Far North Queensland singer-songwriter, Ella Hartwig's newest single is the infectiously energetic bop 'Western Star'.
A song about letting go – either to go on a travel adventure or relinquishing negative self-thoughts – inspiration for 'Western Star' arrived when Ella was herself travelling the open roads of rural Australia."I was driving along somewhere on the A1 Highway and a Western Star truck pulled up next to me. The line 'travelling next to a Western Star' came to me, and I wrote the song that night in a hotel room."
'Western Star' follows Ella's previous 2023 single 'Out Of Stone', another track showcasing her impressive songwriting ability and highlighting her as a country-folk artist to watch in the coming years.
A life growing up in FNQ's Cooktown, Hartwig has clocked up many kilometres travelling the regional to play standalone gigs as well as a stack of festivals. So she knows a thing or two about what to pack for those long-haul drives.
"Here are my five top tips for travelling in remote Queensland. Since I learned how to drive, I was always keen to take out dad's 4x4 and I absolutely love driving on the highway. Here's how I learned to navigate road trips, growing up in Cooktown the hard way."
CDs
Always bring more than one CD. They sometimes get stuck in old cars and Bluetooth might fail. . . or be non-existent! As much as we love some Lynyrd Skynyrd, when the one CD gets stuck in dad's old HJ47 Land Cruiser, it can make a road trip long.Snacks
Bring a little esky for snacks. It gets warm out there and roadhouse sangas can get quite pricey. Oh, and plenty of water.
Tough luck from the universe. Bring a shovel
If you bring a shovel or an extra plank of wood (my version of some MAXTRAX I could never afford) when going four-wheel driving, chances are you won't get bogged. However, if you go unprepared, that's the universe laughing at ya.Also, chances are you'll be somewhere out of range and that can be an adrenaline rush when you're fresh on your P Plates in remote Queensland!
Know how to change a tyre
Pretty glad that my dad made me know how to change a tyre on a 4x4 before going out on my own. Sometimes I had to get my whole foot on the tyre iron. Glad that I tour in my little i30 now.Maps
Always always check the map before you start driving. Chances are you'll need to know an exit or a turn, and if you're out of service then you might make a wrong one and add hours to your trip. . . (sorry Dan).Ella Hartwig plays It's Still A Secret (Brisbane) 10 December (from 4pm).
