Emerging country singer-songwriter Austin Mackay has released his highly anticipated new single, Worth the Wait. This energetic country/rock anthem, which also serves as the title track of his forthcoming EP, is an introspective tribute to the perseverance it takes to overcome life’s challenges.
As the fourth single from his upcoming EP, set for release on October 4th, 2024, Worth The Wait builds on Austin Mackay's reputation for blending evocative storytelling with dynamic instrumentation. This release follows a successful 16-date regional Australian tour, where Austin won the hearts of audiences across the country. Additionally, he recently showcased his talent with two stellar BIGSOUND showcases in Brisbane and is preparing for a run of Australian music festivals, including an exciting performance at Howlin' Country alongside international country music star Tyler Childers.
Congratulations on the release of Worth the Wait! Can you tell us what inspired the creation of this song and why you chose it as the title track for your upcoming EP?
"This song came about mid-way through last year. I had just finished up a pretty hectic touring schedule and found myself at home bored and struggling to find ways to fill my time. I was dealing with quite a bit of head noise, and found myself doubting that I was getting any further along in my career as a musician.
I remember deeply questioning if it had been worth the years of hard work, sleepless nights and stress that comes with the job title, and that’s when the first line of the song just fell into my lap “Is it worth the wait, just to see how much it takes? Got a weight up on my shoulders and a boredom that I just can’t seem to shake” This song is an ode to perseverance and hard work, and in a very fun and uplifting way, it sums up my life perfectly over the past few years. This song has a little mix of everything else the EP has to offer, so it was really a no brainer when choosing it as the title track."
Take us through your songwriting and recording process for Worth The Wait. Did the track evolve throughout the writing and recording journey?
"I knew from the start that this song was going to be something special, and honestly, it took me a good six-eight months of chipping away to finish it, mainly because I felt as if there was always something missing. I was driving around my hometown one day when the bridge idea came to me. I started singing the lines “i’m hopin’ i’m a little, hopin’ i’m a little” over and over and over again. I honestly couldn’t get it out of my head. About a month later I took this song into the studio with the one rule “make this one fun”, and throughout the studio process we watched this song naturally blossom into the foot-stomping, crowd-singing anthem that you hear today."
You’ve described Worth the Wait as a reflection of your personal journey with anxiety and industry pressures. How did writing and recording this track help you navigate those feelings?
"From the get go, this song was a really fun way to navigate what I was thinking and feeling. It has this bouncy, uplifting feel, which for me, lightens the lyrical content. I tend to be quite honest in my songwriting and this one was no exception. I still remember just jotting down whatever randomly came to my head (my state of boredom, my lack of inspiration, my hate for hard conversations etc). It really opened my eyes up to the fact that honest songs don’t have to be sad all of the time."
What advice would you give to other young artists dealing with the pressures of the music industry, especially those facing personal challenges such as anxiety?
"1. It comes in waves. There’s going to be days where you feel unstoppable, at the top of your game, like everything is coming together. Then come the days where you’re down in the dumps, thinking that your art sucks, feeling like you’re getting absolutely nowhere. It always comes back around, both sides of it.
2. Don’t let the value of your work get sifted in the hands of others. The external success of a song or a project is completely out of our control. Don’t get me wrong, we can work hard to give it a leg-up, but ultimately we can’t dictate how the world is going to feel about our art. The one thing we can control, however, is the way we feel about it."
This is the fourth single from your upcoming EP (out Oct 4th). How does Worth the Wait connect with the rest of the songs on the EP in terms of themes and sound?
"As I touched on prior, ‘Worth The Wait’ has a little sprinkle of everything that this EP has to offer. It’s got that classic AM folk/rock sound, paired with a couple of hard-hitting lyrics. In its own uplifting way, it sums up the themes of struggle, perseverance, self-discovery, love, loss and faith that the foundation of this EP was built upon."
With the release of your EP coming up in October, what are your hopes for how listeners will connect with this body of work?
"If these songs can help even one person to feel a little less alone, or a little more heard, then my job is done. I don’t get to write music like this without learning lessons of my own first. We are all human, and we all fuck up from time to time. I just hope these songs can help people come to terms with that."
You’re about to hit some major Australian music festivals, including Howlin' Country with Tyler Childers. What can fans expect from your upcoming live performances?
"Gosh, it’s pretty bonkers to think about! We have put together a brand new live show for these festivals. It’s a pretty fun time if I do say so myself. There’s lots of new songs and stories, and a few old favourites in there too! But honestly, the band is on fire right now. There’s so much energy up there on that stage, you can’t not shake your hips."
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