Praised for her contemporary take on classic country sounds, Katie Brooke confronts her past on the reflective new single, ‘A Little Dirt’.
The new single follows on from the singer-songwriter’s provocative hit, ‘Can’t Fake That’. The country proud bop rose to #26 on the Country Songs Top 40 Australian Airplay Chart, and secured spots on Apple Music’s ‘Aussie Country’ and ‘Back Porch Country’ editorial playlists.
In ‘A Little Dirt’, Katie holds herself accountable to a murky past. “A Little Dirt is a radically honest song about facing and owning life’s regrets,” she shares. “I certainly have regrets, especially from my 20’s when I was still figuring it all out and getting to know myself as an adult. Whilst there are many things I’d change if I had the chance, I’m also a firm believer in divine timing and that everything we experience on our individual timeline has a higher reason and rhyme.”
Despite the gravity of her challenges, the songbird endeavoured to bring a lighter tone to a heavy theme. “I chose a lighter feel to the song, a bright melody, an uplifting chorus,” she explains. “This is a song of support for anyone who feels the very common burden of regret, and that “should’ve, could’ve” feeling that no one escapes in life.”
The recording session, led by long-time producer, Rusty Crook, featured legendary fiddle player Jason Roller – well-known as a Nashville session player, guitarist for Alabama and Staff Band and guitarist at the Grand Ole Opry.
The single’s music video is brimming with visual symbolism. Shot in a woolshed on the outskirts of Tamworth with Jeremy Minnett of Eyes and Ears Creative at the helm, the duo had to get creative to tell their story. “We thought it would be a great idea to grab a hand full of dirt and get a shot of it falling through my hands – NOT as easy as you’d think!” laughs Katie. “The ground was really hard and dry, so I found a nice piece of dried cow poo, crumbled it up and used it for dirt! Cow poo is something I’m very familiar with living on a farm so it didn’t bother me so much.”
Katie’s inspiring brand of country music earned her a Grand Finalist spot in the 2023 Listen Up Music Songwriting Prize and has led her to stages alongside some of the best in the biz – Shannon Noll, The Black Sorrows and earlier this year, Brooke McClymont & Adam Eckersley. Along with a slew of headline shows in the calendar for later in the year, the singer-songwriter will appear at Coffs Coast Country Music Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
If you’ve seen Katie Brooke perform, you’d know that her style is just as on point as her music. Offstage, the boho cowgirl is a stylist and ambassador for Wrangler, Pure Western, Thomas Cook and Twisted X Boots.
“A little dirt just makes me who I am” Katie sings self-assuredly in the song’s chorus. With ‘A Little Dirt’, Katie Brooke showcases her ability to blend vulnerability with an uplifting melody. Her honest storytelling, combined with a fresh yet timeless sound, is certain to resonate with listeners.
SHOW DATES:
Friday 11th October – Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore – NSW
Saturday 19th October – North Coast National Show, Lismore – NSW
Sunday 20th October – Sedgers Reef, Iiluka – NSW
Saturday 26th October – Coffs Coast Country Music Festival, Coffs Harbour – NSW
Saturday 16th November – Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore – NSW
Sunday 17th November – Sedgers Reef, Iiluka – NSW
Friday 13th December – Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore – NSW
Sunday 15th December – Crown Hotel, Grafton – NSW
Friday 24th January – Welder’s Dog, Tamworth – NSW