'I want to add my wee bit of spice to country music' says Jamie ahead of Glór Tíre debut

JAMIE Donnelly may be the youngest contestant on the new season of Glór Tíre, but she has a wealth of experience and qualifications under her belt that would be the envy of many.

Jamie, from Strabane, is one of eight hopefuls who will be fighting it out for the title of Ireland’s Glór Tíre Country Music champion, when the hit TG4 series returns to TV screens for its 19th season this month.

Music has always been a part of Jamie’s life.

It runs in the blood and has surrounded her for as far back as she can remember.

“My dad and uncles would have played in bands,” she says. “My my cousin, Fergal McAloon, is the singer with (folk-rock band) The Whistlin’ Donkeys.

£Country music was always played around the house.”

Jamie began learning guitar at age 10. From there, her love of music “grew more and more”, with both American country and country and Irish becoming her chief inspirations.

“I’m a big fan of American country. I love Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain, that sassiness, I love to try and put that in my music,” she says.

“I’m also a big fan of Philomena Begley, Louise Morrissey, and Susan McCann.

"They all have their own niche. That inspires you to do your own thing and become your own artist.”

Such were the lessons well learned from those artists, and Jamie now applies them to her own songwriting and performances.

“When I record my own music I try to put my own spin on it, make it my own. I want to add my wee bit of spice to it," she adds.

Jamie’s passion for music eventually translated into an impressive CV of academic qualifications.

In July 2022, she graduated from Queen’s University Belfast, having studied for a degree in music.

“I would have looked at classical music and different composers, composition and songwriting, and Irish traditional music as well,” she says.

She also notes how music performance, and not just theory, were a crucial part of her studies.

“With Uni, it’s performance at the end of the day, as you are getting weekly sessions,” she continues.

“We had the Ulster Orchestra coming in giving us advice. It built your confidence, and you could apply their advice to yourself.”

Jamie’s academic studies, as well as her ‘on the road’ hard graft of doing “any gigs I get, guest spots, even my own pub gigs” has ensured she is becoming an emerging talent and ‘one to watch’ on the country and Irish scene.

She released her debut EP in 2017 which covered a number of styles - easy listening, pop, rock, country.

“I was trying to find which genre suits me best. The reception from that saw country as the path I wanted to go down," she explains.

In 2021, she released the album, 'The Country In Me', which featured Irish and American country and folk, as well as original compositions by Jamie.

“I do a lot of co-writing,” she says. “I have a partnership with a man in England, Geoff Snee.

"I do a lot of melody and he’s strong on lyrics. It’s a great team.”

The Tyrone woman’s next album is due out in early 2023.

Jamie adds: “It’s called This One’s For The Girls. It pays homage to the ladies of country music who have inspired me - Dolly Parton, Shania Twain, Faith Hill.”

With her appearance on Glór Tíre - widely acknowledged as the most influential platform for artists in the genre - Jamie is set to win legions of new fans and make her name widely known across Ireland.

“Hopefully doing Glór Tíre will help things progress,” she says of the TG4 show.

“It’s such a good opportunity for people like me who are trying to get more exposure to a bigger audience.

"I’m looking forward to seeing what doors it could potentially open.”

Jamie will be performing on the January 17 edition of Glór Tíre, alongside Mayo singer Seán Fahy, and singer David James, who is mentor to both contestants.

See www.tg4.ie and follow @glortire on social media for all of the latest news and updates.

Listen to Jamie’s music via https://jamiedonnellymusic.com/.