Career dreams: Christie Lamb and Stephanie Jansen. Picture: Jonathan Ng.
THE annual country music competition that turns musicians into stars will feature two Camden artists for the second consecutive year.
Stephanie Jansen, 23 and Christie Lamb, 20, are up against 13 other ambitious musicians in the Toyota Star Maker at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
But the two girls insist they are anything but rivals.
"It's a strange feeling when your friends and colleagues are vying for the same thing," Jansen said. But it's not that competitive because you need each other too much.
"If your competitive streak was too big you couldn't survive in the industry.
"This year I'm taking it in a different light and I'm just going out and doing my thing.
The competition has produced a number of recognised artists since its inception in 1979.
Lee Kernaghan, James Blundell, Keith Urban, Gina Jeffreys and Samantha McClymont have all had their names etched on the winners list.
Lamb said to win the award would be a big boost in pursuing a professional music career.
"Other winners have used this competition as a right of passage," Lamb said.
"If you win people automatically want to take you on. It's a stepping stone to becoming a professional."