Axle Whitehead is one of Australia’s most versatile musicians, with studies in jazz improvisation through to a gold-selling pop single ‘I Don’t Do Surprises’, but it’s country music where Axle’s heart lies. First jumping into the country world in 2011 with ‘Sister Sunshine’ Axle has toured around Australia and beyond, juggling a successful acting career with his first love of music.
Whitehead has spent much of the last decade throwing himself into a successful acting career traveling between Los Angeles and Sydney with roles on the international hit TV series Shameless and Marvel Agents of SHIELD. Already known across Australia as the host of iconic music show Video Hits and game show The Wall as well as a four-year stint on Home and Away, it’s music that always brings him home.
His new single ‘One Gun’ is his most accomplished track to date, collaborating with writer /producer/ musician Carl Dimataga (Khalid, James Fauntleroy, Thundamentals, Baker Boy) creating a roots-based sound harking back to his regional Victorian upbringing, melting rock, blues and jazz influences into a unique and contemporary country sound. With his soulful vocal winding through a shuffling, minimalist guitar lick, ‘One Gun’ explores the relatable story of a man trying to find his identity. A parallel to Whitehead’s own fulsome career coming full circle to his country roots, the song is Axle Whitehead at his confident and accomplished best.
“I am incredibly proud of ‘One Gun’, said Whitehead. “Through writing many songs, Carl and I have stumbled across this Soul/Country sound. By taking the drums out it allows the listener to sit and breathe
with the song whilst the guitars do the heavy lifting.”
“Before I went to music college to study Jazz all I wanted was to be Garth Brooks or Steve Earle. Now after exploring a few different genres over the years, I’ve finally found my own sound.”