Shanleigh Rose unveils raw folk-country ballad "Like My Mama Loves Tobacco"

“Like My Mama Loves Tobacco” sits in the realm where love and dependency blur. Between fields left fallow and generational addiction, Shanleigh Rose explores the emotional complexity of holding onto something that still feels like home. With Tamworth Songwriters Association award-winning lyricism and deeply vulnerable vocals, this folk-country ballad doesn’t attempt to resolve the ache of emotional addiction—it simply tells the truth of it.

“Since I was a child, I’ve witnessed the way addiction lives and breathes in people. I remember telling myself, ‘I will never let that happen to me.’ Fast forward to 17, and I’ve fallen head over heels for someone so intoxicating and all-consuming that it hurts. In writing this song, I realised that what I felt for them acted more like my mother’s relationship with smoking than love. And just as I had witnessed in her, I could not let go of it. I knew how bad it was for me, but I just couldn’t put it down. Eventually it began to burn away my soul, and I knew I had to make the decision… loving me meant letting him go.” Shanleigh Rose

The track draws inspiration from the raw, honest songwriting of Melody Moko and Fanny Lumsden—particularly Moko’s “Like Hank Would” and Lumsden’s “Fallow.” Having Michael Muchow, a producer closely connected to both artists, at the helm made the experience feel serendipitous.

“It is a really different direction to any of my previous releases, but I’m just in love with this track… it’s the most ‘me’ song I think I’ve ever put out.” Shanleigh Rose

“Shanleigh Rose has a gift for songwriting that is both vivid and personal. With ‘Like My Mama Loves Tobacco,’ she doubles down on that gift, delivering a take on dependency that feels innocent and mature in the same breath—much like Shanleigh as an artist.” Melody Moko

An enchanting storyteller and captivating performer, Shanleigh Rose has quickly established herself as a formidable force in Australian music. With songwriting at the heart of her artistry, she continues to enthral audiences and earn critical acclaim for her evocative lyricism and idiosyncratic yet memorable melodies. Her songs transport listeners into vivid emotional landscapes, while her hooks linger long after the final note.

Her growing list of accolades includes JMC Academy Songwriter Award Runner up (2023), Tamworth Songwriters Association John P. Toomey Commemorative Award for Youth Songwriting (2023), CCMA Junior Songwriter of the Year (2023) and Tamworth Songwriters Association Lyrics-Only Award (2025)

Shanleigh’s rise began with her 2023 win at the NAB Gympie Muster Junior Talent Search, launching a series of standout achievements. She has since performed at major festivals across Australia, including the Gympie Music Muster, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Monkerai Big Country Campout, and Maleny Music Festival.

Her growing Spotify catalogue has surpassed 100,000 streams across ten diverse single releases. In 2025, her self-written and directed music video for “We’re Not Friends” was broadcast on CMT Australia. Most recently, she opened for Fanny Lumsden on her 2026 tour at Brisbane’s iconic venue, The Triffid.

With ethereal vocals, compelling songwriting, and a quietly magnetic stage presence, Shanleigh Rose continues to captivate audiences nationwide. Grounded, authentic, and emotionally fearless, she stands out as an artist committed to truth-telling and artistic growth in an ever-evolving industry.

Shanleigh Rose’s new single “Like My Mama Loves Tobacco” is serviced to radio on Monday 18th May and digital services on Friday 22nd May.

Serviced to radio by Music2Media with PR via Little Sparrow PR
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