Words by Rebecca Gracie and Sue Camilleri
Katherine’s multi-awarded singer songwriter, Tom Curtain, celebrates the strength of rural communities in his latest single, ‘We’re Still Here’, inspired by the resilience he witnessed whilst touring through Queensland during the drought in late 2018, and again after the floods in early 2019 as he drove back to the Territory.
Tom was so moved by the devastation he saw, that he penned the beginnings of ‘We’re Still Here’.
“We were travelling through Central Queensland on the ‘Speak Up Tour’ and everything was in drought. It was terrible. And then, weeks later coming back through, it was heart breaking to see how the floods had decimated the land, the animals and affected the communities.”
Tom approached acclaimed producer Garth Porter with an invitation to co-write ‘We’re Still Here’ and this collaboration resulted in a sincere salute to those doing it tough and staying strong through adversity.
“I was very passionate about it and felt I had to get the message out there – these farmers and communities are facing all these hardships including droughts, floods and fires, and it is so soul destroying, but they are supporting each other and bouncing back, one foot in front of the other.”
Tom hopes that by acknowledging the severe setbacks and the fighting spirit he witnessed first-hand, ‘We’re Still Here’ will become an anthem for those needing positive recognition.
In addition to being an accomplished singer songwriter, Tomalso owns and operates the national award-winning Katherine Outback Experience, a tourist attraction based in the Northern Territory that celebrates life on the land through real horse-starting and working dog demonstrations, live music and humorous bush yarns.
We’re Still Here is released on August 20 and is the first single from Tom Curtain’s highly anticipated forthcoming album set for release in November 2019.
Media contact: Rebecca Gracie, The Country Journo
[email protected]| 0427 232591
