Kalesti Butler looks beyond the traditional bush balladeer songs that governed her early career with the release of her second album, Airborne, at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival.

Having co-written the majority of the songs on this release, Butler has challenged herself to step outside the square and explore all facets of the country music genre. In this, Airborne seeks to showcase the ways in which the 2014 Toyota StarMaker Top 10 finalist has grown since the release of her 2012 debut self-titled album.

Airborne starts off with a fairly upbeat tempo, in stark contrast to visions that spring to mind upon hearing the term “bush balladeer”. Album opener You’re Not The One tells of someone in a relationship who believes they are more important than they are, whereas Ride Cowboy has that more traditional Americana storyteller vibe I have come to expect from the likes of Nick Payne (Dear Orphans) and Jasper Shelton Hollis. The slight lift in lyrical quality and musicality between the first and second track gets my attention, and keeps it.

With such diversity shown so early on, I probably shouldn’t have been quite so surprised when the sweetness of the title track swept in. Coat of Arms and The Secret’s In My Eyes are further proof of Butler’s talent and definite highlight of Airborne. The melodic music and combined with the lightness of her vocals is magic.

While Butler’s voice has a familiar tone that is reminiscent of other artists, I am finding it difficult to put my finger on exactly who she reminds me of. All I know is that this music is enchanting, the kind I could possibly listen to over and over without really tiring of it.

I continue to be impressed by the storytelling quality of Just Down The Hall, despite the fact that it is more upbeat the songs that have been my favourites so far. As one of those Butler didn’t have writing credit on, this Lola Brinton/Kevin Bennett composition is a great point of difference she delivers well.

Written by Luke O’Shea, The Way That I Love’d You is the song that perhaps has the most radio-ready sound. Catchy yet melodic, I can definitely imagine it being a hit in the future. The transition from this to Dead Man’s Shirt is fairly seamless before the traditional Pump brings the record home.

Beyond playing a couple of songs from her previous record in preparation for this review, I was not really aware of Kalesti Butler and her rather unique take on country music. Airborne is delightful in its delivery of beautiful ballads and traditional country tunes. With it, Butler has found herself a new fan, and is sure to find many more.