Carla Herrod
Golden Guitar nominee and Winner of the 2004 MusicOz Award for Best Country Artist, North Queenland's Carla Herrod has made a fast impression with her debut album 'Ten years in 5'. Her other recent success includes winning the ABC Radio Fresh Air Competition, and the Independent Female Rising Star of the Year Award at the 2004 Australian Independent Country Music Awards held in Mildura.
An award winning songwriter, Carla's music spans the contemporary country/folk music scene. Her influences are certainly diverse, but she is likened most frequently to the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lucinda Williams. Carla's songs are thoughtful and eloquent, hovering in that uncategorized paddock that stocks country, folk and contemporary breeds without segregation.
Carla's roots lie deep in the Australian Outback. Her childhood spent on a remote cattle property in North Queensland is perhaps the reason for Carla's relentless drive and determination to succeed. Out there, overcoming difficulties is a way of life. When the nearest music teacher was four hours drive away she taught herself to sing and play guitar. That was at age ten. Now, just over a decade later, she has overcome the odds of isolation and emerged as one of the most promising and talented singer/songwriters in Australia.
The journey began with Carla's acceptance into the 2002 Australian College of Country Music. Surrounded by seasoned performers, here she was, a girl from the middle of the outback with a hatful of experience and a folder of rough songs. The insight and development that she received during the college ignited an ambition that for too long had been suppressed. She owes her recent inspiration, and subsequent success, partly to college tutor and mentor Roger Corbett. Many of the songs on the album are collaborations between the pair, and it is Corbett who produced Ten years in 5 at his Blue Mountains' studio.
Carla's recording career spans less than five years. By industry standards, she is a beginner with a lot of ground to cover. The songs however, tell a different story. As the title Ten years in 5 suggests, a wealth of experience has been drawn upon. Combined with her natural ability for writing, the resultant collection of songs would rival any of her contemporaries.
'Ten years in 5' was independently released in May 2004. It could best be described as a remarkable collection of songs that deviate from the traditional cliches in the country music industry. The songs on the album take the listener on a real journey of emotions. The songs effortlessly cross the divide providing a fresh combination of country, acoustic, folk, and bluegrass elements in a simplistic, realistic manner. It is these elements that have brought Carla substantial recognition as a songwriter.
"Carla's lyrics are modern without being sugary. She doesn't get bogged down in heart wrenching love ballads and takes a broad and at times frank look at life." Bob Anthony Jnr. June 2004.