MERILYN STEELE

A unique & versatile vocal style, vivacious personality with memorable songs that evoke every emotion - that’s the magic of Merilyn!

After the success and string of awards that came with her first debut CD ‘This Passion’ comes the much anticipated follow up album ‘Extraordinary Daze’. With her latest offering comes both a brand new sound and fresh new image for Merilyn. This album is the result of a journey of events occurred, emotions felt and places travelled over the last 2 years. Expect to hear rootsy blues with sassy slide guitars aka Mary Chapin-Carpenter and Bonnie Raitt for starters.

After  the debilitating demise of her health in 2006 to the highs of an award for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2007, Merilyn’s musical tastes have matured and blossomed into a sound that is very much her own style now.

“I’ve grown so much more as an artist and songwriter now which is why I made the decision to change producers on this CD. I have written and recorded songs this time round which I never thought I would write. Contraversial topics like the story of Hermannsburg in NT, about the first Aboriginal mission in Australia. I was deeply moved when I visited this place and I think I’ve captured that in the song. I still find it hard to sing without a tear!”

Sydney born and bred, it’s hard to figure where Merilyn’s desire to be a singer/songwriter came from. Although both her Mum and Grandmother played piano, it was mostly for their own pleasure and neither had ever played professionally.  It was Merilyn’s Dad who bought her first guitar when she was just 12 and began taking her to music lessons. From there her love for music developed.

Today her influences include Kasey Chambers, Bonnie Raitt, Alanis  Morissette and Bernard Fanning/Powderfinger as the latest influence.

Merilyn is a regular at the Tamworth Festival and has appeared at many other festivals such as Kempsey Trucking festival, Wauchope, the Heritage Miners festival in Port Kembla, Mildura and the Newcastle Steel City festival.

Merilyn has a driving passion for her music and a craving to perform. Particularly, she loves the feedback and buzz she gets from a live audience. An experienced performer, she has worked successfully with her duo/trio, Alter Ego, for the last 10 years around the Sydney area and regional NSW.

She’s been instructed by some of the best in the industry including songwriting workshops with Kasey Chambers, Garth Porter, Graeme Connors, Beccy Cole & Catherine Britt to name a few. Merilyn has been support act to entertainment greats like Lucky Grilles,  Chad Morgan and Normie Rowe.

Merilyn recently appeared on TV on the Sydney channel  31 (TVS) on the show  ‘Songwriters Across Australia’.

"Without a doubt her best work yet.” (Extraordinary Daze) Frankie T. Thatcher Radio 2MCR-FM Sydney

BRAG BAG & CLAIMS TO FAME!

2008 – New album ‘Extraordinary Daze’  released in May with first single ‘When Will’ released to radio

2007 - Winner - Female Vocalist of The Year - Horsham VIC on the strength of her CD, ‘This Passion’.

2007 - Finalist  for Best Group/Duo, Horsham CM Awards VIC for her song, ‘When It Rains’.

2007 - Feature artist  on TVS, Channel 31 with album review and videoclip  broadcast of ‘Forever’

2006 – Top 50 MusicOz finalist (#49) with ‘Forever’ for Best Country Artist of The Year

2006 – Single release of 'Charades' to radio in March

2005 – Top 100 MusicOz finalist (#84) with 'You Don't Wanna Know’

2005 – 2^nd place Finalist for Independent Artists EP Award, Tas & NZ for EP ‘Forever’.

2005 – Released singles ‘When It Rains’ and ‘You Don’t Wanna Know’ on GSL label

2005 – Released debut multimedia album,  ‘This Passion’

2005 - Semi-finalist for both ‘Ten Less Candles’ & ‘Charades’ with Tamworth Songwriters Assn. in the Professional Section

2005 – ‘Ten Less Candles’ goes to #1 on the playlist of Radio Midtfjord in Denmark

2004 – Released Single ‘Ten Less Candles’ on Steer Records label

2004 – 3^rd Place winner in Tas.NZ Songwriters Awards for her title song, ‘This  Passion’.

2003/04 – Twice State Finalist in the NSW ‘Champion of Champions’ quest,  Newcastle.

2003 - First video clip ‘Forever’ featured on CMC,,PayTV, A Little Bit Of Country - Prime 7, Nu Country, Channel 31 &  ‘Landline’ - ABC.

2003 – Three television performances on Channel 31 Sydney

2003 - Top 40 hit with ‘Forever’ on Mildura’s HOTFM radio charts

2002 – Released debut EP single ‘Forever’

2002 - National Songwriter Finalist: C.C.M.A.  for ‘City Girl, Country Heart’

1999 - Nominated for Best Female Vocal: C.C.M.A. Quest in Tamworth

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MERILYN'S HARD WORKING DUO "ALTER EGO"