Marie Crichton's Country Show Blog: Singer-songwriter Audrey Auld dies at 51

Australian singer-songwriter Audrey Auld has sadly died at 51

Press Photo

Tracks previously played on Marie Crichton’s Country Show and presenter Quotes:

Nov 2, 2013:

Nashville No.2 CD: Tonk "Old school country at its best...really nice mix of music...showing just how wonderful Australian country music is"

Nov 9, 2013:

Siren Song CD: TONK “I think she's terrific, old school with contemporary, Carlene Carter sound to it, wonderful artist”

May 10, 2014: “Broken Hearted Woman” Album: TONK (Sept 2013)

Paying Repects:

Audrey Auld-Mezera (née Audrey Auld; January 14, 1964 - August 9, 2015)

Audrey Auld lost her battle with cancer and was taken away too early.

Styles: Contemporary Country/ Alt-Country/ Alternative/Indie Rock/ Country-Folk

She (Mrs Daniel Mezera) died aged 51 on August 9, 2015 in Stinson Beach, California, USA.

She was an Australian American country music touring singer–songwriter and jewelry maker.

She had released eleven albums and three EPs on her own Reckless Records label, and had recorded with numerous musicians including Bill Chambers, Kieran Kane, Fred Eaglesmith, Mary Gauthier, Dale Watson, Kasey Chambers, and Carrie Rodriguez.

Her music was featured on television shows including “Justified” and “Longmire,” and Texas country singer Sunny Sweeney recorded Auld's "Next Big Nothing" (>> Audio) from the 2007 album "Heartbreaker's Hall of Fame".

About Audrey Auld:

Born Audrey Auld (née Audrey Auld) on January 14, 1964 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
She grew up listening to a variety of musical styles from classical to punk, and then fell in love with country music.
She formed a few bands — the Cowbelles and Audrey & The Rhythm Wranglers among them — and then, in the mid-1990s, she met musician Bill Chambers. He produced her debut EP, AUDREY, in 1997. Two years later, the two released LOOKING BACK TO SEE, an album of duets inspired by classic country recordings by artists such as the Louvin Brothers and Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton.

If you're in the mood for some serious country music, look no further than the current Australian release "Looking Back To See" by Bill & Audrey on Reckless Records.... Together, they create the classic country duet sound that just isn't heard anymore. The title cut and "We'll Sweep Out The Ashes In The Morning" are especially compelling."

~ the late Chet Flippo, 1999

The following year, Ms. Auld released her first full-length solo album, THE FALLEN in 2000. When it found American distribution, she toured the U.S. in 2001.

In 2003 Ms. Auld and her husband moved to California and she released her second solo album, LOSING FAITH, in 2003. Four years later, they relocated to East Nashville, where she quickly became a beloved part of the local music scene.

TEXAS, the first release from Audrey Auld-Mezera since becoming a U.S. resident and adopting her married name, came out in 2005. It was also an ARIA Best Country Album nominee in Auld's homeland. It was recorded live in Texas with Gabe Rhodes, a gifted musician, producer and son of legendary artist Kimmie Rhodes. It included Texan greats Carrie Rodriguez, Kimmie Rhodes and Darcie Deaville, along with Will Landin (bass) and Wally Doggett (percussion) and Audrey’s Aussie mate Bill Chambers.

"her cracked-earth vocals that gleam here and there like broken glass." ~ No Depression

Her fan-funded project 2011 album COME FIND ME (Reckless Records (12) ‎– RECK011) received a 5-star review in the UK’s most popular country magazine Country Music People: “Audrey Auld is an amazing talent. Like a special flower in your garden. Her songs are a kind of beacon of hope, from a woman who cares, in this deeply cynical world we are all stranded in. You need to relax more, play this album.” ~ Paul Riley

JUST LOVE: Regarding the lovely track 2 Audrey shared:
A beautiful love song, being my husband Mez's first co-write. He sent me a very romantic email one Valentine's Day, thus the first verse was created. I say "just love" to my rescued dog, Gypsy, and stroke her to calm her when she's fearful or aggressive. I think it helps her trust in love. I think it's helped me too as I never used to write love songs!

photo by:

Joseph Anthony Baker

I wrote your name in the sky

But the wind blew it away

I drew your name in the sand

And the sea washed it away

I hold your name in my heart

There it shall remain

Forever and always

Just love

Is all I have for you

Just love

Innocent and true

All that I am

I give it all to you

Just love

"Anyone doubting that Audrey Auld is one of the world's best songwriters should give "Resurrection Moon" a listen." ~ Paul Riley, Country Music People, UK (April 2012)

The 14 track TONK originally released January 1, 2013 was recorded in the late Jim Reeves' studio in Nashville and produced by George Bradfute and Kenny Vaughan. Kenny invited his Fabulous Superlative mates Harry Stinson and Paul Martin along with Chris Scruggs, Andy Leftwich (Ricky Skaggs) and Gary Carter (Connie Smith). Music City was built by great musicians like these, playing together live in the studio, and Tonk was made the same way. No isolation booths, no compiling, no 'phoned-in' tracks. Every track on Tonk captured the fun and ease of the sessions. Audrey and the Tonk band recorded 16 songs in 2 days. Audrey wore her love for old-school country on her sleeve. But this is no retro devotional. Audrey a self-actualized woman sang out all her love, loneliness and laughter, with a fabulous band playing a swinging beat.

Released digitally to radio Tonk reached #7 on the AirPlayDirect Country/Alt chart for July 2013 (published Sept 2013).

She toured the UK in May 2014 playing 15 dates starting on Fri 2 May 2014 at the Beverly Folk Club taking in Liverpool, Grateful Fred’s At The Café D’art (Tue 13 May 2014), Warwickshire, Osca Centre (Sat 17 May 2014) and ending on Tue 27 May 2014 at Edinburgh's Leith Folk Club.

Hard truths, sad memories and profound realizations

Upon receiving Ms. Auld's cancer diagnosis in 2014, the couple moved from Nashville to Stinson Beach, Calif., so that she could spend her final days in one of her favorite locations on the planet.

For several years, Ms. Auld conducted songwriting workshops with inmates at San Quentin State Prison as part of her involvement with the nonprofit organization Bread and Roses.

Even as she battled her illness, Ms. Auld was using her voice to help others: Before she left Nashville for California, she recorded her final album. HEY WARDEN, which was released earlier this year, is a collection of eight songs that Ms. Auld wrote with inmates and released through her own label, Reckless Records that shed light on life on the inside.

"This album encompasses a number of musical genres but does so very successfully.... The spirit of country music is upheld in the lyrics themselves. The title track borders on being a country classic. This short but fascinating album gives a valuable insight to [the incarcerated life] and is well worth adding to your collection." - Chris Smith, Country Music People Magazine, UK 4.5 stars

The Board of the Country Music Association of Australia were shocked and saddened with the news of the passing of Audrey Auld.

Board Chairman Dobe Newton said “Hard to believe we'll never her that laugh or see that wonderful smile again. Our huge music family here has lost one of its most loved. Our thoughts are with dear Mez (Mezera) and her adopted family over there, along with Audrey’s family in Tasmania”. Audrey is a much loved and admired singer songwriter, known for her honesty and wit, and personality as big as her heart. She has spent the past few years living in the US with her beloved “Nashville’s best plumber” and soulmate Mez, writing, recording, and performing with some of the best in the industry. Audrey spent quite some time with inmates of San Quentin prison over the past 8 years or so, conducting songwriting workshops and performing. She has recorded some of the resulting songs on her album “Hey Warden”, taking the total of her releases to 11 albums on her own label, Reckless Records.

Audrey performed on the opening concert of the 2014 Tamworth Country Music Festival, an honour she described as being one of her “most wonderful moments”.

Watch "I'd Leave Me Too" Filmed and directed by Cori Hopper and Worm Werchon at Woy Woy Bay, NSW, Australia. Track taken from Audrey Auld's "The Fallen" (2000) album,