PREMIERE: Harvey Russell - 'Look Me In The Eye'

Australian country singer Harvey Russell is premiering his new track, Look Me In The Eye, on Countrytown today.

A troubadour that can attract listeners who enjoy the storytelling of Paul Kelly, John Mellencamp and more, Russell effortlessly infuses traditional country with Americana music.

Led by an engaging, heartfelt acoustic guitar, Russell comes in with the suggestion we all need to hear: “Don’t forget to take tomorrow with you / It’s a real dry line”. A storyteller at heart, Russell’s singing tells a tale over Aaron Langman’s pedal steel and electric guitar.

Russell and his band, The Widowmakers – Langman, bassist Jonathan Kelly, drummer Rich Burrows, and backing vocalist Michael Carpenter, had Look Me In The Eye produced and mastered by Carpenter at the House Studio in Sydney and came up with a timeless, lush song that we won’t be forgetting any time soon. You can listen to Look Me In The Eye below.

Russell explains that Look Me In The Eye surrounds the modern nature of societal division. “We/society are at risk of losing our way,” he said in a statement. “I wanted to question whether we’re up to the challenges and the demons we face.”

Look Me In The Eye follows Russell’s recent singles, Honey Come Back To Me and Last Dance, and his 2019 debut album, Liquid Damage. Last Dance featured in a Countrytown New Music Wrap-Up earlier this year.

In April, it was revealed that Russell had signed to Matt Ward’s independent record label, Heartland Music Australia.

“I established Heartland Music Australia to create a safe, dedicated and long-term home for Australian Country and Americana songwriters in Australia,” Ward explained in a statement.

As well as Russell, artists Amber Rae Slade and Nathan Seeckts were the first signees to Heartland. Ward added, “Heartland Music Australia is excited to be on the cusp of releasing some outstanding new Australian country and Americana music.

“In the longer term, HMA will provide opportunities for both established and emerging talent to navigate the increasingly complex world of digital music releases.”