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PR Agent - Jules Delamare Wild Heart Publicity jules@wildheartpublicity.com Mitchell Steele spent his youth chasing cattle through the dust of the outback, breaking in horses by day and writing songs by firelight. Long before he stepped into a recording studio, he lived the life most country singers just write about. Mitchell grew up in Georgetown - a remote relic from the Gold Rush era, nestled in the heart of Far North Queensland. Here he learned the simple pleasures of rural living and bred a deep passion for working with horses, but music was always in his blood. His dad, a guitar-slinging cowboy with a permanent hat, was always singing. Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Willy Nelson and Johnny Cash were on regular rotation, instilling a love for classic country. As the youngest of six, Mitch was never short of a bandmate - it was his sister who showed him his first chords on a six-string. While their mother imparted an adoration for country music through a quirky Saturday morning ritual. “Mum would put on a Garth Brooks album (most likely a cassette tape), turn it up nice and loud and we kids knew it was time to clean the house,” reminisces Mitchell on his earliest memories with country music. “I would sing ‘The River’ at the top of my lungs as I tidied my room.” His mother became the inspiration behind the first song he ever wrote; one he performed to crowds at the Walkamin Country Music Festival talent quest at only 10 years old. It was a defining moment for the young songwriter, where he witnessed music’s inimitable power. “I noticed some people, including the judges, begin to cry. That's when I knew I could move people with my music. Songwriting was something I particularly felt curious about and I quickly fell in love with it.” But Mitchell’s path to the stage wasn’t linear. At 15, he packed his swag, saddle, and guitar, left boarding school, and rode straight into the world of station work. For years he worked on cattle stations across Australia, from Central Desert outposts to the tip of the Top End, mustering on horseback and motorbike, sleeping under stars, and learning the raw, unforgiving rhythms of the bush. These years shaped him - building grit, humility, and a deep connection to country life. “I have lived in my swag for months at a time, showered under a bucket with holes in the bottom or bathed in creeks (sometimes I couldn't shower for days!). I’ve fought bush fires and waded through flood waters in the dark to save livestock. I’ve been in hospital countless times for coming off horses, spider bites, even stitches when a scalpel got in the way of my fingers - luckily, I can still play guitar!” It was that same passion for horses that led him to audition for the Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast at 18. To his surprise, he landed the role and soon found himself performing for crowds of up to 1,000 people a night. Blending acting, riding, and country music, the show became Mitchell’s performance school. “I traded fencing pliers for a microphone,” he says. Over six years, and three productions later, he found his voice and his stage presence - an experience he calls one of the greatest of his life. All the while the songwriter in him was tinkering away. He won the Keith Urban Scholarship to attend Tamworth’s Academy of Country Music, where he met one of Australia’s most iconic voices, Kasey Chambers. “I was immediately taken by his incredible voice, honest songwriting, and dazzling personality - all within just one song,” she says. The pair began co- writing, which later snowballed into a series of sessions at Rabbit Hole Studios exploring and capturing his sound. Mitchell's music channels the spirit of '90s and early 2000s country - Keith Urban, Kasey Chambers, Garth Brooks, The Chicks, Brooks & Dunn - with a contemporary Australian twist. Reflecting on his upbringing, his songs are known for clever lyrics, heartfelt storytelling, and an expansive voice that can climb the high notes without losing its earthy timber. Live, Mitchell’s performances are honest and deeply connected. His look – stylish yet grounded, flamboyant but rugged – he’s a showman with saddle scars. Whether it’s a full house or a campfire crowd, he keeps it real. “There is strength in vulnerability,” he says. A vocal advocate for mental health - especially in rural communities - Mitchell draws from personal experience to remind his audience that no one has to go it alone. The singer-songwriter’s debut single, ‘Worn Out West’ – produced by Kasey alongside Brandon Dodd - sets jangly guitars against Mitchell’s hardy vocal, in a rootsy take on modern country. The single is slated for release on August 29, 2025, with touring to follow. Kasey Chambers says “I feel privileged to have had a hand in bringing his songs to life. Mitchell Steele is one of the most authentic and unique country artists I have ever heard come out of Australia.”