South Island singer Jody Direen carves her own path

With her new album out, Jody Direen is working on an upcoming Australian tour. Photo/Tony Banks

South Island singer carves her own path, writes Paula Yeoman.

Jody Direen is well established in the local country music scene but thanks to her second record, Breaks Out, which explores pop and rock influences, she's making her mark in the mainstream.

The Wanaka-based singer-songwriter has had luck on her side. Like the time executives from Bear Grylls' management company spotted her singing in a South Island bar and invited her to the US to introduce her to music contacts.

But, ultimately, talent coupled with sheer drive and determination has brought this self-managed artist to the precipice of what could be big things.

Direen made Breaks Out in Nashville, an inspiring experience that also taught her a few valuable lessons about the industry.

"You're surrounded by world-class musicians. You can walk into any bar and 99 per cent of the time the singer will blow your mind," she says, remembering a night in a honky-tonk bar listening to a 30-year-old who was singing for tips. "She was better than Tina Turner. I realised how tough it was, because she should've been on the world stage.

"I realised a lot of it isn't just about talent. Yes, you've got to have talent, but you've got to be able to write songs and good ones. And you've got to have a work ethic and you've got to have a business mind."

She also realised she had what it took to be successful, and says Nashville motivated her to prove that.

With the album debuting at No 1 in the New Zealand iTunes country charts and number 12 in the official Top 20, Direen is plotting her next move.

Although that will likely involve work across the Tasman and in the US, she's determined to keep her feet firmly planted on Kiwi soil.

"There have been many times I've thought, I'll pack my bags and move to Nashville or Australia.

"For so long I've been put in this box and compared to old-school country, and I love old-school country, but that's not what I perform," she says referring to the country-pop sound of Breaks Out.

"I don't mean to sound like I'm making excuses but I love New Zealand and I would really like to make a new name from country music here and get it out of that box."

That's not to say international success isn't a goal. Direen just believes it can be done from New Zealand and she's working on plans for an Australian tour later this year and is in talks with overseas record execs.

"If you continually choose your path based on what others say you can and can't do, you'll never break out. That's one of the reasons I've called this album Breaks Out. I feel like I'm paving the way for people to stick to their guns."

Breaks Out is out now. For upcoming gigs see jodydireen.com