Casey Barnes’ punchy tunes—an irresistible mix of country roots with bright pop and rock production—have made him one of Australia’s most dynamic acts. Born in 1978, in Tasmania, Barnes put out a handful of albums in the late 2000s and early 2010s and appeared on season seven of Australian Idol. However, his momentum really started picking up around the release of his 2018 record, The Good Life. Songs like the seductive “Just Like Magic” and the explosive, romantic “Be Mine” offered up playful country-pop with just a touch of twang, saddling banjos alongside synths. In 2020, Town of a Million Dreams further filled out Barnes’ sound as he opted for sophisticated production on tracks that embraced big, rocking riffs (“Heartbreaker”), sentimental balladry (“No Other You”), and elements of trap and hip-hop (“Sparks Fly”).