriting trips.  Dianna and Aleyce both sang at my wedding.  Kirsty and Dianna started out at the same record label together in 2007.  There is a long friendship between us all.
Aleyce:  We’ve been through the best and worst that life can throw our way, together.  Break-ups, Births, Deaths, Weddings, a LOT of touring.  Corky (Dianna) and I even lived together for a while (and still love each other! Lol).  Ambs and Corky even lived in the same house, at different times.  Kirsty used to beat me in all the talent quests growing up because she was always wayyyy cuter than me, haha. And still is.  There are too many connections to put into an A4 page.
Kirsty:  We all toured together as CHIC FRONTIER.  Aleyce and I competed in Talent Quests against each other when we were teenagers.  Amber and I met at a heat for the Telstra Road to Tamworth and Dianna and I were signed to the same label and Dianna sang on my first album I released.
Dianna:  We all toured together as part of CHIC FRONTIER back in 07/07 and had a blast and the tour was a great success for all of us.

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ALEYCE SIMMONDS

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Any particular highlight comments received from doing the initial online performance?
Amber: We were blown away by the response.  Comments such as “it made me cry”, “thank you for giving me the strength to keep going”, people also really enjoyed the harmonies, and hearing a woman’s take on JW’s song.
Aleyce:  The comments were all too overwhelming really.  From the incredible response from John Williamson himself, his crew and people who have been a part of his career for a long time.  Other artists cheering us on, but, most moving for me, was from my mother-in-law (who isn’t on Facebook) who somehow came across it whilst on her laptop and cried tears of joy and pulled out an old 1986 version of the song that was her Dad’s and gifted it to me.  I, of course, cried many tears after that.
Kirsty:  My fav comment was probably from John Williamson when he said it brought a tear to his eye!
Dianna:  I think the fact that multiple people, both fans and industry, called for a recording they could buy was a huge compliment.  I love that people felt a strong connection to it during these times, some stating that they’d listened to it 5 times in a row!

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KIRSTY LEE AKERS

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What are the 5 main things you’ve been doing in lockdown restrictions?
Amber: Creating new music, looking after Ike, my 2-year old, eating and cooking, watching lots of new TV series and contemplating exercise.
Aleyce:  Initially, missing my friends and family, trying to remind them that I love them every opportunity I get.  Baking and planting vegetables.  Trying to appreciate the things that we usually take for granted.  Getting caught up with work that there weren’t hours in the day for before.
Kirsty:  Writing, teaching, renovating, cooking and trying to do some of my bucket list things like learning how to paint, although I’m not very good at it!
Dianna:  My Top 5 would be:  Writing/Producing music, editing videos, eating, walking 10Km’s a day and watching documentaries.

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DIANNA CORCORAN

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What are the 5 main things you miss during lockdown restrictions?
Amber:  I miss touring, I miss festivals, I miss taking Ike to his sports such as gymnastics and soccer, I miss hanging out in big groups for family functions, and I did miss sitting in a café whiling away the morning working on song ideas.
Aleyce:  My friends and family.  Being able to spend more time with my brand-new nephew who was born during this period.  Touring!  Especially playing my brand-new album songs to real people rather than to my puppy!  Going to the pub for a lovely blue steak.  Toilet Paper, but that’s now sorted!
Kirsty: Eating at my favourite restaurants, performing on stage, going to the movies and spending time with our family and friends when ever we want to.
Dianna:  I chose to lock down in Australia and not return to the US right away, so:  My husband, my cats, my friends, my house, my car!