Chelsea Berman, a rising pop/country artist in Australia, is among the many country artists we’ve been watching. Last year, we introduced our readers to Jade Gibson, and it was through Gibson’s social media presence that I first came across Berman. Despite not meeting in person until this past summer, I had followed Berman’s social media journey for a few years. Read more about Berman, her music, and the vibrant Australian music scene.
Chelsea Berman and the Rising Country Music Scene in Australia
Chelsea Berman’s musical journey is a testament to the power of passion and discovery. From her early days singing in genres like jazz and musical theatre to her transformative experience at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, her evolution into a country artist is a story of personal growth and artistic exploration. She shares, “About eight years ago, I attended the Tamworth Country Music Festival, one of the biggest festivals here. It was there that I fell in love with country music. The vibe, the fans, the music, and the artists were just incredible. Since then, I’ve been on the country train, releasing two EPs, lots of singles and music videos, and playing many gigs.”
The rise of country music in Australia is a cultural shift that Chelsea Berman has been a part of. She reflects on the evolving Australian country music scene and notes, “It’s very different in Australia versus the States, but we are starting to close the gap. Country music is becoming more mainstream in Australia. But Australians, as a whole, still prefer other types of music. We are getting closer to what America has, but it will take a while. When I told people I sang country music a few years ago, many didn’t even know what it was or have a favorite country artist. Whereas now, when I ask, they know more mainstream country artists. So it’s something people know and accept a lot more.”
Country Music Opened a New Way of Songwriting
Chelsea Berman’s journey into country music has not only shaped her career but also transformed her songwriting. She reflects, “I started writing songs before I got into country music, but back then, the songs I wrote were pretty bad. We all start somewhere. But getting into country music opened up a new way of writing because it’s so honest, and there is so much great storytelling. As a songwriter, that was exciting because that is what I love doing. At the time, pop music used little storytelling. But more people are integrating stories into pop music now.” Her experience is a testament to the transformative power of music genres and the endless possibilities they offer to artists.
Despite lacking a central hub like Nashville, the Australian country music scene is a vibrant and collaborative community. Chelsea Berman’s experience with co-writing and the camaraderie she shares with other artists is a testament to this. She shares, “Over the past few years, I’ve started doing much more co-writing. It’s fantastic, and I love it. But with everyone so spread out, we must do a lot of Zoom writing and catch up when possible. Usually, all the artists go to the Tamworth festival to see everyone else. When I went to Nashville last June, I saw more Australian country artists than I have in a long time. It was nice to be on the other side of the world and still have our little country music family.“
Australian Artists Take on Nashville
Chelsea Berman was one of many Australian Country artists who traveled to Music City last June for CMA Fest. But they aren’t just coming to experience it; some are playing. But more importantly, Australian artists are making connections for co-writing and other things while they are in Nashville. This year, on Thursday, June 13th, we are featuring Berman and several Australian and Canadian artists on our live show at The Greenlight Bar.
Berman described the impact of her trip to Nashville last year. The singer/songwriter said, “It was incredibly inspiring and fueled my creativity, especially in Nashville. It lights a fire inside you because you see all these amazing and talented people doing well. More importantly, meeting so many people in the industry was worth the trip. Then collaborating with songwriters in the U.S. can be tricky due to the time difference, but you get used to it.”
Chelsea Berman is Proud of her Achievements
Being an independent artist can be daunting but also worth it. However, everything you accomplish certainly gives you a sense of pride because you have scratched and clawed to achieve every success. Berman reflected, “As an independent artist, you should be proud of even releasing music because it’s so challenging to keep it going. Finding the money is the biggest struggle and the main reason we can only sometimes release EPs and albums. I am often asked when I am doing an album, and while I would love to release one, the money to pay for it is not just lying around.”
Berman also celebrates becoming a better performer. She shares, “I am proud to have grown as a performer and am more comfortable on stage. Before COVID, I was doing many supporting act shows for several Australian country artists. Looking back at those performance videos, I appear nervous and unsure. When I reflect on that growth, it makes me incredibly proud.”
Chelsea Berman Releases “Obsessed”
Chelsea Berman released her latest single, “Obsessed,” in April 2024, and we are obsessed. It is the follow-up to “If I Have a Daughter.”
released in February. The singer/songwriter noted “If I Have a Daughter” was a bit of an acoustic release. The song is very personal, and one many relate to. So I wanted to release a raw, organic version of that, and people seemed to love it, which is fantastic for me. As songwriters, you write these songs to get your feelings out. But when others relate to them, it’s an incredible feeling.”
Berman shared the inspiration behind her new single, “Obsessed,” saying, “Someone made me very angry because they spread many lies about me. I had to get my feelings out, so I wrote this song myself. “Obsessed” is a fun song, and the video is entertaining.” The promo leading up to the release was incredibly creative. As I was watching it, I wondered who had made her mad. People need to learn not to make a songwriter mad because songs will be written about you.”
Are You New to Chelsea Berman?
Chelsea Berman is a genre-bending artist who describes her sound as “country with a little bit of pop.” The singer/songwriter said, “I am not entirely a country artist, and I would never say I was because I love pop and bringing those elements into my songs. If you like artists like Taylor Swift and Kelsey Ballerini, my music does resemble elements of theirs as well. My songwriting is authentic, and all of the songs I release are about something that’s happened to me or someone else. I will never release a song for the sake of it. My songs always mean something to me, which is important as a songwriter. I like to have fun, as you can see from the promo for “Obsessed.” So please follow me.
Some performers have told me that they felt it was easier to perform songs that are personal to them. For Berman, she disagreed. Chelsea said, “It’s harder to sing more personal songs because you feel vulnerable. You put all your emotions on stage for everyone to see, but it improves performance. It goes back to musical theatre, where you must put so much emotion into those performances and get into that character. When you are on stage alone putting your feelings out there, it can be scary but also a great thing.”
My Thoughts
Chelsea Berman is an artist who keeps progressing in the music industry and perfectly fits the profile of an artist that Undiscovered Nashville works to promote. Berman is genuine, personable, authentic in her songwriting, and a great vocalist. Also, her songs are commercially viable but not cookie-cutter. That’s the total package. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see Berman and other Australian artists perform in Nashville this June. If you follow Chelsea’s journey, I hope it leads to a love of her music and a discovery of all the fantastic artists in the land down under.
