Long Live The Reckless: Robbie Mortimer’s New Track Is For The Misfits Who Matter

When I sat down with rising country artist Robbie Mortimer, it didn’t take long to see just how personal his new single Long Live the Reckless really is. The track, a powerful anthem dedicated to the misunderstood and unwavering, was born from a moment of reflection at a funeral for a close friend, a moment that would end up reshaping Robbie’s perspective on community, loyalty, and the kind of people who’ve carried him through life.

“Standing there, surrounded by the people who’d shaped my life, maybe a little rough around the edges to some but warriors to me, I realised just how lucky I am to have them in my corner,” he shares. “One of them turned to me and said, ‘If you make it, we all feel like we’ve made it.’ That stuck with me. That’s what this song is about.”

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Long Live the Reckless is more than just a tribute, it’s an amped-up celebration. “It’s a toast to the fighters, the dreamers, the ones who never quit,” Mortimer explains. “I wanted to make something that hits hard both sonically and emotionally. Something real.”

Authenticity is at the heart of Mortimer’s creative process. After what he describes as “a lot of soul-searching,” he’s committed to only releasing music he believes in. “You can’t beat the game, not in this industry,” he says. “There’s no shortcut, no get-rich-quick scheme. Just hard work. So I’ve bunkered down, I’ve done the work, and I’m really proud of what’s coming.”

That work took him to the USA recently, on a songwriting trip that became a defining turning point in his career. “I’d been writing every day out of my garage at home, and I just hit a wall. I needed to shake things up,” he tells me. His journey started in South Carolina, where he wrote with hitmaker Wyatt Durrette (Zac Brown Band, Luke Combs). “It was stripped back, just a boat ride, a guitar, and a notebook. No pressure, just pure creativity. I needed that.”

From there, he headed to Atlanta, where a Pearl Jam show with Coy Bowles of the Zac Brown Band sparked more inspiration, before diving into full-time writing in Nashville. “I’ve been five times, but this trip felt different,” he says. “I walked in knowing exactly who I am and what I want to say. I wasn’t second-guessing anything.”

That confidence was cemented by writing sessions with Matt McKinney, a Nashville collaborator Mortimer now counts as a close friend. “We wrote songs that feel honest and real. There’s meaning behind every line.”

While Mortimer’s American inroads are growing strong, he’s still fiercely proud of the Australian country music scene. “The people I’ve met in the U.S. really care about the music and the mission. But coming home reminded me of how incredible our own community is and what we’re building here is just as special.”

With Long Live the Reckless now out in the world, Mortimer isn’t just chasing a dream anymore. “This is my full-time life. I treat it with respect and hustle. But I’ve never lost the love for it.”

And as far as what’s coming next? “I’m just getting started.” he smiled.