New sunshine coast duo Oh Harlow headline this week’s New Country Friday 5, along with the first single from Adam Harvey’s new self-produced album project.

Kane Brown and John Legend have joined forces and Ingrid Andress just has unveiled a stunning new tune.

While Kiwi fave Jody Direen has a new album on way and has just given us a taste of what’s to come!

So here it is… this week’s New Country Friday 5!

1. Oh Harlow – ‘Don’t Open That Door’

Recent Country Award winners at the 2020 Queensland Music Award winners and sister duo Oh Harlow have today released the follow up to their Top #3 TMN Country Hot 50 debut single, ‘Give It A Miss.’

‘Don’t Open That Door’, is the second single to be lifted from their recently released self-titled debut EP.

The new tune is about someone who is (in their words]) “hella flakey” and fundamentally inconsiderate.

With Tiana on guitar and Briannah on bass, the Sunshine Coast girls began writing in their early teens after a long period of chronic illness which prevented them from attending school.

Thankfully they have been able to triumphantly overcome this “hurdle” and create their new tunes.

Collaborators on the EP include Brad Butcher, Caitlyn Shadbolt and Blake O’Connor.

Check out ‘Don’t Open That Door’ by Oh Harlow

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2. Adam Harvey – ‘Highway Number One’

Adam Harvey says he has recorded this new song to “encourage people to take the leap, buy the caravan and explore this amazing country.”

That is, once the coronavirus crisis is over, we assume!

“I’ve toured right around the country, across it, up and down it, every which way you could possibly go and I’ve been lucky enough to do that for over 20 years. There is a feeling of freedom when you’re constantly on the move, it’s really amazing and very addictive,” says Harvey.

For this song, the artist himself sat in the producers for the first time.

“Going into the studio was pretty daunting at first I must admit, but I really enjoyed the process,” he says.

“I knew what I wanted to say and exactly how I wanted it to sound. I had this whole concept in my mind and that made it very easy not to get side tracked or lost.”

Harvey is expected to release a new album later this year.

His most recent album release, The Nashville Tapes (released in 2018) reached #1 on the ARIA Country album chart and #9 on the ARIA Album Chart – his best ever all-genre chart result for a solo album release.

Check out ‘Highway Number One’ by Adam Harvey

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3. Ingrid Andress – ‘The Stranger’

This isn’t a cover of the Billy Joel classic (just in case you were wondering!), but a stunning original Andress co-wrote with Ryan Lafferty.

It’s also the focus track for today’s release of her debut album, Lady Like. 

Andress has been one of the breakout country acts of 2020.

Her top 10 US country radio hit ‘More Hearts Than Mine’ has well and truly broken through on male dominated format, while achieving over 26 million streams on Spotify.

But Andress was has a hitmaker before these releases, having penned songs for the likes of Bebe Rexha and Charlie XCX.

Check out ‘The Stranger’ by Ingrid Andress

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4. Kane Brown & John Legend – ‘Last Time I Say Sorry’

Kane Brown has finally released the song with John Legend, that he’s been teasing for quite some time, with ‘Last Time I Say Sorry’ released today.

To honest, this isn’t really a country song.

It is however a really great one!

The predominantly piano-centric ballad is very much in Legend’s lane musically, but also showcases the best that Brown has to offer vocally.

Check out ‘Last Time I Say Sorry’ by Kane Brown & John Legend

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5. Jody Direen – ‘My Fire’

Kiwi artist Jody Direen will release her fourth album, titled Smoking’ Ashes on July 4.

Ahead this, she has released the empowering new single ‘My Fire.’

Direen hopes ‘My Fire’ will serve as “musical medicine,” in these times of heightened COVID-19 related stress.

“It can’t be good for our health to allow fearful feelings to overwhelm us,” says Direen.

Check out ‘My Fire’ by Jody Direen’

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