Plus, both Shania Twain and Keith Urban inspire me, in that they both moved to the USA, in pursuit of their country music dreams. And I know, per- sonally, what that struggle is like. And so, when there have been times when I’ve been down and out and had thoughts of doubt that could have taken me back home to Australia. The one thing that kept me going is the fact that I know this can be done. Keith did it. Shania did it. I know what I am doing isn’t impossible. “both Shania Twain and Keith Urban inspire me, in that they both moved to the USA, in pursuit of their country music dreams.” Spotlight on Business: Many will know you for your musical talents but we understand that you spent a little time in front of the camera as a con- testant on the Australian version of The Bachelor. What was that experience like? Katrina Burgoyne: This experience was a personal one. And one that was one of those defining moments of my life. I can say that it wasn’t about romance, it was definitely about really connecting with the person that I am. I went on the show genuinely looking for love. I was very naive thinking that it was real life and not a reality TV show production. My dating experience was very limited. While on the show the producers asked me if I could write the bachelor a song for the first impression. I told them, if I felt inspired, I would write a song, but I wasn’t on the show for my music career. I was there to find “love” (cringe at my righteous nativity). We went into lockdown, and I spent four days in a hotel room by myself. So, I picked up the guitar and wrote him a song, sang it to him and I ended up getting the very first impression rose for the season.
“I got to sing at the iconic Bluebird Café, and I just knew that I needed to do this.”
Having time alone for self-reflection with no TV, no phones, and no outside distractions was the most incredible experience of the show. I felt really proud of the person that I was and found my self-belief and this is what gave me the courage to chase my Nash- ville dream. Spotlight on Business: Can you tell us about your journey to Nashville, what how did you know it was the time to make the jump and what was it like? Katrina Burgoyne: I got an email in August of 2014 saying that a song I wrote back in 2009 while I was in Nashville had just got cut. It was almost like a sign. I started saving $350 a week and by July 2015, I moved out of my apartment and put everything into storage. And I went to Nashville for 3 months. I wanted to know if I liked it there. By the end of that trip, I had written 75 songs in 90 days. I had meetings with publish- ers my last week in Nashville and they told me that I really need to think about making Nashville my home base if I want this to happen. That same week I got to sing at the iconic Bluebird Café, and I just knew that I needed to do this. So, when I got back home, I sold everything I owned and moved back in with my mother for 14 months. I got my work visa, which was restricted so I could only make an income from playing music, and headed back to Nashville with three suitcases, a guitar, and a few thousand dollars. I started knocking on doors trying to get gigs to pay the bills.
The love element of the story was he was NOT my type. I spend ten minutes in total over the five weeks I was filming, and I got kicked out on a two-on-one date. When we weren’t filming, I would sit in the garden and write songs and journal. It gave me the opportunity to really connect with myself.
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FALL/WINTER 2022 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • FALL/WINTER 2022
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