Jody grew up in Wanaka, NZ and began her professional career at the age of 19 performing regularly in bars, competitions and other functions/events as a solo artist while also completing a 3 year degree in Agriculture at Lincoln University, NZ.
Jody quickly gained a name for herself for her talents as a singer and entertainer and it wasn't long before she was able give up her day job!
Jody’s love for the country life led her to spend time working with sheep, cattle and horses in between her singing and university commitments. “I guess it’s in my blood, much of my family roots come from southern farming areas”. Jody’s rural experience comes across clearly in the original songs off her debut album ‘Here We Go’.
At 22, after graduating, Jody recorded her debut album ‘Here We Go’ with producer Roger Corbett in Sydney, Australia. The album was launched in May 2011 and has had much success to date. ‘Here We Go’ is distrubuted in JB Hi Fi throughout NZ as well as Marbecks in Dunedin and various other retail stores throughout NZ. Sales are at the top end for an independent artist.
Here We Go has reasonable airplay on various radio stations throughout NZ including Radio Dunedin, Hokonui Gold, Radio Wanaka, Country Music Radio Invercargill, Wild Horse Radio in the US, various stations in Australasia as well as online radio to name a few. October 2011 saw Jody place third in NZ’s Good Morning Find A Star pop-orientated competition (singing country music - including an original) and soon after she was offered her first 3 year record deal out of Sydney, Australia.
Jody has recently performed at Dunedin’s Big Night In concert at the Forsyth Barr Stadium as a guest artist performing original material to over 25 000 people and was invited back to perform 'Comin To Town' LIVE on Good Morning early December. She has performed alongside the Waratahs with them stating "She's as good as anything coming out of the states".
Jody is now on tour performing at her own ticketed shows at various venues around NZ with her professional 5 piece band (including NZ's TOP country guitarist Phil Doublet and Paddy Long on Steel). Through the record deal offered to Jody (which is still in the negotiating process & hasn't yet been signed) she was shortlisted as an artist to open for Faith Hill & Tim McGraw in Australia & has been offered a gig with Lee Kernaghan's full time lead guitarist Lawrie Minson & the hugely successful Ross Wilson (Lead singer of Daddy Cool). Jody is passionate, dedicated, hard working and nothing will stop her on her way to taking the international country music industry by storm.
Achievements
- Gained 3rd place in Good Morning's pop-orientated Find A Star Competition which involved 3 heats.
-Invited back a couple of months later to perform original material LIVE once again on Good Morning.
-Auditioned and accepted into the Big Night In Charity Concert at the Forsyth Barr Stadium (Dunedin) performing original material with a 19 piece band to over 25 000 people.
-Sales are at top end for an independent artist's debut album. Over 1000 copies were sold within 9 months of release.
-Commenced first ticketed TOUR - completed 2 shows to date with many more lined up. First show was 10 tickets off selling out and the second show a great success also.
- Nominated for this years National Country Music Awards Horizon Award.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT:
-Offered 3 year record deal with Ambition Entertainment. Dealing with managing director Robert Rigby (former Managing Director of Warner Bros Australia and Marketing Executive of Sony Music Australia as well as Greg Shaw (Former manager of Keith Urban before breaking into the American market).
-Shortlisted as an opening artists for Faith Hill & Tim McGraw tour Australia.
-Offered a guest artist spot on stage with Lawrie Minson (Lee Kernaghan's lead guitarist) and Ross Wilson (lead singer of Daddy Cool).
