Melburnian indie-roots singer-songwriter Brad Ellis — aka The Hunter Express — is previewing his impending debut EP, Bluestone Lane, with the first taste from the release in the form of their warm, laid-back new single Hoping You Don't Mind, the video for which is proudly being premiered by The Music today.
The vintage-tinged, at-ease, largely acoustic jam features ambling, rolling instrumentals and lilting, gentle vocals delivered with a distinct storyteller flair; this strong narrative sense is a hallmark of the wider EP, with central creative figure Ellis acknowledging in biographic material that each track on the upcoming release is infused with a story "grown from real life".
Hoping You Don't Mind comes along with a fittingly relaxed clip, following actress/dancer Skye Korvin taking a rural drive and getting in touch with the beauty of Australian nature, checking out the pom-pom offerings at some small-town markets and taking a dip at a watering hole out bush; basically, it looks like a beautiful, unhurried day out, and it encapsulates the aural vibe of the song itself sublimely.
The EP was recorded at North Melbourne's Newmarket Studios under the guidance of engineer and producer Callum John Barter (Dan Sultan, Fraser A. Gorman), with Steve Smart (Vance Joy, Kasey Chambers) conscripted for mastering.
Bluestone Lane will be released on Saturday 22 October; pre-orders are available now.
The Hunter Express will launch the EP with a show at Gasometer (upstairs), also on 22 October. See the artist's Facebook page for more details.
