Molly Harrison from Ashburton attended the Country Music Australian Association Junior Academy of Country Music (CMAA) course last July in Tamworth, Australia.
It was there she co-wrote a song with Ashleigh Dallas, a well-known Australian country musician, assistant director of the academy and five time CMAA Golden Guitar winner.
This year, the song – From the Hillside – is being released as Molly’s debut single. The release date is August 29.
Sixteen-year-old Molly is excited by the prospect.
She said she came up with a song concept, and she worked with Dallas for two hours shaping it.
‘‘It is about home, and moving away to follow her dream of becoming a country music artist.’’
Former Ashburton country music star Liam Kennedy-Clark, who was also at the CMAA as the instrumental course group leader, has been heavily involved in the release of Molly’s single.
He has provided guitar/keys, base and was a vocalist on the single as well as producer and mixer.
‘‘Liam has guided me through the process of producing a single, which I am so thankful for. It has been a great experience and I can’t wait to share the single,’’ Molly said.
Molly found the process of producing her first single interesting.
She said that there had been a lot of learning taking place as she went thought the process.
‘‘I am very grateful to have been able to work with Liam on this. Our Ashburton connection making it even more special.’’
Molly found Kennedy-Clark’s expertise had made the process ‘‘awesome’’ as he guided her and answered her many questions.
She said it helped that he knew the song from their time at CMAA last year.
Made all the more difficult by working together remotely; Kennedy-Clark lives in Australia, so they collaborated via emails and Zoom meetings.
Molly started the process of launching her single by sending a recording of her singing and playing the song to Kennedy-Clark and from there the process began.
Kennedy-Clark chose and organised the musicians to play on the track and kept Molly fully informed with updates of how it was progressing as each instrument was added.
Molly recorded her vocals locally with Connor Jaine at his studio in Tinwald.
‘‘Liam was on the phone while we did it, so he was able to see everything happening on the track while I was recorded and was able to tell me of any changes. The track was then mixed and mastered in Australia,’’ Molly said.
Once the final master was made she worked with Checked Label Services in Australia who are organising the release. Her cover photo was taken during a photo shoot on a bitterly cold and wet day in the Port Hills, Christchurch.
With the launch date later this month Molly is excited her long held goal of releasing a single is now a reality and she can’t wait for people to hear it and enjoy it.
At the time of its release she will be at the Gympie Country Music Muster in Australia, which she said is pretty special and thinks it is fitting. While there she will get to see Kennedy-Clark perform.
Molly has loved the experience of releasing her first single and plans to do more with a goal of eventually working on a extended play which is more than a single but not a full album.
Along with her school work at Ashburton College, she is still focused on songwriting.
‘‘I am a working hard to get over to the festivals in Australia for networking and to see what opportunities are in store. I’m heading back to the Tamworth Country Music Festival again in January 2026,’’ she said.
– From the Hillside by Molly Harrison and Ashleigh Dallas will be available through online music stores including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music from August 29.
