Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single 'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-a e a d e dc

LayDee KinMee’s New Single ‘Here I Am’: An Anthem of Courage

Award-winning Entertainer Releases New Single and Music Video About Courage, Identity, and Owning Your Moment

Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-LAYDEE KINMEE
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The world doesn’t remember the people who waited their turn. It remembers the people who stepped forward. The people who took the risk. The people who believed in themselves before the rest of the world did. The people who chose authenticity over acceptance. The people who refused to let fear have the final word. The people who stopped asking for permission and finally said, “Here I am.”

That fearless declaration is the heartbeat of LayDee KinMee’s powerful new single, “Here I Am.” Known worldwide for powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and larger-than-life performances, LayDee has spent more than a decade captivating audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Europe. Many first discovered the award-winning entertainer following a memorable appearance on Australia’s Got Talent, where a show-stopping yodelling performance earned a standing ovation from all three judges and introduced audiences to one of the country’s most unforgettable perform.

Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-LayDee KinMee Logo Glitter - Edited

Now, the award-winning performer channels that same fearless spirit into a song that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. “One of my favorite things about ‘Here I Am’ is that everyone who wrote it interpreted it differently,” says LayDee. “That makes it a song people can truly make their own. At its heart, it’s about finding your light and finally stepping forward.”

Written alongside acclaimed Australian artists Bec Caruana, who has shared stages with artists including Kasey Chambers, Amber Lawrence, and Lyn Bowtell, and award-winning songwriter and producer Michael Carpenter, the song was born during the trio’s very first writing session together. “Bec brought Michael and me together to write for the first time,” explains LayDee. “‘Here I Am’ was already the title, and we each brought our own ideas about what those words meant until they became one story.”

For LayDee, the song became much more than another recording. “Writing this song felt like an awakening,” she says. “I’d been playing life pretty safely, and it reminded me that sometimes you have to step into the unknown to discover what’s possible.”

Produced by Michael Carpenter, “Here I Am” transforms that personal realization into an anthem for anyone standing on the edge of a new chapter, whether that’s chasing a dream, embracing who they are, changing careers, or simply finding the courage to believe in themselves.

That message continues in LayDee’s debut official music video, directed creatively by Sarah Maxwell and filmed by David Moussa of Sydney Classic. Rather than relying on elaborate storylines or a large cast, the visual keeps the focus exactly where the song intended. “The song is called ‘Here I Am,’ so what better person to have in the clip than myself?” says LayDee. “Instead of overcomplicating it, we literally shined a light on me. It felt like the perfect visual for what the song is saying.”

Filmed in David Moussa’s West Ryde studio, the video combines carefully planned imagery with spontaneous moments that capture LayDee’s personality. “The orange globe wasn’t planned at all,” she laughs. “It was sitting on a bookshelf, matched our colour palette, and ended up becoming one of my favourite shots in the whole clip. We had so much fun making it, and I hope people enjoy watching it as much as we enjoyed creating it.”

“We all have that inner self-doubt that can hold us back,” says LayDee. “We watch life pass us by while others chase the things we wish we had the courage to pursue. Life is about reaching for what you want, putting self-doubt aside, and making your dreams known.”

The message feels especially fitting coming from a performer whose entire career has been built on authenticity, individuality, and fearless self-expression. Portrayed by Jace Pearson, LayDee KinMee has become one of Australia’s most celebrated drag performers, earning multiple ACE Awards, MO Awards, and DIVA Awards while building an international career across festivals, theatres, cruise ships, television appearances, and major events around the world.

Many first discovered LayDee through Australia’s Got Talent, but the journey to becoming “The Yodelling Drag Queen” began much earlier. While performing at a theme park in Taiwan, LayDee taught herself to yodel between daily shows before later refining the technique with a vocal coach back home in Australia. That determination has become one of the defining traits behind every performance.

Standing 5’11” out of drag and nearly seven feet tall in full drag, LayDee has spent years proving that what makes you different is often what makes you unforgettable. “I hope people find this song empowering,” says LayDee. “I want people to know it’s never too late to make your mark. More than anything, I hope they have as much fun singing along to it as we had writing it.”

Because sometimes the most powerful thing a person can do isn’t wait. It’s stepping forward and saying, here I am.

For more information on LayDee KinMee and to follow her, please visit Website, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

About LayDee KinMee

LayDee KinMee is one of Australia’s most celebrated and distinctive drag entertainers, known for powerhouse vocals, magnetic stage presence, and a career that has taken her from local club stages to international festivals, cruise ships, television screens, and concert halls around the world.

Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-Copy of MJM

Portrayed by award-winning entertainer Jace Pearson, LayDee KinMee has spent more than a decade building a reputation as a world-class performer, captivating audiences throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe, and beyond. Whether hosting major events, headlining pride festivals, or delivering unforgettable live vocal performances, LayDee is renowned for creating genuine connections with audiences through humor, heart, and undeniable charisma.

Many first discovered LayDee following her memorable appearance on Australia’s Got Talent, where her unique yodelling performance earned a standing ovation from all three judges and introduced audiences to “The Yodelling Drag Queen.” Since then, she has gone on to become an award-winning entertainer, touring internationally and earning recognition through multiple ACE Awards, MO Awards, and DIVA Award nominations and wins.

As a recording artist, LayDee KinMee brings the same authenticity, theatricality, and vocal versatility that have defined her live career. Drawing inspiration from pop, country, cabaret,

musical theatre, gospel, and classic storytelling traditions, her music celebrates individuality, resilience, joy, and self-expression. Her releases blend larger-than-life entertainment with heartfelt messages, creating songs that are equally at home on a festival stage, pride celebration, or personal playlist.

Now entering a new chapter of her recording career, LayDee KinMee continues to expand her artistic reach while remaining true to the qualities that have made her a fan favorite for years: authenticity, connection, and the belief that every performance should leave audiences feeling a little brighter than when they arrived.

About Dead Horse Branding

Dead Horse Branding is an award-winning branding, PR, and marketing firm based in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 2015 by Melissa Core-Caballo and Rick Caballo, the company has built a reputation for shaping brands, elevating careers, and launching artists with impact.

Dead Horse Branding’s diverse portfolio includes projects like Baha Men’s “Who Let the Dogs Out,” Steven Tyler’s solo band LOVING MARY, Cyndi Lauper’s Detour album, the Bo Diddley Estate, Stone Country Records, Quartz Hill Records, Brown Sellers Brown, legendary Country Music Hall of Fame producer Tony Brown, multi-Grammy

Award-winning songwriter/producer Keith Thomas (Whitney Houston, Amy Grant, Mandy Moore, Jessica Simpson), Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer Aaron Pearce (Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion), Michael Jay (over 75 million records sold worldwide; Celine Dion, Martika, Eminem, Kylie Minogue), Buck Johnson (Aerosmith, Hollywood Vampires), NBC’s The Voice Team Adam Levine artist Bay Simpson, and Robert’s Western World. Dead Horse Branding also helped launch Velvet Stone Management in 2016, contributing to the O’Connor Band’s Grammy win for Best Bluegrass Album.

Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-image

Additionally, Dead Horse Branding developed the DH7 Educational Program, an accredited and recognized initiative, with 25% of its curriculum certified for U.S. schools. The program partners with acclaimed entertainment attorney Joel A. Katz (Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, George Jones) through his Music and Entertainment Business Program at Kennesaw State University—ranked by Billboard as a Top 5 Music Business Program in the USA, as well as Middle Tennessee State University, and Belmont University. Designed to bridge the gap between classroom education and real-world careers, the program empowers students with the skills to build and manage brands before they graduate.

Q MAGAZINE-LayDee KinMee’s New Single'Here I Am': An Anthem of Courage-Copilot

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