Fiona Kernaghan: News

 It's been full steam ahead co writing lately. Triple threat pop diva, Sammi Palinkas, is in town from Australia meeting with agents, producers etc and we've been writing a lot together. We just discovered that laptops, lyrics and Martinis mix well at The Beverly Hills Hotel's Polo Lounge!.. lol. Yesterday we spent the day with writer/producers, Isaac and Mher, of SuperSpy. They are super talented and recently Produced/Co-wrote two tracks, including the hit single "Here We Go Again", on Demi Lovato's latest album (Hollywood Records). They also Produced/Co-wrote/Mixed two songs on the recently released Selena Gomez release (Hollywood). It was a really fun and productive day. And reminded me once again why I LOVE L.A!

 

http://www.myspace.com/samanthaleepalinkas

http://www.myspace.com/superspymusic

I just got back from a busy week writing in Nashville - amidst the floods of Biblical proportions!

April's been a busy songwriting month! I've really enjoyed writing with a wide range or artists lately including sexy Latin jazz pop artist, Karen Souza and her producer Dany Tomas, Bevin Hamilton of Foxxglove, country pop artist Danielle Blakey and producer team The Empyre, hit country writer, Matt Scullion and rock writer producer (and ex Tories guitar dude) J.J Farris.  I've also been writing on my own (perhaps just out of the creative forward momentum?) waking up with missing verses and lyric ideas in my head and scribbling stuff down with one eye open in the middle of the night... so it feels like the writing just never stops these days (and nights!) The only problem is I lose track of time. I'll be half way through a piece of toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast say and I'll see that idea staring at me from the lap top and think to myself "Oh, I'll just give that a quick look before I go do such and such..." and all of a sudden my coffee's cold and it's 2 hours later!? lol.

I launched into 2010 with a full head of steam and have been co writing a lot with some fantastic new partners - most of whom I met at Ascap's LOVEFEST gathering a few months back. Gotta love those folks at Ascap! I am psyched outta my brain with the new stuff I'm writing with J.J Farris and have really enjoyed recording with him and his ReelMusic.tv partner, James "Jimbo" Barton". I have a couple of great new songs in the works with Dany Tomas who hails from Argentina but is now settled in LA. Dany brings a whole new range of colors and textures to the party being a terrific piano player. I met fellow Aussie and pop meister Ben Lee at an Association Of Independent Music Publishers gig at The House Of Blues recently - now I'm so thrilled to be writing with him. I can't wait to get into the studio to play with our new song and then post y'all a sample here online soon!.. Meanwhile, if you're looking for some wise and wonderful new music that'll put a smile on your face check out Ben's new "Rebirth Of Venus" cd! I LOVE it! Oh! And there's a FREE DOWNLOAD of my "Where The Wild Things Are" available here on the music page... Just 'cause I love you and I like giving people things. Enjoy!

2009 was a great year. I had a couple more hit singles with my country singing tv, presenting celeb sister, Tania, in The Land Downunder, I had my first song placement in a hit TV show here in the U.S, went diving with sharks off the coast of Oahu, I built a network of amazing new ex pat Aussie friends here in LA (mostly thanks LA's awesome Australian Consul General, Chris De Cure), I had three songs in a feature film and wrote and performed the end titles song to another, we moved house yet again!... and speaking of films...This year my rockin' husband, Daniel Kresco, transitioned from producing and mixing records exclusively to working at film composer, Hans Zimmer's, recording studio in Santa Monica. He just had his first taste of film music editing and also mixed his first score earlier in the year. Looking on, it's been a great learning curve for me! I'm looking forward to collaborating with directors and film composers myself! Coming up there's the Society of Composers and Lyricists Annual Xmas Dinner... and my nomination for "Bush Ballad Of The Year" at Australia's CMA Awards. Tasting the latest batch of demos in the works, I think 2010 will, however, be all about more co writing and creating with new writer producer friends in the good ol' pop rock field right here in dirty, glittering, sprawling LA LA Land... I AM ONE LUCKY SONGWRITER! lol.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! F. x 

As many of you might know, I've enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship working with and writing for my country singing sister, Tania. Her latest release, "Livin' The Dream" is her 5th studio album and I wrote 7 of the 12 songs on the album. It was a bit of a family affair as my husband, Dan, produced the record as well! We had a blast recording it last summer in Nashville - with some of our favorite session players including Eddie Bayers, Jim "Moose" Brown and Brent Mason. Now I'm chuffed to report that once again Tania is a final nominee at the upcoming Country Music Awards - she's up for Bush Ballad Of The Year and Female Vocalist Of The Year. Congratulations, Tan!

Dan and I had a great weekend writing and recording with the lovely and super talented Skye Dyer. We are working on new songs for her next record... I love her fantastic blend of acoustic pop and R & B influences!

Last night I recorded an interview with Aussie country star, Amber Lawrence - she was filling in for the legendary host himself, John Nutting, on his long running "Saturday Night Country" radio show. We talked about all I'm up to here in LA - and my song, "Reality Check" appearing in Lifetime's "Army Wives" this month! You can listen live early Saturday morning 9/12, or anytime on demand at http://www.abc.net.au/snc/

"Army Wives” now in its third season, follows the struggles, dreams and friendships of a diverse group of women — and one man — living with their spouses and families on an active Army post. The gifted cast includes Catherine Bell ("Bruce Almighty") and Kim Delaney ("CSI Miami", "NYPD Blue".) A recent episode averaged more than four million total viewers - and garnered its highest ratings of the season among Women 25-54 (2.80 rating).

Dan and I just squeezed in a week in Hawaii on Oahu's North Shore... Sweet! Back in LA I'm finishing off something I started with Kevin Savigar and working on a bunch of new demos. I recently met up with an actor and musician I've long admired - Cameron Daddo. He is such a hidden musical talent! We have a few ideas on the go and I'm so looking forward to recording some new tracks with Cam. His voice just gets better and more full of character as time goes by. (Check out his reel at http://www.daddo.com/reel.html). I just wrote with a new, young artist visiting from Australia - Tori Darke. Tori is enjoying her first hit on CMT down there and is working toward her next record already. She's like a young Martina McBride and is a lovely, spunky chick... I have not been able to get this new song we wrote, "Heart First", out of my head - honestly, it's been plaguing me!.. I hope that's a good sign! lol.

Lately I've been co writing with film composer and hit songwriter for Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers, Steve Dorff, as well as producer and hit writer, Kevin Savigar. Both are incredibly versatile writers. Kevin's well known for writing Rod Stewart's "Forever Young" and more recently he's turned his hand to country pop hits. I really enjoy writing with these older guys who are completely at ease with their art and creative powers. I'll post our new songs here soon!

I'm lucky to have three songs in the feature film, "Shadows Of The Past", chosen as a Silver Palm Award winner at the 2009 Mexico International Film Festival! Only a maximum of 20 films in each competitive category were chosen to be honored with this prestigious recognition. Congrats to director, Warren Ryan and all involved!

March '09   My sister, Tania, just launched her brand new album, "Livin' The Dream". I wrote 6 of the 12 songs on my big sister's new record including the first single, "Second Time Around" which debuted at #5 and just jumped to #3 on Australia's Music Network radio airplay chart. "Livin' The Dream" is also #10 on the iTunes Country Top 100!

February '09...

The soon to be released feature film, "SHADOWS OF THE PAST" - which I'm lucky to have THREE SONGS in - just won a SILVER AWARD at THE LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL!

January '09...

I got 2009 off to a creative start. I've been collaborating with film composer, Kristen Baum, in LA. We recently co wrote the end title song for the upcoming indie flick, "My Wife Is A Vampire". Check back for screening and release dates! A sneak peak of our song, "Forever Is Now", produced by Dan of course, is here on my music page!