Robbie MortimerIf you’re keen to know who might be Australia’s next wave of country talent, look no further than Robbie Mortimer. It’s a name you’re about to hear a lot more of.
The rising country artist is lining up for a big 2026. Kicking things off today with the release of his anticipated EP Notes From A Very Loud Mind.
Leading the charge is the project’s first single, Might Be The Night, which dropped a few weeks ago and is already shaping up to be a festival anthem.
Mortimer explains of the new single “A deliberate statement of who I am right now as an artist and a frontman. It was written with the live stage in mind, especially high-energy environments like CMC Rocks, where songs are meant to be felt together - loud and in the moment.”
That focus on the live experience will get a serious test next weekend, with Mortimer set to make his debut at the career milestone festival CMC Rocks QLD. Performing on both the Tailgate and Rebel stages, Mortimer will put his new material to the test in front of one of the country’s biggest country music crowds.
And if you’re wondering where that sound comes from, we’re also diving into the five country artists who helped shape Robbie Mortimer’s musical DNA.
5 COUNTRY ARTISTS THAT INSPIRED ROBBIE MORTIMER
Zac Brown Band
In 2018, I flew to Mexico to watch Zac Brown Band and gained access to a Q&A with Coy Bowles, lead guitarist for the band. I had a decision to go to the swim up bar with my mates, or attend this Q&A, and the decision to not attend the bar changed my life.
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After learning how far I’d come to see them perform, Coy loved that I was into music and was so heavily inspired by them and their sound. Coy stayed in touch and made me promise I’d send him a signed CD of my debut album when I finished it (a CD I later found out my mum purchased most of the copies of and gave to her friends… thanks Mum).
I stayed in touch with Coy and have since been lucky enough to stay with him and his family each time I head to the US. Through that, I’ve gotten to know him and the band on a personal level. I’ve learnt what it takes from real professionals, not only musically but also how to be a leader and how to truly connect with fans. I love the humility the band has and how they’ve stayed in their lane and never conformed. Still to this day I speak to Coy a few times a week, and he’s become one of my best friends as well as a mentor in the industry. Their music is raw and real, and I have so many special life memories connected to their soundtracks.
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson was the first US country act I ever saw live. I watched him the same week I watched my brother win a grand final for the Roosters in 2013 - it’s a week I’ll never forget.
I love the storytelling in his music. It’s raw, honest, and 90s country just does something different for me. I have special memories growing up listening to Alan Jackson cassettes and CDs pouring out of Dad’s old Land Cruiser speakers as we drove around the farm. He was one of the first artists where I really paid attention to the stories in the songs, and a lot of what he was singing about resonated with the lifestyle I was living.
What I admire most is that the music always comes first. I feel like Alan Jackson would be just as happy singing in a dive bar as he would in a stadium as long as he was singing country music. I love that.
Mack Geiger
I love an underdog story. I love seeing people win who aren’t necessarily expected to win and I mean that with the utmost respect to Mack Geiger. He’s proof that the song is always the most important part. In a world of social media and other factors, if a song connects with fans - you’ll always prevail. Mack is living proof of that.
Seeing Mack’s numbers rise to become one of the most streamed Aussie country artists, provides me with a lot of faith of country music domestically. I have listened to a few of his unreleased tracks and it’s crazy to see what is about to happen for him on his journey. He’s kind, polite, and his songs are rare in the sense that they really cut through.
His voice is unmatched, and he has a certain swagger about him that I’m not even sure he realises he has yet. I just love seeing Aussies win, and I’m proud to be cheering on a fellow Australian. I honestly haven’t been this excited about an artist in a long time.
Morgan Wallen
I nearly get embarrassed to tell people how much I love Morgan Wallen. I think Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous album is one of the greatest albums ever written. It helped me through a tough time when the world was shut down during COVID and I was craving connection with people. Instead, I’d head out to the family farm and spend time on the land listening to that album.
Then in 2022, the day Australia finally let people travel again, I booked a ticket to Tortuga with my brother and my best mate. We rode Harleys down to Key West and ended up standing in a crowd of 75,000 people, which felt totally illegal after an Aussie lockdown.
I watched Morgan walk out and start the show with Sand In My Boots. I remember standing there crying, then laughing at myself because it felt ridiculous but music is supposed to make you feel something. That album will always be tied to those memories for me. His voice is next level, and that record will always be special in my life.
Kaylee Bell
I’ll always remember being in Nashville when I had a couple of songwriters cancel on me. Kaylee Bell gave me the time of day even though I could tell she was busy. She respected the hustle and my willingness to work hard and gave a young Aussie kid some of her time. I think she saw a bit of herself in me. We had, and still have, that same fire in our eyes.
Over the years I’ve also leaned on Kaylee during some tough moments in my career, and she’s always graciously given me the time of day and offered honest advice when I needed it. I love that she’s a super mum juggling stardom and family life, and much like Mack Geiger she’s somewhat of an underdog, coming from a small town in New Zealand and carving her own path. I’ve always loved an underdog story.
You can stream Robbie Mortimer’s latest EP Notes From A Very Loud Mind on your preffered streaming service or grab a copy of the EP from Robbie Mortimer’s official website.
