Local Music: Peta Mai Launches Solo Career

Written by Alive 90.5 FM on 20 June 2018

If you’ve ever gone tyre kicking or furniture shopping in Castle Hill, there’s a good chance you’ve driven down Victoria Avenue. The street is the main road through a notable industrial precinct in the Hills. This precinct is also home to a music school where a trio of singers came together to create what would become one of Australia’s first true country-pop acts. The trio’s name? Victoria Avenue!

The trio consisted of Holly ,Tiara and Peta Mai – who were all proud to call Castle Hill home. They even chose to launch their debut single at the Hillside Hotel in Castle Hill.

Victoria Avenue quickly rose to stardom, becoming one of the local council’s go-to acts for events and celebrations across our community. The band would also go on tour, including multiple performances a day at the famed Tamworth Country Music Festival. The hard work paid off and landed them a record deal and interestingly a sponsorship from a major international automotive brand.

Sadly for country music fans both local and across the country, Victoria Avenue split in 2015 with Holly and Tiara choosing to pursue other career opportunities. As for Peta Mai, her heart was always set on music.

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After spending some time soul searching, Peta begun her return to the industry. During the 2017 Tamworth Country Music Festival, Peta reconnected with industry friends. Peta even jumped on stage during a set by fellow Hills district country-pop act, Rachael Fahim.

In 2018, Peta opened for Tori Darke during her single Tamworth CMF show. I took the opportunity to interview Peta who informed me, to my excitement, that she had solo music in the works. This time around, Peta isn’t necessarily following the sound and direction that Victoria Avenue took, instead putting a focus back on the music and the lyrics. Peta isn’t intending to write for a country audience but will be happy if country music fans and media take to her like they did with Victoria Avenue.

After a few months putting the finishing touches to a debut solo album, Peta launched her first single – ‘Girl Code’. The single calls out a girl who put her friendship on the line for a love interest.

Listen below to Castle Hill’s own Peta Mai and her debut solo single, ‘Girl Code’.