Jayson Watkin’s new single, Northbound and Loaded, celebrates the unique lifestyle, scenery and characters of Cape York. Photo: Supplied.
There will be a new Cape York banger to add to your playlist when Portland Roads country musician Jayson Watkin releases Northbound and Loaded to the world on 24 April.
After an eight-year hiatus from writing, the Temple Cape York owner got the musical itch last year when a road trip from the Gold Coast to Lockhart River sparked inspiration.
In an early release heard by Cape York Weekly, the song featured plenty of nods to the unique scenes and characters of the Cape, from road trains ruling the red dirt roads to the remote misfits running the social scene.
Mr Watkin said it was a song all locals would be able to relate to.
“There is a plethora of one-liners in that song that everyone will be able to relate to, so I’m pretty excited about it,” he said.
“We’re a rare breed up here and we know it, and this song certainly personifies it, I think.
“I’m hoping it becomes the new Cape York anthem.”
The lyricist said his discography was inspired by genuine and honest life experiences, adding that for him, music was “about the story”.
“I’m a big believer in, you know, the best way that you can perform a song live is to be able to interpret it, because you’ve lived it,” he said.
“For me, that’s what it’s all about, and that’s what country music essentially is — it’s storytelling in music, and I’m trying to keep that alive.
“Today’s country music world has turned into a marketing machine, and it’s not necessarily about the lyrics anymore; it’s more about the visuals and all the cliches, so I try to avoid all that and just come up with genuine stuff.”
The song, which was produced by Thirsty Merc lead guitarist Matt Smith, will drop just in time for drivers heading up the Peninsula Developmental Road this dry season to add to their playlists.
Though Mr Watkin said there was not a huge emphasis on getting it out for the tourist season, he loved the idea of out-of-towners listening to the song and getting into the Cape York spirit.
“Any songwriter wants to hear their song being played on other people’s car stereos,” he said.
“It’s going to be an interesting year, tourism-wise, on the Cape this year, with this fuel stuff that’s going on.
“I’d like to think that if there’s some people down south that have had to defer their travel to Cape York, maybe they can live vicariously through this song and get pumped up for next year.”
Northbound and Loaded will be available to download on all music platforms on 24 April. Mr Watkin will also headline the Mungalli Muster in July alongside Australian country music legend James Blundell.
