Latest News
Spotlight On…..Al Carr

Al Carr started playing in Sydney bands in the late 90s before a move to Melbourne in 2006 led to the start of a solo career that began in 2013 with his self-titled EP (featured guest appearances from Davey Lane (You Am I) and Louis Macklin (Jet), followed by the albums Gutter Truth (2017) and Empty Skies (2021) which included pedal steel by Shane Reilly (Lost Ragas).
Now Carr backs up those releases with his strongest set of recordings to date, the exquisite, diverse and poetic album The Right Dereliction.
“Al Carr is able to cross country and rock music with ease with a sensibility that evokes a road trip across regional Australia. His rich emotional voice always does it for me.”
Crispi, Radio City on PBS
The first taste of the new album was the single ‘The Rose of Jericho‘, which premiered on Radio City on PBS and online with Backseat Mafia. It’s a song that rides on a gently propulsive rhythm section. It’s a rock song in the way that Tom Petty writes rock songs – richly melodic with a widescreen atmosphere and spiralling, jangling country-rock guitars. Carr pushes and pulls his vocal with a strain of warm and emotive melancholy.
Now Carr turns the spotlight to the album’s opening track ‘Sinking Moon‘, the song that he considers the centrepiece of the record.

“This is the song around which the rest of the tracks were built,” Carr explains, describing the song as “words of advice, take it or leave it, forewarning from one friend to another, with a Fender Rhodes providing some sparse melodic accompaniment.”
It’s a song that thrives on an unhurried strum, some tasteful lead guitar work, and the blend of Carr’s lead vocal and the backing of Simon Maiden. It’s the perfect example of Carr finding the balancing point between alt-country and classic singer-songwriter rock—nuanced, heartfelt and literate.
Latest News
Country HQ premieres “Pure As The Flame”, the new single from Harvey Russell

On March 1st 2024, Harvey Russell will release his second solo album via Heartland Music Australia. Today he releases the slow-burning title track ‘Pure as the Flame’, and Country HQ is proud to be the first to share it.
Harvey Russell rounds out 2023 with the fourth single from his forthcoming new album, due on March 1st. The title track ‘Pure As The Flame’ finds the Sydney alt-country songwriter exploring a more atmospheric, swaying and intimate sound, enhanced by a lilting violin and the evocative strains of Aaron Langman’s pedal steel.

Russell sings, ‘It rises like a wave and breaks with relief / The right to your silence and the thrill of a thief’ as he places himself inside the mind of a kleptomaniac and the feeling of relief and euphoria they feel when they give in to an impulse or addiction.
“I’m often interested in what motivates people to act and how they attempt to find meaning in the world. ‘Pure as the Flame’ depicts the short, fast burn of chasing an illusion that satisfies momentarily and then quickly fades away to devastating effect. It’s a clear tale of how inner conflict can lead to self-deception,” says Russell, reflecting on the song and why it also provided the title for his new album.
“I wanted to elevate this track in particular because I think we’re seeing quite a bit of this quick-hit, quick-fix attitude in the culture today, and I’m not convinced it’s all for the best.”
The new single is another fascinating side of a songwriter constantly seeking out new ways to document and convey the struggle and joy of the human experience.
Latest News
Spotlight On…..Ella Powell

Ella Powell is ending a successful year with the release of her brand new single ‘Country Love.’
This lighthearted, toe-tapping song shows what Ella does best, her country-inspired storytelling and catchy pop melodies.
Produced by Matt Fell and Shane Nicholson, this highly anticipated release is here just in time to add to your summer playlists!
At a very young age, Ella desired to be both a ‘cowgirl and pop princess.’ Growing up listening to a variety of artists, in her early teenage years, she began to blend Country, Pop and Folk genres together to create her own sound.
Fans of Taylor Swift, Kelsea Ballerini and Jewel will connect with Ella’s relatable lyrics and powerful vocals. Ella first became noticed within the music industry in 2019, where she won Peoples Choice Award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival, which was closely followed by her debut single release ‘Paper Town’ in 2020.
Since then, she has become a rapidly rising artist, with her releases being added onto major Spotify and Apple Music playlists, sitting on numerous music charts, being added onto ABC High Rotation as well as being named Triple J’s feature artist of the month.

With her streaming and radio plays going into the hundreds of thousands, particularly with the hits ‘Behind The Glass’ and ‘Along The Way,’ she is gaining fans from all around the globe.
Over the last few years, Ella has performed at numerous festivals, supported a variety of musicians, and headlined many sold-out shows.
Working with a long list of award-winning industry professionals, including Matt Fell, Shane Nicholson, Grammy-winning engineer William Bowden, and publicist Stuart Coupe, it is evident why she was named the National Junior Songwriter of the Year. Her future within the industry looks extremely promising, with her debut EP set to be released in 2024.
Latest News
Lucie Tiger’s Covers Tyler Childers For Latest Single ‘Shake The Frost’

Lucie Tiger’s latest single, Shake The Frost, marks a captivating departure from her recent releases. The title may ring a bell, as it was originally penned and performed by esteemed Kentucky-born singer-songwriter Tyler Childers. Lucie has held a special affinity for this song, making it a staple in her live performances for several years. It feels fitting that she unveils her rendition of it during her first Christmas season in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
For Lucie, “Shake The Frost” embodies a sense of nostalgia and a longing for change, an anthem of knowing that one can emerge from the darkness and ‘shake the frost,’ especially with the support of the right people. While the song may carry diverse meanings for different listeners, Lucie aspires to introduce it to a fresh audience. For those already acquainted with the tune, her added instrumentation amplifies the warmth and hope embedded in the lyrics.
Much like the songs that have influenced her, Lucie’s music is recorded organically, with all musicians collaborating in the studio, creating an authentic and vibrant sound. Performed by Lucie Tiger (acoustic guitar, vocals), Shake The Frost also features Bob Wray (bass), Brad Kuhn (keys), Will McFarlane (electric guitar), Justin Holder (percussion). Engineered by Colin Lott, produced by John Gifford III and mastered by Chris Bethea.

Lucie Tiger has some excellent runs on the board. Her self-penned song Gasoline won Country Blues Song of the Year 2021 and she’s the only independent Australian artist to have five singles on the MusicRow Country Breakout Chart plus four singles in the CountryTown Top 40 chart in Australia including Found My Home, Midnight Goodbye, Do Me Right, Right Next To You and Burn It Down.
Lucie’s April 2022 album Alabama Highway debuted at #14 on the ARIA Country Albums chart (Australia’s equivalent to the Billboard Country Albums chart) and #10 on the AIR (Australian Independent Record Label) Albums Chart. Lucie’s September 2022 acoustic album The Memphis Tapes recorded at the legendary Sun Studios, Memphis, debuted at #7 on the AIR Albums Chart.
Lucie Tiger has featured in Americana Rhythm Magazine (USA), Rhythms Magazine (Australia), CountryTown, Today’s Country Magazine, The Music, Country Music Capital News, Scenestr plus CMT Television and the television program Songwriters Across Australia. Her song Christmas In The South was listed as one of the 10 Best Australian Christmas Songs in 2022 and her songs are regularly in the Top 10 Australian Songwriter Awards 2022, where she’s been industry-nominated twice for the Rudy Brandsma Award for Songwriting Excellence by the ASA.
-
Latest News7 days ago
Country HQ premieres “Pure As The Flame”, the new single from Harvey Russell
-
Latest News2 weeks ago
Friends, Rodeos & Country Way Of Life For Will Day
-
Latest News3 weeks ago
Aldean Returns With Highway Desperado
-
Latest News4 weeks ago
Top Ten Announced For Star Maker ’24
-
Latest News7 days ago
Spotlight On…..Ella Powell
-
Latest News4 weeks ago
Schools Out For Lane Pittman
-
Latest News3 weeks ago
Time To Get Back On The Drink
-
Latest News3 weeks ago
Good Things From Kaylee Bell Set For Summer Anthem