The track is a wistful, optimistic take on young queer romance, with Nethersole's raw storytelling leading the way.
Australian pop artist Tom Nethersole is back with a heartwarming new single, Ardmona Rd, a track that captures the rush and sweetness of falling in love for the first time. It’s the kind of love that feels safe, hopeful, and, as Nethersole puts it, “worth taking home to meet the family.”
Ardmona Rd release date:
- Thursday 20 March
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Written alongside Australian powerhouse creatives Jordie Tomas and RARIA, Ardmona Rd blends warm pop melodies with subtle country and folk elements, showcasing Nethersole’s regional roots. Inspired by artists like Ryan Beatty and Noah Kahan, he says “It’s deeply personal but also relatable, especially for queer listeners who are searching for that fairytale moment we don’t always see reflected in music.”
Growing up on an orchard just outside of Shepparton, Nethersole regional upbringing played a significant role in shaping his identity and sound.
Reflecting on his childhood, he shares, “There was something about the open space of the country that lended itself to being loud and unafraid of expressing yourself because the nearest neighbours were my cousins down the road. However, I was still trying to navigate the loneliness and conservatism that consumed small country towns. Looking back, this irony feels poetic.”
He has always been cautious about being stereotyped as a “queer musician,” wanting his music to reflect more than just one aspect of his identity. “For me, I was always wary of being pigeon-holed as a queer musician and stereotyped as making music that was superficial or ‘commercial pop music’. For me, I’ve always tried to tell my stories, regardless of whether they centre around the queer part of my identity, as a way to showcase the nuances of a queer upbringing and the way it all intersects.”
Ardmona Rd is a manifestation of this idea—capturing Nethersole’s vision of a love that transcends boundaries. He explains, “I went into writing this song with the intention of making it the kind of song I would sing to ‘my person’ one day about our love and I wanted to envision what I would feel for my ideal partner. As someone who grew up really scared to have friends over to my house because I was afraid of having my family and friend’s lives clash, the idea of bringing this important person back home and seamlessly slotting in feels so cathartic and beautiful.”
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Sonically, Ardmona Rd marks a departure from Nethersole previous work, blending folk and country elements into the production. “This direction was honestly driven by Jordie Tomas’ production during the session but it feels so fitting that a song about returning home to my house in the country has elements of folk and country layered into the production. In saying that, it still feels very me and I’m keen to see how people respond to this single.”
“My message for aspiring queer musicians in regional areas is that you have so much to give and are so much more than your queerness. You are not bound by geography or restricting ideas of what you can be. I think it’s easy in regional areas to feel like that’s what makes you different and that’s your ‘niche’, but I think the biggest developments in my relationship with my queerness have been by leaning into the things outside of that that make me, me. Once you have an idea of who you are as a whole-rounded person it’s so much easier to not be phased by people who disagree with your sexuality.”
The release of Ardmona Rd is just the beginning for Tom Nethersole, who’s already performed at major events such as Midsumma’s Pride Street Party, Rockhampton River Festival, and Always Live, as well as opening for Drax Project. With over 200k streams and a growing fanbase both in Australia and the US, Tom is cementing himself as a powerful new voice in Australian pop.
The track is accompanied by a music video directed by emerging creative Cole Surrey (ChangebyCole), which brings the song’s themes of homecoming and love to life.
Tom’s journey is just getting started, and Ardmona Rd is shaping up to be one of his most compelling releases yet.
