I was 17, fresh out of school currently attending the College of Country Music in Tamworth and I met a boy.
By 17, I was managed by The Pub Group, who had such a strong belief in my potential. Warned many times, "you don't want to fall in love, you will settle down and give up music" but my adventurous spirit wanted to discover what love is.
He was a long curly blonde haired guitarist that captured my attention with his incredible guitar tone at the annual pickers night at "The Pub" in 2006. I knew Michael Muchow since I was 14 and my innocent and fragile heart felt safe in the hands of his kind soul.
We quickly became an incredible team, motivating each other to strive harder and reach higher. Muchow began playing some of the best gigs in Country Music, touring full time with The McClymonts and Kasey Chambers across Australia and in the US, along with playing shows and recording sessions with his peers, mentors and influential musicians and artists in the industry. I spent a lot of time working on my own craft with a proud smile watching him blossom to his full potential. Every song I would write I would share it with him and he would critique it encouragingly.
Muchow became an incredible influence. We were best mates; our relationship was comfortable and effortless. We shared many adventures together and grew together musically. In 2009 after almost four years together and seeing him nurture my songs. I built up the courage to ask him if he would do the honour of producing my debut album.
Creating White Flag was one of the most phenomenal experiences working with Muchow. We knew each other so well that he could express exactly who I was at the time through my music. His empathetic musicality and expression spoke my exact emotion for every song and with his help, we created an ARIA Charting album. Securing 2 Golden Guitar Nominations at the 2012 CMAA Country Music Awards. I was so proud of what we achieved together and grateful to have shared that moment with my best mate.
In July 2010, we excitingly got engaged. We always imagined each other in our lives so it felt like that was the path we were being guided. I remember in November 2011 he walked into my office and behind his eyes I could see that I had sucked the spirit out of him. I had drained him dry and I had no fire left in me. It was like we both "just knew" we had learnt everything we were meant to learn from one another. It was like the only way to grow together from that point was to be apart.
Muchow has continued to play a big role in my life as a "brother". I would like to share the rest of this story with you below (This story is pretty special to me, I feel so honoured to have had the opportunity to perform this song in the most prestigious songwriting venue in the world "The Blue Bird Cafe in Nashville" on October 14, 2015).