Shane Nicholson (singer)

Shane Nicholson
Nicholson performing at the Dashville Skyline in October 2015
Nicholson performing at the Dashville Skyline in October 2015
Background information
BornBrisbane, Australia
GenresCountry, Americana
OccupationMusician
Years active1998–present
LabelsVirt Records, Liberation Records, EMI Records, Warner Bros. Records, WEA
Websiteshanenicholson.com

Shane Nicholson is an Australian singer-songwriter from Brisbane. He has released 11 albums, both in Australia and internationally, and has won 3 ARIA Awards, 15 Golden Guitars, and 2 APRA Awards. He's twice been named Producer of the Year at the Country Music Awards of Australia.[1]

Career

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1990s–2001: Freak and Pretty Violet Stain

[edit]

During his final year of high school, Nicholson was part of a band called Freak, which won an early round of Triple J Unearthed competition in the Sunshine Coast division.[2] Shortly after this, the band name changed to Pretty Violet Stain and released an extended play in 1997 called Blush.[3] This was followed by singles "If the Money's Right", "Never Come Down" and "Talk" and album Parachutes and Gravity, which was released in 2000. The band split shortly after.

2002–2007: It's a Movie and Faith and Science

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Nicholson signed with EastWest and released his debut studio album It's a Movie in 2002. It was during the recording of this album with Nash Chambers that Nicholson met Kasey Chambers. The two dueted on the lead single, "Designed to Fade".

He toured in Australia and made his United States debut at the South by Southwest Festival, which prompted his signing with Virt Records and a more extensive American tour.[4] USA Today named It's a Movie one of the top pop albums of 2004.[5]

A second solo album, Faith and Science, was released in 2006 and included the single "I Know What You Need", which became his first charting single, peaking at number 54.

2008–2013: Albums with Kasey Chambers, Familiar Ghosts and Bad Machines

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Nicholson joined with wife Kasey Chambers for the album Rattlin' Bones, which was released in April 2008 and debuted at number 1 on the ARIA charts. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2008, it won ARIA Award for Best Country Album. The album won five Golden Guitar Awards at the Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) in January 2009.

Between tours he recorded a third solo album, Familiar Ghosts, which was released in November 2008 and was nominated for an Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2009. This coincided with Nicholson moving into music production.

In March 2011, Nicholson released his sixth solo album, Bad Machines, which peaked at number 29. Nicholson and his wife welcomed a baby girl on 6 October 2011, named Poet Poppin Nicholson.

At the January 2012 CMAA, Nicholson won the Song of the Year for his song, "Bad Machines". Also in 2012, Nicholson won the APRA Country Work of the Year award for "Famous Last Words".

In September 2012, Nicholson and Chambers released a second collaborative album, Wreck & Ruin was peaked at number 6 on the ARIA Charts. The album was nominated for 5 awards at the 2013 CMAA awards, ultimately winning the couple the award for "Group/Duo of the Year". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, the album won Best Country Album. Nicholson was named Producer of the Year at the 2013 Country Music Awards of Australia.

On 23 April 2013, it was announced that Nicholson and Kasey Chambers had separated, with the collision of work and family life said to have forced their split.[6]

2014–2020: Hell Breaks Loose and Love and Blood

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In 2014, Nicholson signed a new recording deal with Lost Highway Australia/Universal Music, and released his first live album, Pitch, Roll & Yaw – Live and Solo.

June 2015 saw the release of "Secondhand Man", the first single from Nicholson's album Hell Breaks Loose. The album was written amongst the break up of this married to Chambers.[7] Released in August 2015, it debuted at No. 16 on the ARIA chart.

Hell Breaks Loose won the ARIA award for Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2015 and received 7 CMAA nominations at the 2016 CMAA awards. The album won Alternative Country Album of the Year Award.[8]

Love and Blood was released in July 2017 and debuted at No. 28 on the ARIA chart. It was nominated for Best Country Album at the ARIA Music Awards of 2017. At the CMAA in January 2018, Nicholson won Male Artist of the Year.[9]

Nicholson appeared as an on-camera music producer in ABC television production of The Recording Studio, a 10-part series that ran in April 2019.[10] The music from the series won the 2019 ARIA Award for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.[11]

In May 2019, Nicholson was signed a publishing deal with Cooking Vinyl Australia.[12]

On 3 April 2020, Nicholson confirmed the digital reissued of his back-catalogue.[13]

2021: Living in Colour

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In July 2021, Nicholson announced the release of his forthcoming studio album, Living in Colour. The album was released on 20 August 2021.[14] August also saw the release of Camille Trail's album River of Sin which Nicholson had produced.[15] It debuted at #34 on the ARIA Country Music Charts, and #5 on the ARIA Australian Country Music Charts.[16][17]

Personal life

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On 17 December 2005 Nicholson married fellow country music singer-songwriter, Kasey Chambers.[18] In 2002, Chambers sung on Nicholson's debut solo album "Designed to Fade", which was produced by Kasey's brother, Nash.[19] Subsequently, they co-released two albums, Rattlin' Bones (2008) and Wreck & Ruin (2012). Chambers and Nicholson have two children: son Arlo Ray (2007) and daughter Poet Poppin (2011). In April 2013 the couple announced their separation.[20]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart
positions
Certifications
AUS
[21]
It's a Movie
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: EastWest / Warner (245577, 0927455772)
  • Formats: CD
Faith & Science
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Essence / EMI (094636128429)
  • Formats: CD
Rattlin' Bones
(with Kasey Chambers)
  • Released: 21 April 2008
  • Label: Essence / Liberation (LMCD005)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download
1
Familiar Ghosts
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Liberation (LMCD025)
  • Formats: CD, download
Bad Machines[23]
  • Released: March 2011
  • Label: Liberation (LMCD0127)
  • Formats: CD, download
29
Wreck & Ruin
(with Kasey Chambers)
  • Released: 23 October 2012
  • Label: Essence / Liberation (LMCD0178)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download
6
Hell Breaks Loose
  • Released: August 2015
  • Label: Lost Highway Australia, UMA (4745547)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download
16
Love and Blood
  • Released: August 2017
  • Label: Lost Highway Australia, UMA (5772093)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download
28
Living in Colour
  • Released: 20 August 2021[14]
  • Label: Lost Highway Australia, Island (3807851)
  • Formats: CD, LP, download, streaming
68

Soundtrack albums

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List of soundtrack albums with selected details
Title Album details
Mad Bastards
(with The Pigram Brothers, Alex Lloyd & Kasey Chambers)
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Bush Turkey Films (BTF001)
  • Formats: CD, Digital download

Live albums

[edit]
List of live albums with selected details
Title Album details
Pitch, Roll & Yaw – Live and Solo
  • Released: November 2014
  • Label: UMA (4711153)
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Compilation albums

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List of compilation albums with selected details
Title Album details
Sleeping Dogs – The Rarities
  • Released: 2011[24]
  • Label: Shane Nicholson
  • Formats: CD

EPs

[edit]
List of EP with selected details
Title Album details
It's a Home Movie
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: EastWest / Warner (SHANSAM002)
  • Formats: Promotional CD
Exit Wounds
  • Released: 2011
  • Label: Liberation / UMA
  • Formats: CD, download

Singles

[edit]
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
AUS
[21]
"Designed to Fade" 2002 It's a Movie
"I Wish I Was You (Sometimes)" 2003
"I Know What You Need" 2006 54 Faith & Science
"Safe and Sound" 2007
"Rattlin' Bones" (with Kasey Chambers) 2008 55 Rattlin' Bones
"Monkey on a Wire" (with Kasey Chambers)
"Summer Dress" Familiar Ghosts
"Wildflower" (with Kasey Chambers)[25] 2009 Rattlin' Bones
"Where the Water Goes"[26] Familiar Ghosts
"Bad Machines"[27] 2010 Bad Machines
"Famous Last Words"[28] 2011
"Whistling Cannonballs" (with Paul Kelly)[29]
"Jimmie Rodgers Was a Vampire"
"Adam & Eve" (with Kasey Chambers)[30] 2012 Wreck & Ruin
"The Quiet Life" (with Kasey Chambers)
"Wreck & Ruin" (with Kasey Chambers) 2013
"Secondhand Man"[31] 2015 Hell Breaks Loose
"When the Money's All Gone"[32]
"Weight of the World"[33] 2016
"Safe"[34] 2017 Love and Blood
"I Don't Dance"[35]
"Even If You Were the One"[36]
"As Above, So Below" (with Aleyce Simmonds)[37] 2018 More Than Meets the Eye
"The High Price of Surviving"[38] 2020 Living in Colour[14]
"Long Way from Lonely" (with Hunger Kaine)[39] non album singles
"Don't Take John Prine"[40]
"Harvest On Vinyl"[41] 2021 Living in Colour
"Life Ain't Fine"[42]
"And You Will Have Your Way"[14]
"Sometimes" (with Tori Forsyth)[43] 2023

Awards and nominations

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AIR Awards

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The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011[44][45] Bad Machines Best Independent Artist Nominated

Americana Music Awards

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The Americana Music Honors & Awards honours distinguished members of the music community. Nicholson has been nominated twice.[46][47]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Nicholson and Kasey Chambers Best Duo/ Group of the Year Nominated
2010 "Rattlin' Bones" (with Kasey Chambers) Song of the Year Nominated

APRA Music Awards

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The APRA Music Awards is annual awards ceremony that celebrate excellence in contemporary music, which honour the skills of member composers, songwriters and publishers who have achieved outstanding success in sales and airplay performance. Nicholson has won two awards from five nominations.

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 "Rattlin Bones" (with Kasey Chambers) Song of the Year Nominated
Country Work of the Year Won
2012 "Bad Machines" Country Work of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year[48] Shortlisted
Country Work of the Year "Famous Last Words" Won
2013 "Adam and Eve" (Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson) Song of the Year[49] Shortlisted
"The Quiet Life" (Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson) Shortlisted
2016 "Secondhand Man" Country Work of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year[50] Shortlisted

ARIA Music Awards

[edit]

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Nicholson has won three awards from eleven nominations.[51]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2008 Rattlin' Bones (with Kasey Chambers) Best Country Album Won
Album of the Year Nominated
Aaron Hayward & David Homer for Rattlin' Bones Best Cover Art Nominated
2009 Rattlin' Bones Max Sessions (with Kasey Chambers) Best Music DVD Nominated
Familiar Ghosts Best Country Album Nominated
2011 Bad Machines Best Country Album Nominated
2013 Wreck & Ruin (with Kasey Chambers) Best Country Album Won
Glen Hannah for Wreck & Ruin Best Cover Art Nominated
2015 Hell Breaks Loose Best Country Album Won
"Secondhand Man" (directed by Filmery) Best Video Nominated
2017 Love and Blood Best Country Album Nominated
2021[52][53] Living in Colour Best Country Album Nominated

Country Music Awards of Australia

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The Country Music Awards of Australia (CMAA) (also known as the Golden Guitar Awards) is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival, in Tamworth, New South Wales, celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. Nicholson has won fifteen awards.[54][55][56][57][8][9][58][59]

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2009 Rattlin' Bones (with Kasey Chambers) Album of the Year Won
Highest Selling Album Won
"Rattlin' Bones" (with Kasey Chambers) Song of the Year Won
Single of the Year Won
Video of the Year Won
himself with Kasey Chambers Group/Duo of the Year Nominated
2012 Bad Machines Album of the Year Nominated
"Bad Machines" Song of the Year Won
Single of the Year Nominated
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
"Whistling Cannonballs" (with Paul Kelly) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Nominated
"Famous Last Words" Video of the Year Nominated
Songs & Pictures by Beccy Cole Producer of the Year Nominated
2013 Wreck & Ruin (with Kasey Chambers) Album of the Year Nominated
"Adam & Eve" (with Kasey Chambers) Group or Duo of the Year Won
Song of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year Nominated
Video of the Year Nominated
"Reach For You" (with Harmony James) Vocal collaboration of the Year Nominated
himself Producer of the Year Won
2016 Hell Breaks Loose Alternative Country Album of the Year Won
Male Artist of the Year Nominated
Top Selling Album of the Year Nominated
"Secondhand Man" Song of the Year Nominated
Single of the Year Nominated
Video Clip of the Year Nominated
"Hermannsburg" Heritage Song of the Year Nominated
Producer of the Year Sweet Rebecca by Beccy Cole Nominated
2018 Love and Blood Alternative Country Album of the Year Nominated
Male Artist of the Year Won
"Safe" Single of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
2021 "The High Price of Surviving" Song of the Year Won
Video of the Year Nominated
2022[59] Living in Colour Album of the Year Won
Alt Country Album of the Year Won
And You Will Have Your Way" Song of the Year Won
Single of the Year Won
2023[60] "Wiser" (with Lyn Bowtell) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Nominated
2024[61][62] "Sometimes" (with Toni Forsyth) Vocal Collaboration of the Year Pending

Selected Production work

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Year Artist Album Notes
2009 Lou Bradley La La La Not Listening
2010 Catherine Britt Catherine Britt ARIA Award for Best Country Album, nominated (2010)
2011 Beccy Cole Songs & Pictures ARIA Award for Best Country Album, nominated (2012)
2012 Quarry Mountain Dead Rats Bloodhound Killed My Squeezebox
2013 Alex Lloyd Urban Wilderness
2014 Lyn Bowtell Heart of Sorrow
2014 Jodi Martin Saltwater
2015 Beccy Cole Sweet Rebecca
2015 Suze DeMarchi Home
2016 Katie Brianna The Victim or The Heroine
2016 Jason Walker All-Night Ghost Town
2016 Amber Lawrence Happy Ever After
2016 Tori Forsyth Dawn of the Dark CMAA Alternative Country Album of the Year, nominated (2017)
2018 Ben Leece No Wonder The World Is Exhausted
2021 Camille Trail River of Sins

References

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  2. ^ "Little Ray of Sunshine". Sydney Morning Herald. 31 March 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ "pretty violet stain Blush". OZsounds. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. ^ Bledsoe, Wayne (23 July 2004). ""Just one person": Songwriter seeks stray successes in shine of solitary spotlight". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 5.
  5. ^ Gundersen, Edna; Steve Jones; Elysa Gardner; Brian Mansfield; Ken Barnes (28 December 2004). "Critics gang up on the world of music". USA Today. p. D6.
  6. ^ "Shane Nicholson and Kasey Chambers separate after eight years of marriage". news.com.au. 23 April 2013. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Love and Blood on the dance floor". The West. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  8. ^ a b "CMAA Country Music Awards of Australia 2016 finalists announced at Sydney Opera House". Northern Daily Leader. November 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. ^ a b "I'm over the moon to be nominated for Alt Country Album of the Year". The Music Network. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  10. ^ "We can finally tell the world what we did late last year...we made a tv show!". Facebook. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
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  12. ^ "Shane Nicholson signs publishing with Cooking Vinyl". TMN. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  13. ^ @shanenicholson (3 April 2020). "We've quietly reissued the entire back-catalogue today on all DSP's" (Tweet). Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ a b c d "Shane Nicholson Reveals Living In Colour Album". noise11. 9 July 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  15. ^ Hui, Jin (12 March 2022). "Hauntingly beautiful sounds echo in Camille's voice". Bundaberg Today. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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  17. ^ "ARIA Top 20 Australian Country Albums Chart - Week of 16 August 2021". ARIA. 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
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  28. ^ "Famous Last Words". AIRIT. 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  29. ^ "Whistling Cannonballs". AIRIT. 2011. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  30. ^ "Adam & Eve – single". Apple Music. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
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  32. ^ "When the Money's All Gone – single". Apple Music. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  33. ^ "Weight of the World – single". Apple Music. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  34. ^ "Safe – single". Apple Music. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  35. ^ "I Don't Dance". AIRIT. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  36. ^ "Even If You Were the One". AIRIT. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  37. ^ "As Above, So Below – single". Apple Music. February 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  38. ^ "The High Price of Surviving – single". Apple Music. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  39. ^ "Long Way from Lonely – single". Apple Music. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  40. ^ "Don't Take John Prine – single". Apple Music. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  41. ^ "It's release day for "Harvest on Vinyl"". Facebook. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Single release: "Life Ain't Fine" by Shane Nicholson". sunburntcountrymusic. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
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  59. ^ a b Maguire, Kemii (20 April 2022). "2022 Golden Guitar Awards see Cassar-Daley take out Slim Dusty record, Shane Nicholson and Ashleigh Dallas collect top gongs". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
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