Victoria Crosby knows how to tell a story. The Far North Queensland singer-songwriter has built her music around the places and people she knows best, and her new single, ‘You Need A Cowboy’, is no exception. It’s cheeky, self-assured, and impossible to listen to without picturing dusty roads and wide-open skies.
The song started as a bit of light-hearted advice for a mate. “She was having absolutely no luck in the love department, and from where I stood, it was because she kept chasing these very polished, flashy city types,” Victoria explains. “They were the sort of blokes who could confidently order a fancy wine off a restaurant menu, but weren’t nearly as good in the ‘sit by a campfire and just enjoy someone’s company’ department.”
Victoria joked that what her friend needed was a cowboy. Not literally, she clarifies, with boots and a big hat, but the kind of bloke who’s steady, grounded, and reliable. “A real cowboy isn’t about boots and a hat. It’s about character,” she says. “Sometimes the flashy option isn’t the right one. Sometimes what you really need is someone solid.” That idea stuck with her, and the song grew from there.
It’s a turning point for Victoria, who cut her teeth on more traditional country music before deciding it was time to play around with her sound. “With my earlier music, I leaned heavily into traditional country and bush ballad storytelling, which is a big part of who I am and where I’m most comfortable,” she says. “But as I’ve grown as an artist, I’ve started to realise I don’t have to stay in one little lane, and I can play around with my sound and have some fun with it.”
‘You Need A Cowboy’ is bigger, louder, and brasher than her previous releases. The stomping groove gives it a swagger that matches the attitude of the lyrics. “It still has country bones,” she explains, “but it’s got a lot more energy and edge. It felt like stepping out of the comfortable box and trying on some different boots.”
Victoria’s authenticity is what keeps listeners coming back. She grew up in Chillagoe, two hours west of Mareeba in Far North Queensland, and where she’s from is woven into every part of her music. “Growing up in Far North Queensland gives you a pretty unique lens on the world,” she says. “Life’s a bit rougher around the edges, but it’s also incredibly real. People work hard, say what they mean, and there’s a lot of character in the smaller regional communities.”
She doesn’t shy away from that identity. Country music often leans towards American influences, but Victoria brings her own Aussie voice front and centre. “I’ve never wanted to erase where I come from just to fit into a mould,” she says. “I think audiences are hungry for artists who sound like themselves. I’d rather be recognisably Aussie than try to be a copy of something else.”
She talks about her producer, who’s based in Nashville, and how they’ve found a way to bring Aussie and American influences together without either overpowering the other. “One thing I do dig is how he can take my really Australian vibe and isms and mix it with a bit of his Nashville style. It’s the two meeting rather than one dominating the other.”
The result is a track that feels completely her. The song is fun and sassy, but it never tips into feeling fake. Victoria is always thinking about how to keep the heart of a story in her music. “Even when a song is fun or cheeky like ‘You Need A Cowboy’, I still want it to paint a picture or capture a feeling people recognise,” she says. “For me, a song needs heart. If it doesn’t feel honest and too gammon, it just doesn’t sit right.”
Recording the track brought some unexpected joy, too. After hearing the final mix for the first time, her husband, who apparently isn’t much of a dancer, couldn’t help himself. “The groove kicked in, and my hubby started bopping away to it,” Victoria says. “It suddenly felt like this cheeky character had jumped out of the speakers. Seeing him engage with it like that was when I knew the song had captured exactly what we were aiming for, a bit of sass, a bit of fun, and a whole lot of personality.”
Listeners seem to agree. The song has already landed on Local Sounds Radio playlists and is building momentum with her fans. It’s lively, clever, and perfect for blasting on a hot summer’s day. If you’ve ever dated a bloke who’s all talk and no action, this one’s for you.
‘You Need A Cowboy’ is playing now on Local Sounds. Stream it here:
https://www.localsounds.com.au/song/victoria-crosby/you-need-a-cowboy