Emerging country star Briana Lee has already achieved by 18 what many performers work a lifetime to accomplish. Recent winner of the Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year (May 2006), Briana took the prize from a field of Australian and New Zealand country artists who themselves had won rigorous state and regional competitions.

Briana, a singer/songwriter from Shepparton Victoria, composed her own winning tunes and is a songwriter whose lyrics and melodies are startlingly mature. Not surprising when Briana has been deeply involved in performing country music since the age of 10. Starting in school productions, Briana later graduated the Tamworth Camerata in 2003.

“My favourite country artists at the moment would have to be Keith Urban for his musicianship, stage presence and songs, and Shania Twain for her energy on stage. But my biggest idol is Patsy Cline – she had the most amazing voice and could sing any style of country music” Briana said recently.

Briana’s stage presence and performance quality are mesmerizing. Swinging easily from country standards to her own self-penned tunes, Briana delivers both up-tempo country rock numbers and heart-felt ballads with the same intensity and commitment. Judges at virtually every recent competitive music event that Briana has entered all agree. Briana has carried away prizes at the Road To Tamworth competition, the Whittlesea and Mildura Country Music talent searches, and has been selected to perform the National Anthem at both the Rod Laver Arena Supercross Masters (2003 and 2004) and the Philip Island Motorcycle Grand Prix (2004).

Describing her style as “new generation country”, Briana is now writing an album of original songs and is keen to co-write with more established country songwriters. Her first recordings, “Don’t Need A Man” and “Incomplete” are already finding favour with established music industry figures. A number of major record labels have expressed interest in Briana recording for them this year.

And Briana is quickly making inroads with audiences and established performers as well. Her new recordings feature banjo, mandolin and fiddle courtesy of Davidson Brothers member Hamish, and Briana has appeared on stage in 2006 singing duet with Troy Cassar-Daley.

Briana’s future, while not exactly mapped out, has some familiar goals that she is likely to attain.
“My ultimate musical experience would be performing in the middle of a huge arena surrounded by fans singing my songs with me. Also touring the world with an awesome high-energy band and living in country music capital of the world, Nashville”.

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