Briana Lee wrote her new single after the bushfires in January, capturing the devastation and hope that lives on in the region.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
“When was the last time you picked up your guitar?”
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For local singer-songwriter Briana Lee, it was that simple question that pushed her back towards her passion.
After years away from the spotlight, she is returning to the stage to sing her new single Amber at the upcoming Winter Sessions at The Vault, Shepparton, on August 7 and 8.
Inspired by the Longwood and Ruffy bushfires in January, Amber captures the fires’ devastation while highlighting the resilience of the community.
Briana said she began writing the song while “the fires were still burning”.
“We were 40km away, but there was smoke all around us.”
The song’s bridge reflects the aftermath of the disaster.
“It says, ‘Life will return, but her memory remains. She can’t break the hope that burns inside a man,’” Briana said.
“It’s about the resilience of the community, and the trauma that the fire has brought.
“I hope people connect to the song.”
She is looking forward to performing a set of original songs at The Vault.
“Having that human connection and having a dance or a laugh or a cry — that’s what live music is about,” she said.
“Shepparton doesn’t have a lot of live music, so it’s great to give our local community a place to go.”
Briana Lee is thrilled to be pursuing her passion for music again.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Music had been central to Briana’s life since moving to Shepparton at age nine.
“Playing my own songs was my passion. That's all I wanted to do,” she said.
In 2007, she won the Telstra Road to Tamworth Songwriter Award, which opened doors for further opportunities, including trips to Nashville, where she wrote, performed and networked, later writing her debut album there in 2013.
But after the death of her father, followed by marriage and motherhood, music gradually slipped into the background.
“I got a bit lost, and then we had kids, and life went in a different direction,” she said.
“I just felt like there was something missing.”
She said rediscovering music had reminded her of the importance of pursuing passions outside work and parenting.
“I think it’s important as you get older and have kids that you pursue things that fill your cup and that you enjoy,” she said.
“You’ve just got to go for it.”
With two young daughters watching, Briana hopes returning to something she loves sends an important message.
“It’s good for them to see that Mum doesn’t just have to work and look after us, she can go and do things that she really enjoys as well,” she said.
Briana will perform Amber at the Winter Sessions, ahead of the song’s release on streaming platforms on August 21.
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