Kirsty Akers

Although only 23 years of age singer-songwriter Kirsty Akers has been making an impact in her native Australia for the past seven years.

Hailed as a remarkable talent by fellow artists, musicians, media and stalwarts of the music industry Kirsty, a descendent of the Wanaruah people, is fearless and brutally honest with a penchant for taking her songs to places others fear to tread.

Kirsty’s third album, ‘Naked’ was produced by Paul Greene (Hirst & Greene, Spy Vs Spy) and Matt Fell (Josh Pyke, Brooke Fraser, Tim Freedman) and recorded over a six month period in Sydney and on the south coast of New South Wales. While the album’s cover features a striking image of Kirsty nude against a mystical forest-like setting (designed by Steve Parke whose credits include Prince, Victor Wooten & the TV show ‘Heroes’) its more than just a cheap gimmick.

“Going out independent for the first time I kind of feel a little “Naked” in front of the world. The songs, production, decisions are all mine so if it goes wrong I don’t have anyone else to blame it on. I think the title “Naked” describes exactly how I feel revealing the real “me” as an artist to the world! I’ve put my heart and soul into this album, I even sold my house to pay for it so hopefully everything pays off and I can look back and say “it was worth it”.

Influenced equally by contemporary acts such as Mumford & Sons, Brandi Carlile and Needtobreathe as she is by the traditional country sounds of Dolly Parton, Buddy & Julie Miller and Hank Williams that were played around the family home during her formative years Kirsty is a sublime mix of old meets new, youth meets tradition.

Since the release of her debut single, released independently as a 16 year old, Kirsty has scored eight consecutive radio hits, including five top 10s, in her homeland. At 17 she won the songwriting leg of Telstra Road To Discovery talent search. A year later she added a Toyota Starmaker win to her resume, which was followed by a 2008 Golden Guitar for Best New Talent.