When a Heart Learns to Fly is an intensely personal, warm, accessible and very appealing collection of songs that reveal a whole new side of Laurel Edwards. Laurel’s been dreaming of recording an album for almost eight years now - ever since the release of her highly successful first single, “Little Girl’s Dreams”. But with the changes in her life in that time, Laurel is aware that this is a very different album from the one she’d have made back then. “As you mature, you have a very different view of the world. The kinds of songs I’m comfortable singing now have changed,” Laurel said. “I think the album’s probably going to appeal to a slightly older audience, one that’s lived and loved and experienced life. Women like Anne Kirkpatrick, Norma O’Hara Murphy, Rosemary Rae, Jean Stafford and Jane Saunders have inspired me. Whether it’s their vocals or song writing, they’re great talents but it’s getting harder to see these women ‘live’ or hear regular albums the same as you would the statesmen or new-kids-on-the block. All have a place, but I’d like to see the more mature women of Australian Country music receive more recognition. Good talent should never have a ‘use by date’. Laurel’s already released the first single from the album, “C’mon Down”, and the response from radio has been sensational. “It’s a feel-good song that Troy and I wrote in our front yard in the cool of the late afternoon while the kids were running around, playing. It makes me smile every time I hear it,” Laurel said. Laurel also collaborated with Troy on another song for the album, the haunting title track “When a Heart Learns to Fly”. “We packed the kids off to bed one Saturday night, and had several glasses of wine. The feel of the song is very Thelma and Louise,” she said. And the pair recorded a live duet of the old Louvin Brothers song, “Hoping That You’re Hoping”, reflecting their passion for old-style music. This is one album that gets better and better with each listen - known in the industry as a “sleeper”. It features a swag of powerful songs like the beautiful Kim Richey track “The One”, “Echo of an Old Flame”, “One Day Stronger”, “Freedom Road” and the swinging “Emotional Moon”. And to end with a laugh - and a bit of a punch - the final track is a Down Under version of Matraca Berg’s tongue-in-cheek “Back in the Saddle”. Laurel called on a few famous friends - Lyn Bowtell, a very pregnant Gina Jeffreys, Beccy Cole, Tamara Stewart and Karen O’Shea - to help her out on the song. “We shared a bottle of champagne and couldn’t stop giggling. It was a lot of fun, and the perfect way to complete the album,” Laurel said. “It also made me realise how much we all had in common. I may have finally released an album, but I still can’t make a good gravy and it seems I’ve got plenty of company!”