Australian Singer-Songwriter Vanessa Jade Strikes Boldly With Haunting Debut 'The More I Lie'

Australia has long been home to voices that carry both grit and grace, and with her solo debut, Vanessa Jade proves she belongs in that lineage. Her first single, “The More I Lie,” released Friday, August 29, 2025, is not just a song, it’s a reclamation of identity, told with the raw honesty of someone who has shed old skins and learned to stand wholly in her truth. Produced in Nashville by Nash Chambers, the guiding hand behind records from Kasey Chambers, Jimmy Barnes, and Archie Roach, the track is steeped in the heart of Americana while carrying a distinctly Australian edge.

Backed by a regional tour, festival slots, and a cinematic music video, this release is more than a debut; it’s a fearless introduction. “The More I Lie” emerged at a turning point in Vanessa’s life, after her marriage fell apart and just before receiving a late autism diagnosis. For her, the song became both an anthem and a reckoning.

“It is an anthem of sorts for me about reclaiming autonomy in life, being proud of who you are and not trying to fit in where you don’t belong. Making friends with your little alien self and thriving without the shackles of people pleasing,” Vanessa shares. “I hope those who need to hear it connect with it.”

The honesty cuts deep, wrapped in a soundscape where pedal steel meets shimmering guitar, and her voice rises, fragile at times, fiery at others, toward something both vulnerable and defiant. Vanessa’s journey to this point is one of resilience and reinvention. Raised on the NSW Central Coast on a steady diet of Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, and Rickie Lee Jones, she was discovered as a teenager by Kasey Chambers. That moment set her on a path that led to early signing with Winterman & Goldstein (The Vines, Jet, The Preatures), the formation of Sydney indie outfit Hot Spoke, and collaborations with A-Sides Club (featuring members of Boy & Bear and The Whitlams) and Caliko.

Her distinctive voice became a familiar presence on Triple J, Rage, MTV, and stages across Woodford, Tamworth, Majors Creek, and BIGSOUND. Yet, only now, under her own name, is she unveiling her most personal work.

“The More I Lie” carries a trans-Pacific DNA. Alongside Nash Chambers at the helm, the recording features Nashville guitarist Rob McNelley (Luke Combs, Bob Seger, Miranda Lambert), with Syd Green on drums and Matt Tonks on harmonies. The accompanying music video, directed by Thom Davies (Middle Kids, Milku), leans into the song’s cinematic and quirky edges.

For influences, Vanessa reaches back to Joni Mitchell and early Sheryl Crow, but there are also shades of Phoebe Bridgers’ fragile intensity and the lush textures of Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. Her forthcoming debut album, expected in early 2026, promises to expand on this sound, recorded between Australia and the U.S., blending alt-country soul with a folk storyteller’s heart. The single release is just the beginning. Vanessa is already on the road.

If there’s any doubt about Vanessa Jade’s arrival, Australia’s Queen of Country, Beccy Cole, dispels it, “Wow, remember that name, Vanessa Jade. Shades of Joni Mitchell for me, absolutely loving it.”

With “The More I Lie,” Vanessa Jade isn’t just introducing herself, she’s taking her place among a new wave of Australian Americana voices, armed with a story only she could tell.

TOUR DATES

24th August - Launch Twyford Hall with Robyn Martin (Merimbula)

27th August- Hoey Moey- Coffs Harbour w/ Paul Greene

28th August - Killing Heidi support - Ettamogah Hotel, Syd.

30th August- The Servo Port Kembla - w/ Paul Greene

4th Sept - The Gasoline Pony - Marrickville - w/ Paul Greene

5th October - Dashville Skyline fest

17-19 October- Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival

23-26th October- Nimbin Roots Festival

31st October - The Stag and Hunter Newcastle - supporting Minor Gold

7-9 November- Majors Creek Festival (TBA)

Feb 2026 - Nannup Festival

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