What were you doing at 17? Briana Dinsdale is 17, a young singer/songwriter based in Brisbane. She’s a raw talent, who has mixed and mingled with the likes of Bill Chambers and Allan Caswell.
This is her debut album. I don’t have much information on Briana. I don’t know who produced the album or who played on it. I do know that the album was produced with a grant that she won. On her website, some of the lyrics have been published, with most of the songs featured here and her name is on all of those, with some co-writes. There aren’t any reviews up that I can refer to or compare notes with, so I am going to wing it. I am only going by the Itunes copy so I don’t have a hard copy to read off, either, but I will do my best.
Itunes lists this album as pop, but it is not pop. There maybe a couple of songs that have a country pop feel, but most of them are more country than pop. There are obvious influences, but there’s no absolute copycat stuff, just subtle intonations in the vocals and the sound.
Ball and Chain is not the Cathy Dobson song which both Cathy and Andrew Swift performed and recorded. This is a song penned by Briana. I believe that this has already been lifted as a single. Small Town features Bill Chambers and it is a standout track, maybe it is because I can relate because I have lived in small towns and I live in one now. There is definitely nothing pop about this song, it is absolutely country.
Why Did I Fall for you is a lovely ballad – a sad song with a folky feel. It is one of my favourites on the ballad. The musicianship on this album is very polished and varied.
Lost at Sea is obviously a true story or based on one. I am not sure if it is family history but I wouldn’t be surprised. As a student of history, I would be interested to know. It is quite a haunting song.
Used to this has some interesting key changes and vocal gymnastics. It is different again. Briana changes up the songs in tempo and subject matter, there is a lot of experimenting here which is what you should do on your first album.
Eyes is absolutely beautiful. Ashlyn Dinsdale is featured here, I can only guess that she is a sibling? Beautiful harmonies girls. Just lovely.
I have a feeling that I have heard Breaking the Silence – it may have been a single release. It is up tempo but it has a message.
This is not the end is a song full of melancholy. It is a song about change. An interesting song.
Every country artist has to have a song about or called Wildflowers. This one is just fabulous and a lovely way to end an album.
This is a great first up effort from someone so young. There is a lot of potential here. If she is this good at 17, I can only imagine how good she is going to be at 30. She is most definitely on her way.
