LISTEN AND SHARE “PRETTY PAPER” (WILLIE NELSON COVER) HERE
CHICKABOOM! OUT NOW VIA OUTSIDE MUSIC
PHOTO CREDIT : Sabin Holloway // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Tami Neilson is back with her number one musical partner in crime, brother Jay, for a special Christmas single, a cover of Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper” which was recorded last December as a SiriusXM Canada live session at the Dine Alone Records Store in Toronto. The song resonated with Tami as it is told from the viewpoint of a homeless person, and she well remembers the hard financial times her musical family endured during her childhood and the struggles faced by so many across the world right now. She says, “At a time when many of us celebrate the birth of a baby who was the personification of love, acceptance and compassion, this song embodies those reminders that we need to extend those same things to each other.”
LISTEN AND SHARE “PRETTY PAPER” (WILLIE NELSON COVER) HERE
It’s been a busy year for Canadian-born, New Zealand-based musician and “fire breathing belter” (Rolling Stone) Tami Neilson. Her current album, Chickaboom!, was released to rave reviews in February. Media fans included Billboard (“Upon hearing Tami Neilson’s voice, the listener is instantly transported back in time”), No Depression (“Neilson’s powerful vocals and her canny songwriting … make Chickaboom! a contender for one of the year’s best albums”), and American Songwriter (“… she’s as real a deal as they come”). As with other musicians, her touring plans were scrapped because of the pandemic, but she was able to participate in Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion livestream, one of the first music festivals to air online. It brought her dynamic presence tomore than 100,000 viewers.
Not long after, the creative whirlwind got busy with her team, which includes her brothers Jay and Todd, musical and video collaborators, respectively. The Tami Show, a 12-episode series on YouTube was born as a welcome respite from quarantine life. Offering a glimpse into Tami’s life with funny anecdotes, fashion inspiration, hair and make-up tutorials, and THAT VOICE, the show, along with videos from Chickaboom!, can be viewed on her YouTube channel here.
The single “Hey Bus Driver” from Chickaboom! won Country Song of the Year at the New Zealand Country Music Awards and the track “You Were Mine” was nominated for the APRA Silver Scroll for Song of the Year. Chickaboom! has been nominated for Album of the Year at the Aotearoa Music Awards which replaces the previously named Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards on November 15 at Auckland's Spark Arena.
Because New Zealand is under less restriction than much of the world, Tami was able to schedule dates in mid November with a brass band. She has waded into her home country’s political waters by endorsing NZ prime minister Jacinda Arden and performing at the politician’s campaign launch a couple of months back.