SHANLEIGH ROSE RELEASES STRIKING NEW Folk-Country SINGLE “LIKE MY MAMA LOVES TOBACCO”
Rising Australian country-folk storyteller Shanleigh Rose delivers a bold and evocative new single with “Like My Mama Loves Tobacco”—a track that lingers long after the first listen.
Sitting in the fragile space where love and dependency collide, “Like My Mama Loves Tobacco” explores the emotional complexity of holding onto something that still feels like home. Between fields left fallow and the quiet weight of generational addiction, Shanleigh leans into truth over resolution—offering a raw, unfiltered reflection on emotional attachment. Backed by Tamworth Songwriters Association award-winning lyricism and deeply vulnerable vocals, the folk-country ballad captures a feeling many recognise but rarely articulate.
“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
Drawing inspiration from the candid, deeply human songwriting of Melody Moko and Fanny Lumsden—particularly Moko’s “Like Hank Would” and Lumsden’s “Fallow”—the track also benefits from the guiding hand of producer Michael Muchow, whose close ties to both artists bring a sense of creative alignment to the project.
“It is a really different direction from 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.
Multi-award-winning Melody Moko adds:
“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.”
An enchanting storyteller and captivating performer, Shanleigh Rose continues to establish herself as a formidable force in Australian music. With songwriting at the core of her artistry, she has built a growing audience drawn to her evocative lyricism and memorable melodies.
In 2026, Shanleigh expanded her Spotify catalogue, surpassing 100,000 streams across 10 singles, reflecting her steady rise and opening opportunities to perform and work alongside industry greats. Fanny Lumsden, on her 2026 tour, including a standout performance at the iconic Brisbane venue The Triffid with Shanleigh, with the calendar slowly filling up, further cements her reputation as a compelling live act.
With “Like My Mama Loves Tobacco,” Shanleigh Rose doesn’t just tell a story—she invites listeners to sit inside it. It’s intimate, confronting, and unmistakably authentic, marking a powerful new chapter for one of Australia’s most promising voices. Col Finley – Music 2 Media.
See Shanleigh Rose Live
May 24th – The Linville Hotel – Linville, QLD
May 29th – The Maleny Show – Maleny, QLD
Jun 27th – Hotel Radnor – Blackbutt, QLD
July 4th – Gravel & Flannel Festival – Wondai, QLD
July 11th – Radnor Hotel – Blackbutt, QLD
July 17th – Farm to Table – Toowoomba, QLD
August 28th & 29th Gympie Music Muster, Amamoor Stat