With the release of her new single Outrageous in February, multi-award winning singer songwriter Amber Lawrence has amped up the sizzle.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The accompanying video was shot on a hot January day in a warehouse. "It was hard to make it look like we were so not breaking a sweat," the recently married star says.
Lawrence says outrageous is the way she lives her life. "It's how the songs came together. Rather than over thinking it, they're fun. I wrote one after Ike was born [nine months ago]. Once you have your own child, you know, I get it now. You have to live the life you want to live."
Case in point, she met husband Martin on a dating App.
"In my wedding speech I referred to my 2016 diary entries. I had deleted the App off phone, then three hours later I was back on it again and that's when Martin and I connected. All the things happen for a reason.
"Persistence is the key. As my mum said, I had to meet a few frogs first. We do feel lucky, but it is kind of normal these days."
Just a fortnight after the wedding, Lawrence headed up to Queensland with Ike in tow. "The time I used to spend getting ready now I use to get him sorted, but I think I might need a helper now. It's a juggling act, but if I had an office job I'd have to pay child care. It's a really busy time for both of us, I always pick crazy times to do things.
She started writing the album in March last year and was finished in September. "I was pretty intent on finishing it before I had Ike."
This album is different to her last. "This is stuff I can perform live with energy. The last one didn't translate to live performance; it didn't get the audience that excited."
Lawrence knows how tough it is to get mainstream airplay, so she used the same as Sheppard. "I wanted that energy; it wasn't my intention to cross over but country music in Australia is moving fast now. American artists tour here all the time filling arenas and I wanted to match that enthusiasm. Sometimes pop is a dirty word to country, but it is short for popular."
As if being a new wife and mum and performer isn't enough, she also does one day a week on radio, is an occasional presenter on lifestyle program Getaway, and supports a number of charities. "I do things quicker now; I can't be the perfectionist I was before I had Ike. You have to find your own daily inspiration. The music business is full of knockbacks, you just keep on going."
On this tour fans will get the songs from the upcoming album Spark, with all its high energy, and some favourites. "Plus I love to chat on stage. I want everyone to feel like the songs are about them."