Cooktown was treated to an exclusive release of Ella Hartwig’s debut album on 30 August, a fitting spot given the 13-track offering is dedicated to her hometown. Photo: Callum Johnston Films.
Cooktown-bred musician Ella Hartwig says she is still on cloud nine after a full-house launch of her debut album at the Sovereign Resort Hotel on Friday night.
The singer exclusively performed and released her 13-track album CD in her hometown on 30 August before it goes live digitally in the coming months.
Ms Hartwig currently resides in Brisbane following her dreams as a singer and songwriter, but told Cape York Weekly she felt it was important to share the album first with the town and people that raised her.
“It was just amazing to come back and sing the songs in the place I wrote them about,” she said.
“I’m 21 now and I’ve had 10 years of experience writing songs; I first played on a stage when I was like 12 years old, and I wouldn’t have gotten that living in the city.
“I’m so grateful that I’ve had those kinds of opportunities, and so it made sense to share it with my hometown first, because these are the people that have watched me grow up.”
Ms Hartwig said the support from her community was “overwhelming and beautiful”.
“I was worried that there wouldn’t be people there, and I don’t know why, because it wasn’t true at all,” she laughed.
“I called up for a table for my mum and dad, and it was the last table that we could book, and it just felt so good.
“People were screaming my songs at me and dancing – without it sounding too cliched, my heart is so full.”
