NICK CARVER Derails Blues Convention On Gritty Single ‘Railroad’

Blues and roots music often lean on familiar tropes that many listeners can’t genuinely relate to. Victoria-based artist Nick Carver gives that homogenised scene a giant middle finger with ‘Railroad’, the lead single from his forthcoming self-titled EP, due November 13. Released alongside an official music video, the track follows recent single ‘Stones You Throw’, continuing Carver’s new solo chapter.

Taking the band out of the picture, Carver has stripped his sound back to lap steel guitar, stomp box and raw vocals while retaining the grit of Australian rock ’n’ roll. Over the course of his career, Carver has received support from the likes of Double J, ABC Country, ABC VIC Statewide, AAA Backstage, Aus Music Scene, and his latest single landed in the AMRAP Charts #1 Overall / #1 Regional / #1 Country, Blues & Roots.

With ‘Railroad’, Carver blends gritty blues-rock with a swampy garage feel. The distorted lap steel gives the track a rough, driving feel, while reflecting his instinctive approach to music-making, embracing imperfection, experimentation and the freedom to push blues beyond its traditional boundaries. 

For Carver, the track responds to what he sees as a tendency toward sameness in the Australian blues and roots scene. Rather than reproducing familiar formulas, ‘Railroad’ reflects his belief that the genre still has room to evolve, drawing on blues tradition while reshaping it through his own experiences, sound, and perspective. Carver explains: 

“The railroad has long been a familiar storytelling device in blues music, but the truth is, I don’t know anything about railroads, roosters, swamps or the romanticised mythology that so many blues songs lean on, and I’m not going to pretend that I do. Instead, I use the blues as a vehicle to tell my own story, to write from my own experiences, and to express something that’s honest to who I am.” 

The music video, filmed and edited by Sam Cross of Yewa Films, features Carver in theatrical clown-like makeup, singing and playing drums in black and white with erratic movements that reflect ‘Railroad’s ’ raw, unsettling and experimental energy. The visuals echo the song’s rejection of familiar blue conventions. 

‘Railroad’ arrives on Friday, October 16, as the single from Nick Carver’s forthcoming self-titled debut EP due November 13. 

Support for Nick Carver

‘Stones You Throw’ – AMRAP Charts:

#1 Overall / #1 Regional / #1 Country, Blues & Roots

“It has a gorgeous dirty country blues feel to it, with big earthy guitars and rough-edged vocals. It’s foot-stomping, it’s a riot, yet comforting and personal.” 

(AU Review)

“Searing soulful sludgy blues! That slide is getting a thrashing and sounds amazing. Love the brooding swamp this one’s rising up from. Unbeatable stompable rhythm.”

[About ‘Two Legged Dog’] (Steph Hughes, Triple J)

“Blow me down and let rip Nick! This is the kind of grit I can sunk my teeth into.”
[About ‘Two Legged Dog’] (Kath Devaney, Triple J)

“The Way That You Walk is a smooth and moody piece that is rolling with bright keys, rolling brushed drums and Nick Carvers swoony vocal delivery.” 

(AAA Backstage) 

“If you love your rock music with some grit, you’re going to be stomping your foot along with ‘I Need to Feel'” (Sounds Of Oz) [About ‘I Need To Feel’]

Key Station support: Double J, ABC Radio, ABC Country, 3MDR, Southern FM (Melbourne), Radio Wigwam (UK), 4ZZZ (Brisbane), SYN (Melbourne), RTR FM, 3RIM, 5ZZZ, PBS, Tribe Fm, One FM, 3BBR FM, Plenty Valley FM, 2AAA and more.