Amity Dry has been studying music and piano and performing on stage since she was just five years old. She began writing original songs when she was twelve and was accepted into a performing arts school at sixteen. Her life has always been dedicated to following her dream of being a recognised singer/songwriter and in 2003 that dream was realised with the release of her debut album 'The Lighthouse.'

But the road wasn't always easy, and Amity spent many years honing her skills as a songwriter and performer before her big break. This journey included making trips to Nashville, USA's country music capital, which is home to many of the world's best songwriters. It was on these trips that Amity really progressed as a writer, and it was following her second trip that she wrote her future smash hit song, 'The Lighthouse.'

In late 2002 Amity finally go the break she had been looking for, but it came in a package she had not expected. ”When I first heard about 'The Block' it never entered my mind it would be as big as it was,” she recalls. “We thought it would be a fun experience, something to tell the kids about and maybe something that would help me get a small break for my music.” That small break ended up being an audience of over 3 million people and within months of signing on the show Phil and Amity were household names.

In July 2003 Amity's debut album 'The Lighthouse' was released and debuted at no.8 on the ARIA chart. 'The Lighthouse' went on to peak at no. 6 and was certified GOLD in just a week. “I think I only realise now, knowing a bit more about the music industry, how massive that really was,” Amity explains. “It is so hard just to get a top 10 album, but to go from no one knowing who I was to having my album debut at no. 8 in a few weeks is crazy. And it all came so fast, I barely had a chance to take it all in.”

This experience of releasing her own album was something Amity had waited a long time for, and she found the rewards were more than she even expected. “The whole experience was so much fun, performing everyday, meeting all these people you have admired and being recognised for what you do. But by far the best part of it was hearing from people who had bought the album,” she says. “All I had ever wanted was for people to be moved by my songs, for them to mean something to people, and the feedback I got was that they absolutely did that,” she says. ”That was a fantastic feeling!”

With hundreds of emails pouring in every day Amity was inundated with stories of how her songs related to peoples own lives, sadly with many of them in tragic circumstances. “I received so many touching emails, especially about 'The Lighthouse' and how it has affected people. It is such a special song and I am so thrilled it has helped those who are going through tough times.”

It was even played at the Bali Bombing Memorial, which Amity says was, “An honour I was completely humbled by. To have written a song that is helping people grieve at a time like that is more rewarding than anything I could ever do.”

During this whirlwind year Amity performed on shows such as Micallaf, Mornings with Kerri Anne, GMA, The Today Show and many others. She was also featured in television shows such as Renovation Rumble and Renovation Rescue, she starred in two Toyota Echo Ads and even presented a segment on A Current Affair!

One of Amity's fondest memories is performing at the Sidney Myer Music Bowls Carols By Candlelight, as it was something she had always dreamed of doing. “I have watched the Carols with my family every year since I can remember, it is a Christmas Eve ritual in our house,” says Amity. “And every year I would say 'One day that will be me up there,'” she recalls. “So that moment singing my carol on stage, with all those beautiful candles shining and my family at home watching, it felt like a huge validation for all those years of hard work, and for having the faith that it would happen one day. It was truly magical.”

It wasn't the only validation Amity would receive, as in the following months 'The Lighthouse' was released in New Zealand and South Africa and 'The Block' was played in countries as far reaching as Estonia, South America and Ireland. During this time Amity received fan mail from all around the world, praising her music. “I never imagined I would receive fan mail from places I had barely heard of,” Amity laughs. ”It was so amazing to think my music was being heard in countries all around the world and I had so many beautiful letters and emails written to me about how my songs were touching people. Those letters constantly remind me of why I am doing this, and they mean more to me than anyone will ever know.”

After the hectic year she spent promoting 'The Lighthouse' and 'The Block' Amity then spent the next year taking some much needed time off to write her second album, 'True To Me'.

This has been a totally different process to the first album, as she explains. ”The Lighthouse was made up of songs I had written while I was about 20 to 24, and most of them were inspired by falling in love with my husband and making our life together. With this album I felt like I had grown so much and had so many different experiences to draw from, in particular the experiences that came from instant fame and everything that goes along with it,” she explains.

The sound of the new album is also very different to 'The Lighthouse', which Amity puts down to the fact that she has found a new strength and confidence as an artist, as well as personally. ”While there were so many great things that came from the success of the first album there were also a lot of challenges, and tough times make for good songs!" Amity laughs. "I really feel like I have drawn on those challenges and grown up a lot, and that has definitely influenced my writing and my performing."

The different sound is also reflected in Amity's choice of co-writer, as she explains, “I have never really been interested in co-writing before, as writing is such a personal and intimate thing and I usually write best when I am completely alone,” she says. “But with this album I wanted a different perspective and a chance to broaden my sound, so I got together with Mike Carr, who's songs and writing style I really loved,” she says.

Mike is a well known country songwriter who has written hits with the likes of Melinda Schneider, Adam Brand and Colin Buchanan. When asked why she chose a country writer Amity is quick with her answer. “I think country writers are the best writers there are,” she says earnestly. “I wrote The Lighthouse after a trip to Nashville and I believe it's the best song I have ever written, so I wanted to get back to that country influence. You can't get away with average lyrics in country music, you have to paint a picture and tell a story,” she says. “The best thing I heard from my fans was that they felt like my songs were about them, so with this album I wanted to capture not just my stories, but the experiences of the everyday person. Their struggles, heartbreaks and triumphs, and I think country writers are the best at doing that.”

But when asked whether this is a country album, Amity is quick to point out she doesn't place her music into boxes. ”This album has influences from many different styles, but I wouldn't say it fits squarely into any one of them. There are definitely country influences, but there are also rock influences, pop influences and the big piano ballads that were a feature on The Lighthouse. There is even a blues/rock song as the title track,” she laughs. “The thing I love most about this album is that no matter what mood you're in, there is a song that fits it. My hope is that the album is relatable to people of all walks of life, who listen to all types of music, and if I can achieve that I'll be very happy.”

The making off the album has also been very different, with Amity opting to work with a team of up and coming producers, called DnA. “I had heard DnA's material and I loved it so I asked them to do a demo of 'Rollercoaster, to see what they came up with,” she recalls. “The demo I gave them to work off was very rough and they could have interpreted it in so many different ways, but when the song came back it was exactly what I had in my head. It was amazing!” So she decided to hire them for the job, and it was a decision she is thrilled she made. ”I had more fun making this album with DnA than I have ever had making music,” Amity says earnestly. “It wasn't about what other people thought, who I had to please or who the producer had worked with before, it was just about making my songs the way I wanted to, and I loved every minute of it.”

That decision has obviously paid off, with 'True To Me' displaying a stronger and more confident sound than Amity has shown before, highlighting her song writing talent and showcasing her powerful voice. “Working with the direction that the producers gave me I have grown so much as a singer and I can honestly say my vocal performances on this album are the best I have ever done.”

Amity will also be taking this album on the road, which she is very much looking forward too. “This album is a very live sounding album, with a lot more chance to rock out, so that's exactly what I'm looking forward to doing,” she says. “I want to go to small towns and visit parts of the country I haven't seen yet, to meet the people who I am writing about, to hear how they have related to the album and to share in their stories. And hopefully, as well as having a great time, I'll get some great material for the next album!”

And I'm sure we'll all stay tuned for that!