Before her soul-funk and gospel output with The Putbacks, before her Black Arm Band years and even before the Stiff Gins, there were Emma Donovan outfits of silk and sequins and two-song sets of the biggest country hits.

Little Emma, at 11-years old, would travel out to Tamworth with the family country music band, The Donovans, performing in the music festival’s busking competitions and talent quests.

Armfuls of winner’s trophies came her way, but eventually so too did a time when 16-years old Emma began to think country music was all too daggy. After all, Christine Anu, Lauryn Hill and Maria Carey weren’t getting around singing country, were they? Within a couple years, Donovan had co-founded The Stiff Gins, and shortly afterwards went on to sing with the Black Arm Band, and in collaboration with her heroes Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Christine Anu, Yothu Yindi and Paul Kelly. She continues to perform alongside some of Australian music’s most notable names, including Indigenous stars Briggs, A.B. Original, Dan Sultan, Shellie Morris and Spinifex Gum in styles ranging from soul, to reggae, to R&B, and gospel.

New album Til My Song Is Done comprises 11 tracks written and produced by Donovan and Mick Meagher (The Putbacks, The Bamboos, Kate Cebrano, The Pigram Brothers, Ross Hannaford).

It’s an album that sees Donovan return to her creative and performing roots; a getting back to the sounds of country, with the feeling of being on Country.