KASEY CHAMBERS: STAYING TRUE TO HER ROOTS AND EMBRACING THE JOURNEY

BY KARLEY REDFERN

Kasey Chambers has had quite a career. In 2018, she became the youngest female artist inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame, along with 14 ARIA Awards, 10 APRA Songwriting Awards, and 24 Country Music Association of Australia Golden Guitars.

When asked about her favourite song to perform, Kasey said, "The Captain" holds a special place. “It’s like an old friend,” she explained. “It’s grounding and comforting for me.” The song helps her stay centred during performances.

Kasey is no stranger to the Tamworth Country Music Festival, calling it "coming home." “A lot of my career started here,” she said. “I’ve had some of my best career moments in Tamworth.” She enjoys road trips across Australia, often travelling with her family in a caravan. While she loves the freedom of the road, she admits, “I do need the air conditioning when I’m in Tamworth though!”

On writing her new song "The Divorce Song" with her ex-husband Shane, Kasey explained it wasn’t always easy. “We went through some tough times,” she said, but over the years, they’ve found a way to co-parent and maintain a solid friendship. “We worked hard to make a successful divorce,” Kasey added. Writing the song together was a big moment for them. “It reflects how far we’ve come,” she said.

Kasey also shared her excitement about collaborating with Lynn Bowtell on the song "Papercuts," calling it a beautiful piece of music. She described the experience of singing with some of her musical heroes, like Emmylou Harris and Troy Cassar-Daley, as something she’ll always appreciate.

Looking ahead, Kasey mentioned a recent collaboration with Warren H. Williams. She joined him for a song in his traditional language, which turned out to be one of the most beautiful and challenging projects she’s ever worked on.

As for her work, Kasey said, “I love the chance to travel. Being a musician lets me do that. I get to see so much of Australia while doing what I love.” Her ideal gig combines the thrill of performing with the joy of simple moments—cooking by the campfire with family and friends.

When asked what message she’d leave her fans, Kasey said, “If you want to hear old songs, I’ll play them. I’ll never not play ‘Not Pretty Enough,’ ‘The Captain,’ and the others. They're part of who I am.”

It’s clear Kasey’s journey has been about staying true to herself, connecting with fans, and embracing what she loves, both on and off stage.