Jay Santilli Is Turning Setbacks Into Songs On 'HEART'

Fresh off a major publishing deal and an APRA nomination, Jay Santilli is wearing her heart on her sleeve: “There were so many moments I almost gave up on this dream. Thank you to the people who kept my heart in it.”

Jay Santilli

Jay Santilli is making the most of a year that's quickly becoming a career-defining one

Set to release her new EP HEART this Friday, this will be Santilli’s first major project since signing a global publishing deal with Community Music and earning a 2026 APRA AMCOS nomination for Most Performed Country Work for TROUBLE, her collaboration with Tori Darke.

Led by current radio single Home To You - sitting at number 38 this week on the Countrytown Hot 50 this week - the five-track EP sees Santilli diving deeper than ever into her own story, touching on the ups and downs of chasing a dream, navigating relationships and learning to trust herself along the way.

"'HEART' is about holding onto your dreams, backing yourself through the setbacks, and appreciating the people who support you along the way," says Santilli. "It's a snapshot of where I've been and where I'm heading."

The project was produced primarily by Nashville producer Noah Needleman, whose credits include work with Brett Young, Colbie Caillat and Gavin DeGraw. Across the EP, Santilli also teamed up with a talented group of songwriters including Jesse Dozzi, Ben Wagner, Morgan Johnston and Michael Mumford.

While HEART reflects on the journey so far, it's also a clear sign of where Santilli's career is heading. Over the past few years, she has steadily built a reputation as one of Australia's emerging country talents, earning support across radio and streaming platforms while sharing stages with artists including Kaylee Bell, Taylor Moss, Wade Forster and Andrew Swift.

The release also marks just the beginning of a busy chapter for the singer, with a second EP already slated for release later in 2026.

“There were so many moments I almost gave up on this dream. Thank you to the people who kept my heart in it.” Says Santilli

For Santilli, HEART feels like both a milestone and a launching pad - a collection of songs about chasing big dreams, backing yourself and figuring things out along the way.

HEART will be available on all streaming platforms from June 12.