# Brothers3

Brothers3 are an Australian country music band from Mudgee, New South Wales. The band consists of brothers Makirum, Shardyn and Tayzin Fahey-Leigh. In 2014, Brothers3 were the last contestant eliminated on the sixth season of The X Factor Australia.

## Early life

Brothers3 is made up of siblings Makirum, Shardyn and Tayzin Fahey-Leigh. Their mother Alita Fahey is also a singer, as well as a former actress and television reporter. The band's father Stephen died from a heart attack on 25 December 2006. Brothers3 also have two other siblings. They grew up on a farm in Mudgee, New South Wales surrounded by music because their farm had no regular electricity, television or running water. The brothers were home schooled through distance education.

## Career
### 2009–14: Formation and music releases

Brothers3 were formed as a present for their mother's 50th birthday. Their debut single "Road to Cargalgong" was released as a double A-side with the song "Where the Eagles Fly" on 30 November 2009. Brothers3's debut studio album, also titled Where the Eagles Fly, was released on 31 March 2010 by independent record label Hardrush Music. The album features 10 original songs that the band co-wrote on their farm in the New South Wales Central Western Slopes. Their second single "Christmas in Australia" was released as a double A-side with "A Christmas Song" in December 2010. "Lyrebird on the Roof" was independently released on 1 January 2011 as the lead single from Brothers3's second studio album Wattle Fire. The album was independently released on 29 January 2011.
The band's fourth single "Kelsey's Song" was independently released on 4 February 2011. It was later included on Brothers3's third studio album Australia, which was independently released on 1 December 2011. Their fourth studio album, Let It Drift, was independently released on 31 January 2013. Travelling and Favourites were released as Brothers3's fifth and sixth studio albums on 17 January 2014. The former features original songs, while the latter album includes a mix of original songs and covers. Brothers3's cover version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was released as a single from Favourites on 1 September 2014.

### 2014: The X Factor Australia

In 2014, Brothers3 successfully auditioned for the sixth season of The X Factor Australia, singing "Safe & Sound" by Taylor Swift. They received four yeses from the judges and progressed to the super bootcamp round of the competition. For the first bootcamp challenge, Brothers3 were paired up with another group from the Groups category to perform a song together for the judges. Brothers3 made it to the second bootcamp challenge, where they performed "Story of My Life" by One Direction to the judges and a live audience of one thousand. Brothers3 then progressed to the home visits round in Sydney and performed "Eternal Flame by The Bangles in front of their mentor Dannii Minogue and guest mentors Jessica Mauboy and James Blunt. They were originally eliminated by Minogue during home visits, but were later put forward as her wildcard and won the public vote, ensuring a place in the live finals—a series of eleven weekly live shows in which contestants are progressively eliminated by public vote. After the eliminations of Trill, Younger Than Yesterday and XOX during the first four weeks of the live shows, Brothers3 became the last remaining act in Minogue's category despite being just her wildcard. During the grand final decider show on 20 October 2014, it was announced that Brothers3 were the last contestant eliminated behind runner-up Dean Ray and winner Marlisa Punzalan.

#### Performances on The X Factor

denotes a performance that entered the ARIA Singles Chart. denotes eliminated.
| Show | Theme | Song | Original artist | Order | Result |
| Audition | Free choice | "Safe & Sound" | Taylor Swift | N/A | Through to super bootcamp |
| Super bootcamp 1 | Group performance | "Back for Good" | Take That | N/A | Through to super bootcamp 2 |
| Super bootcamp 2 | Solo performance | "Story of My Life" | One Direction | N/A | Through to home visits |
| Home visits | Free choice | "Eternal Flame" | The Bangles | N/A | Eliminated (Brought back as wildcard) |
| Week 1 | Judges' Choice | "Just the Way You Are" | Bruno Mars | 9 | Safe |
| Week 2 | Legends | "Always on My Mind" | Elvis Presley | 12 | Safe |
| Week 3 | Decades Challenge | "Happy Birthday Helen" | Things of Stone and Wood | 1 | Safe |
| Week 4 | Top 10 Hits | "Hey Brother" | Avicii | 5 | Safe |
| Week 5 | Latest and Greatest | "Pompeii" | Bastille | 2 | Safe (1st) |
| Week 6 | Rock | "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall" | Coldplay | 8 | Safe |
| Week 7 | Judges' Challenge | "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" | The Proclaimers | 1 | Safe |
| Week 8 | Aussie Week | "Amnesia" | 5 Seconds of Summer | 5 | Safe |
| Week 9 | Killer Tracks and Curveballs | "The Sound of Silence" | Simon & Garfunkel | 4 | Safe |
| Week 9 | Killer Tracks and Curveballs | "Que Sera" | Justice Crew | 7 | Safe |
| Week 10 (Semi-Final) | Power and Passion | "Best Song Ever" | One Direction | 1 | Safe |
| Week 10 (Semi-Final) | Power and Passion | "Massachusetts" | Bee Gees | 5 | Safe |
| Week 11 (Grand Final) | Audition song | "Safe & Sound" | Taylor Swift | 4 | Eliminated |
| Week 11 (Grand Final) | Duet | "Like a Drum" (with Guy Sebastian) | Guy Sebastian | 2 | Eliminated |
| Week 11 (Grand Final) | Winner's single | "The Lucky Ones" | Brothers3 | 7 | Eliminated |

### 2014–present: Brothers Never Part

On 24 October 2014, it was announced that Brothers3 had received a recording contract with Sony Music Australia. Their sixth overall single "The Lucky Ones", which would have been their winner's single if they had won The X Factor, was released on the iTunes Store that same day. It debuted at number 29 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Following the single's release, Brothers3 were dropped by Sony Music and signed with Warner Music Australia in 2015. The group's seventh single "Brothers Never Part" was released on 11 September 2015. Their seventh studio album of the same name will be released on 15 January 2016, and marks their first major label album release.

## Artistry

Brothers3 perform traditional country, folk and bluegrass music. Aside from singing, they write their own songs "about real stories, animals and the countryside". The band can also play the banjo, bass, clarinet, guitar, harmonica, keyboard, mandolin, and trumpet. Brothers3 cite Darren Cogan, John Williamson, Johnny Cash, Keith Urban, Miley Cyrus, Reg Poole, The Robertson Brothers, Slim Newton and Taylor Swift as their musical inspirations.

## Members
### Shardyn Fahey-Leigh

Shardyn Fahey-Leigh, born (1995-12-18) 18 December 1995 (age 29), is the eldest brother in the band. He cites Earl Scruggs, John Denver and Keith Urban as his musical influences. Aside from music, Shardyn has also pursued a career in acting and musical theatre. In 2002, he made a guest appearance in the season four episode "A Prefect Murder" of the Australian/American sci-fi television series Farscape. In 2006, Shardyn appeared alongside Hugh Jackman in the arena tour of The Boy from Oz, playing the role of a young Peter Allen. In 2008, Shardyn played the role of Wil in John Williamson's bush musical Quambatook. That same year, he made a guest appearance in the Australian soap opera Home and Away as Jamie Cooper, the son of Julie Cooper. The following year, he appeared in the season one episode "Bertie 1918" of the Australian children's television series My Place, playing the role of young magician Bertie. Shardyn left school early to attend university. Prior to entering The X Factor, he studied at the Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts.

### Tayzin Fahey-Leigh

Tayzin Fahey-Leigh, born (1996-12-23) 23 December 1996 (age 28), is the second-eldest brother. He cites country music and Queen as his influences. Aside from music, Tayzin has also pursued a career in acting. In 2002, he made a guest appearance in the season five episode "Bedtime Stories" of the Australian medical drama television series All Saints, playing the role of Brian Richards. In 2005, Tayzin appeared in the films Son of the Mask and Hell Has Harbour Views. In June 2011, he played the teenage Chad Morgan in the documentary film I'm Not Dead Yet. Tayzin left school early to attend university. Prior to entering The X Factor, he studied at JMC Academy in Sydney.

### Makirum Fahey-Leigh

Makirum Fahey-Leigh, born (1997-12-28) 28 December 1997 (age 27), is the youngest brother. He cites Guthrie Govan as his musical influence. Aside from music, Makirum has also pursued a career in acting and musical theatre. In 2008, he played the role of Pete in John Williamson's bush musical Quambatook. Makirum also appeared in the films Happy Feet (2006) and The Black Balloon (2008). In September 2011, he made a guest appearance in the twelfth episode of the Australian television drama series Crownies, playing the role of Brett O'Leary. Makirum left school early to attend university. Prior to entering The X Factor, he studied at the Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts.

## Discography
### Studio albums

List of studio albums :
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Album details | AUS |
| Where the Eagles Fly | Released: 31 March 2010 (Australia) Label: Hardrush Music Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Wattle Fire | Released: 29 January 2011 (Australia) Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Australia | Released: 1 December 2011 (Australia) Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Let It Drift | Released: 31 January 2013 (Australia) Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Travelling | Released: 17 January 2014 (Australia) Formats: CD, digital download | — |
| Favourites | Released: 17 January 2014 (Australia) Format: CD | — |
| Brothers Never Part | Released: 15 January 2016 (Australia) Format: CD, digital download | 11 |
| "—" denotes an album that did not chart. |||

### Singles

List of singles :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | AUS | Album |
| "Road to Cargalgong" / "Where the Eagles Fly" | 2009 | — | Where the Eagles Fly |
| "Christmas in Australia" / "A Christmas Song" | 2010 | — | — |
| "Lyrebird on the Roof" | 2011 | — | Wattle Fire |
| "Kelsey's Song" | 2011 | — | Australia |
| "Hallelujah" | 2014 | — | Favourites |
| "The Lucky Ones" | 2014 | 29 | — |
| "Brothers Never Part" | 2015 | — | Brothers Never Part |
| "We’ll Never Part" (Written by Ray McCoy) | 2019 | — | — |
| "—" denotes a single that did not chart. ||||

### Other charted songs

List of non-single songs :
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
| Title | Year | AUS |
| "Just the Way You Are" | 2014 | 98 |
| "Always on My Mind" | 2014 | 73 |
| "Happy Birthday Helen" | 2014 | 86 |
| "Hey Brother" | 2014 | 58 |
| "Pompeii" | 2014 | 91 |
| "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" | 2014 | 75 |
| "Que Sera" | 2014 | 42 |
| "The Sound of Silence" | 2014 | 48 |
| "Massachusetts" | 2014 | 87 |
| "Safe & Sound" | 2014 | 82 |

### Music videos

List of music videos :
| Title | Year | Director(s) |
| "Road to Carcalgong" | 2010 | Ross Wood |
| "Where the Eagles Fly" | 2010 | Ross Wood |
| "Leaving Home Now" | 2011 | |
| "Wattle Fire" | 2011 | Ross Wood |
| "Home Is Where the Heart Is" | 2012 | |
| "Australia" | 2012 | Justin J. Wood |
| "Convict Lady" | 2013 | |
| "Tiny's Mandolin" | 2013 | Alita Fahey |
| "Let It Drift" | 2013 | |
| "They Call the Country" | 2014 | |
| "The Lucky Ones" | 2014 | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Type | Award | Result (wins only) |
| 2009 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best New Artist | Won |
| 2010 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Country Composition Youth (Shardyn Fahey-Leigh) | Won |
| 2010 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Best Balladeer Song ("Leaving Home Now") | Won |
| 2010 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Best Country Blues Song ("Slow Joe Blues") | Won |
| 2010 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Best Rockabilly Song ("Where the Eagles Fly") | Won |
| 2011 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group | Won |
| 2011 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Most Promising Future Star | Won |
| 2011 | Australian Independent Music Video Awards | Best Country Music Video ("Where the Eagles Fly") | Won |
| 2011 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best Children's Country Song ("Tony's Farm") | Won |
| 2011 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Best Children's Country Song ("Tony's Farm") | Won |
| 2011 | Canberra Country Songwriting Awards | Best Rockabilly Song ("That Happy Feeling") | Won |
| 2011 | Tamworth Meet 'n' Greet Fans Choice Awards | Most Popular Independent Group/Duo | Won |
| 2012 | Tamworth Songwriters Awards | Children's Song of the Year ("Tony's Farm" (with Alita Fahey) | Won |
| 2012 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group or Duo | Won |
| 2012 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best Australian Heritage Song ("Australia") | Won |
| 2012 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best Alternate Country Song ("Country Vs. Rock") | Won |
| 2012 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best Country Swing Song ("Crowpecker Blues") | Won |
| 2012 | Canberra Country Music Awards | Best Folk/Australiana Song ("Convict Lady") | Won |
| 2013 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group | Won |
| 2013 | Australian Independent Music Video Awards | Best Country Music Video ("Tiny's Mandolin") | Won |
| 2014 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group or Duo | Won |
| 2014 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Album (Let It Drift) | Won |
| 2015 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group or Duo | Won |
| 2016 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Group or Duo | Won |
| 2016 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Song (Brothers Never Part) | Won |
| 2016 | Australian Country Music People's Choice Awards | Best Video Clip (Brothers Never Part) | Won |

### Country Music Awards of Australia

The Country Music Awards of Australia is an annual awards night held in January during the Tamworth Country Music Festival. Celebrating recording excellence in the Australian country music industry. They commenced in 1973.
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
| 2016 | Brothers 3 | New Talent of the Year | Nominated | |