Katie Jayne has entered her boldest era yet with her new single, Beer & Broken.
Officially released tomorrow (9 October), Countrytown is sharing an exclusive video premiere today. Beer & Broken comes from Jayne’s forthcoming album and was written and produced with the award-winning songwriting and production duo, MSquared (Michael Paynter and Michael Delorenzis).
For her return to the spotlight, Jayne has showcased her skills as an artist. Her latest track is an upbeat country anthem and, in an ultra-personal display, follows her journey to reach sobriety, celebrating the milestone after two years.
Directed by Blacklist Productions’ Jay Seeney, the music for Beer & Broken is cheeky and defiant, just like its artist. It’s set inside a rowdy country bar, with Jayne sharing her story straight to the camera while patrons drink, dance, and have fun around her – and so is she, and she didn’t need a drink to enjoy herself.
Discussing the subject matter behind her new single, Jayne said, “It’s been quite a wild ride being secretly sober for the last two years. I’ve had a lot of fun touring and playing rowdy country shows, even doing my first shoey with a Coke Zero (don’t tell the crowd!).
“I was worried at first that I wouldn’t have fun or that people would notice me not drinking, but it turns out I can party with the best of them, and no one even noticed! Releasing this song feels so cathartic, to come out publicly and get back on those country stages as an inspiration to all those out there who have been wondering the same thing I was: can I still be country without a drink in my hand? ’Cause the answer is absa-bloody-lootly.”
Check out the music video below.
To celebrate her new single, Katie Jayne recently caught up with Countrytown’s Kyle J. Kash for a candid interview about sobriety. See what they talked about below.
Countrytown: You've recently celebrated being 2 years sober this Monday gone, and were there to encourage my own sobriety journey. What was the moment that clicked where you decided that this was something you needed to do?
Katie: The moment I realised I needed to make a change was after a gig at Dirty Harry’s in Toowoomba. I’d been up early that morning making merch, then travelled for more than eight hours to get to the gig. I was already battling burnout, and I remember being so exhausted that I convinced myself the only way I was going to get through the show was to have a drink.
I ended up drinking too much and, thankfully, nothing bad happened. But I knew I’d pushed my luck. A few weeks later I was playing at the Deni Ute Muster, and I just couldn’t shake this feeling that my drinking had put my music at risk. I felt like I’d let myself and the people around me down.
That was the moment I knew I had to stop avoiding it and actually face what was happening. It’s kind of cool looking back now, though. My last drink was at the iconic Deni Ute Muster, which feels like a pretty fitting place to have closed that chapter.
Countrytown: The power of privacy and visibility are both the integral to your story and to people in public life, what were the considerations you had choosing to have a private journey through sobriety and celebrating with a public disclosure now?
Katie: I chose to make this a private journey because I was scared.
I was scared that it wouldn’t stick, but I was also scared that I wouldn’t belong anymore. Country music had always been so connected to drinking for me, and I needed to do this privately to prove to myself that I could still show up as the same person. I mean, it was my job to bring the party. That’s what I’m good at.
I worried that I wouldn’t be able to do that without drinking, and I was also scared that if venues and bookers knew I was choosing to be alcohol-free (which is so stigmatised), they wouldn’t want to book me anymore. So, I kept it to myself and gave myself the space to figure it out without everyone watching. Now, two years later, I have two years of proof that I can still bring the fun. In fact, I think I can do it even better with a clear head.
That’s why I feel ready to share it now. I’m not announcing something I hope I can do. I’m sharing something I’ve already done.
Countrytown: ‘Beer & Broken’ seems to touch on not just your experiences but many living the regional life. What is the message you hope to get out there to people who may be struggling with substance use, abuse or addiction?
Katie: I think the message is that you’re not alone, and it’s not something you need to be ashamed of.
I had to confront a few demons during this journey and undo a lot of the beliefs I’d picked up around alcohol and substance use. When something is so normalised around you, it can be really easy to convince yourself that you don’t have a problem. Especially in rural communities, where so many social events and celebrations revolve around alcohol.
I also have to shout out national charity Sober in the Country Ltd. They have spent 13 years now helping rural communities understand how and why it’s imperative that, regardless of our own drinking preferences, when we all simply make it #OK2SAYNO, and truly include and cater for everyone at events and pubs, lives are saved and changed. It is so simple and user-friendly.
Their Bush Tribe online peer support network has also been an incredible source of support for me to feel less alone while I was doing this privately.
What I have learned from them is simply normalising it when your mate says no thanks to a drink… that you don’t need to push them or ask questions. Just let them say no. You have no idea what someone might be going through.
For me, that’s really what I hope people take from ‘Beer & Broken’. You don’t have to be ashamed of where you are, and you don’t have to keep doing something just because it’s normalised around you.
Countrytown: You're no stranger to kicking up a good party at a venue or country music festival; how did choosing to experience this world we both inhabit change and stay the same through choosing to party as a sober cowgirl?
Katie: Honestly, I love it!
We can finish a gig at 2 am in a rowdy country pub, and packing down after a great show with a clear head always leaves me smiling. It’s like a high I never expected.
I have so much more energy, and I feel so much more connected to myself and the people around me. I still love the music, the late nights, the chaos and the atmosphere. None of that has gone away.
Going out sober, or even being in a bar late at night, was something I genuinely didn’t think I’d ever be able to do. But here I am, two years later, finishing gigs at 2 am, having a ball and remembering every minute of it!
Countrytown: We often hear that “farmers are doing it tough” pretty much since the dawn of industrialisation, so it's no wonder there's a culture to over-drink and over-spend when attending a country music festival; it provides a certain relief to the very real struggles of modern society. What changes would you like to see implemented in the ways we choose to celebrate and let down our hair at big festivals and venues?
Katie: I’d echo Sober in the Country’s call-to-arms that more choice for all in pubs and clubs is a game-changer and a win-win for all…
Going out and letting our hair down is probably one of the few luxuries we have left in this economy. We have some amazing festivals and events with an abundance of country stalls, food, bucking bulls, line dancing and all the things that make a great day out. But if I could add some genuinely good low-sugar, caffeine-free and non-alcoholic options to the drinks menu, I’d be in heaven!
I don’t think celebrating has to mean choosing between alcohol and a sugary soft drink. Give me something cold, fun and a little bit fancy, and I’m happy. I just wish more event hosts knew there are amazing profit margins in those options, too!
Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve actually been sneaking in my own drinks because bars can be pretty light on non-alcoholic and healthier options. I reckon there’s a massive opportunity for venues and festivals to make the non-alcoholic offering feel like part of the experience, rather than an afterthought.
Countrytown: Acknowledging you're an artist and not a physician or counsellor, what advice would you have for family and friends who want to support someone choosing to go sober, or even just having a break from alcohol?
Katie: I think the best advice I have is to try not to make it about you.
When I tell people I’m sober, the first response I often get is their story about why they don’t have an alcohol problem. I used to do the same thing, because when we see someone making a choice that we don’t feel equipped to make ourselves, I think we can feel the need to rationalise why we don’t need to make that same choice.
The best way to support someone is actually really simple. Just believe them when they say they need a break or they don’t want a drink. Don’t push it, don’t make them explain themselves and don’t take it personally.
You really don’t know what someone might be going through. Sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is just say, “No worries, what are you drinking instead?”
Countrytown: What were the reactions from people in your personal life to choosing to be alcohol free? Were there drawbacks? And what benefits did you find in the change as a hard-working artist on the grind?
Katie: Most people in my life were very supportive, although I could tell that my decision made some people who chose to enjoy alcohol a little uncomfortable. I think everyone was waiting for me to turn judgy or completely change, but that didn’t happen. I’m still me, and the relationships that have grown through this are really strong.
I haven’t experienced any real drawbacks yet, although because I’ve only recently come out publicly, there’s still a little part of me that worries my industry might decide I’m not the right fit for a rowdy gig now that people know I’m sober. I really hope that’s not the case, especially after spending the last two years proving to myself that I can still do the job.
I’ve spent a fair bit of time chatting with the founder of SITC (Shan), and she said attitudes now versus 13 years ago, when she really took this conversation head-on, are chalk and cheese, and that tremendous change and evolution is happening, finally!
The personal benefits, though, to me, have been huge. My energy is probably the biggest one. I barely experience burnout now, and I’m able to work harder than I could before. My nervous system feels so much calmer, and I’m taking bigger risks in my career and in life. I also rarely get sick anymore, which is absolute gold for a vocalist! Touch wood.
Countrytown: Do you have any final words for people feeling sober-curious that you'd like to add?
Katie: Look, I say embrace it! It’s kinda in fashion at the moment, which I’m so grateful for. I think this would have been a very different conversation if it was 10 years ago. Sober is cool now, ha ha!
But seriously, if you’re struggling, there are some great resources out there. Check out Sober in the Country Ltd at soberinthecountry.org or just have a Google of some sobriety influencers. You’re not alone, and you really, honestly don’t have to drink to have fun.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know myself over these last few years without numbing away my true sparkle. I feel more like myself than I ever have.
And this new song isn’t the end of the conversation either. There’s so much more coming, and I’m really excited to celebrate this next chapter with everyone.
I’m ready to shine.
