Morris minor covers some major country

By Russell Baillie

It was her famous big sister who first gave Shanley Del the idea. But it was her former husband who gave her some early, er, inspiration. To become a country singer and songwriter, that is.

Becoming one was never really the plan for the vocalist with the pop past, who departed Auckland for Sydney in 1991.

She now finds herself with a career which extends to two solo albums with her latest, the Nashville-recorded ARIA-winning My Own Sweet Time just being released locally.

That aforementioned big sister is Jenny Morris - "Del" is Shanley's middle name adapted to a stage monicker.

"I had changed my name when I got married and I didn't want to go back to Morris because I didn't want to be seen trading on Jenny's fame and glory."

Pop singer Jenny pointed out that her younger sibling's vocal chords may suit country tunes.

"I think she rang me up and said, `You should do country.' Oh okay. I'd only really liked Anne Murray and John Denver ... Dolly Parton was kind of interesting. I started listening to it and really liked it - the more rootsy stuff."

And she had some other encouragement for those songs of heartache and tears ...
"I started writing songs and because my marriage had broken up in really tragic circumstances and I was left a single mother, I had tragic things to write about. It was perfect fodder for country," she laughs.

She had been involved in Auckland country outfit The Waltons, as well as 80s pop bands Chrome Safari and Gigolo, before heading Sydneyside.

One thing led to another across the Tasman. She signed with Aussie label rooArt and soon she was a frequent Nashville visitor, making contacts with writers, producers and musicians and doing a crash course in a music she admits she came to as a dilettante.

Her debut album What's a Heartache For? came out in 1995. The follow-up was more ambitious in scope and was recorded in the American country capital with the backing of band the Dead Reckoners and other local luminaries.

No, she hasn't seen the Jimmy Nail series Crocodile Shoes about an English singer-songwriter finding his own way in stetsonland, but she has her own wry observations about her time there.

"I've got a very one-eyed view of America. They are so polite - it's a very strange situation. They say, `You must come over' and they never call you. They feel obliged to ask you that. But they are very hospitable people.

"It's called the Bible belt and a lot of networking is done in churches. That's the last bastion of networking possibilities - people changing churches because the head of MCA goes there."

She says she's had a lot of interest stateside in the album, but nothing concrete so far as to its release there. However, she has achieved one country-music milestone - performing at country's Taj Mahal, the Grand Old Opry.

She was invited over to represent Australia at the Fanfare festival. She even met Loretta Lynn and Charlie Pride

"That is like it. You're there. Really cool. Very scary."

But she's also wary of the country label - and the album offers pop and folk flavours, while the country tunes are a fair way from the usual plasticity of so much Nashville output.

"People have this weird perception about country music and they switch off when they hear that word."

But being a female country singer does allow her to do something that a pop career such as the one her big sister had, doesn't - age gracefully.

"That's exactly right. It's so nice to know you have some longevity in that particular field.

"You can still look wrinkly and they'll forgive you."

Lyric-wise though, she jokes, her old inspiration pool may be drying up some, after marrying her Australian guitarist sideman James Gillard.

"Of course, I've remarried now and my new husband has committed the cardinal sin in country music - he's made me happy."

Who: Shanley Del

What: Album My Own Sweet Time, out now

Where: Sky City Casino

When: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Pictured: Shanley Del.