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  Re-imagining a song as culturally ingrained as “Every Breath You Take” is no small feat. It’s a track with a long shadow, one that’s been interpreted, dissected, and replayed across generations. However, Simon Orton doesn’t try to outshine or outmaneuver the original, he gently turns it on its side, letting a different kind of light spill across it. What emerges is a version that feels disarmingly human, stripped of its icy tension and reshaped into something warm and radiant.

Orton, an Australian singer-songwriter with a voice that carries a ton of grace, leans fully into a country-rooted sensibility here. The arrangement is minimal but intentional, acoustic guitar at the forefront, but even some electric moments in the latter half. The track unfolds like a conversation on a long drive, the kind where silence and sound share equal weight.

The guitar work obviously deserves special mention. There’s a brightness to the tone that keeps the song from drifting too far into melancholy, giving it a subtle lift that mirrors the emotional reinterpretation at its core. Where the original once felt watchful and tense, Orton’s version breathes differently.

Vocally, this is where the transformation truly takes hold. Orton’s delivery is front and center and carries a sincerity that reshapes the entire track. There’s a lived in quality to it, like someone who understands the weight of love not as obsession. He doesn’t oversell a single line, instead letting the melody and phrasing do the heavy lifting. You can’t help but be sucked in by the beauty of it all!

It doesn’t feel like a novelty or a stylistic experiment, it feels inevitable, like if the song had always been capable of this softness but simply hadn’t been asked to reveal it until now. We truly didn’t think it was possible to “countrify” such a classic, but the greatness of this version is that it doesn’t lean 100% in.

You don’t even necessarily need to know the original to feel the impact, the emotion stands on its own. It’s about connection, presence, or the quiet ways love manifests in everyday moments. In the end, Simon Orton doesn’t just cover a classic, it honestly feels original in the new arrangement, and that’s part of the endless reasons why we loved it. 

Austin Sher May 2026

Australian singer and artist Simon Orton turns his thoughts and  feelings towards a classic from Sting and The Police, presenting one of  the most mellow and intimate acoustic takes yet, for Every Breath You Take. 

Built around gentle guitar picking and subtle country twangs of production, this unique country version of Every Breath You Take is  essentially a complete re-imagining of the song. With subtle electric  guitar dashes and ambient mixing, Simon’s cover adds a certain  optimistic brightness and warmth to the timeless song, and the urgency  of the bridge is replaced by something softly passionate and conclusive,  as Simon gifts his honest and accessible voice to a fearlessly  stripped-back arrangement. 

Originally released in 1983, Every Breath You Take has  become a generational go-to, with mainstream and indie covers alike  hitting the scene consistently over the decades. Simon Orton’s country  version of the hit is a welcomed change of tempo and tone, and this  roots-driven aura, along with the emotional stability and calm of  Simon’s voice, connects with and reflects honestly the heartfelt  sentiments of the lyrics.  Rebecca Cullen May 2026

Simon Orton just dropped a new single called “A Little Light”, and it’s one of those songs that doesn’t try too hard to impress you… it just slowly grows on you. The first thing that stands out is how simple everything sounds. There’s no heavy production or loud moments fighting for attention. Instead, it leans on clean guitar work, soft background touches and a really smooth solo that comes in at the right time and actually adds something instead of just filling space. It’s calm, but not boring.

The song is built around a pretty emotional idea. Being there for someone even when things aren’t working out. That kind of theme can easily feel forced, but here it comes across honest and natural. The lyrics are beautifully written honestly.

His delivery sounds confident and controlled, but still full of emotion. There’s a warmth in his voice that fits the country style really well, and the melodies are easy to get into without feeling repetitive. It’s the kind of song you don’t realize you’ve replayed a few times until you actually notice it.

The production keeps everything clean and balanced. It doesn’t feel out of place, and that restraint actually makes the song stronger. We liked how real this track feels. It’s not trying to be big or dramatic, just honest and well put together. And sometimes, that’s exactly what works best.

 Peaking at number 2 on March 2 2026 on local sounds charts: ‘A Little Light’, a heartfelt country song that explores  love, emotional distance, and the quiet work of supporting someone  healing from past relationship trauma. Written in late 2024 and inspired  by a true story, ‘A Little Light’ sits in the delicate space between  connection and letting go — loving someone while their partner in life  is dealing with trauma healing, and learning to offer care without  demand.  “When your partner in life is dealing with trauma healing, it can feel  like everything starts to unravel,” Orton explains. “There’s a need to  pause, compress, and gently rewind yourself — to gather all those loose  threads back into something whole again.”  Musically, ‘A Little Light’ balances emotional depth with warm,  heartfelt country tones and subtle driving rhythms. The track carries  lift and movement, with an easy sing-along quality that invites  listeners in rather than weighing them down. The song continues Orton’s  signature style: grounded, lived-in storytelling paired with melodies  that linger long after the final chord.   For anyone who has loved with patience and hope, ‘A Little Light’ offers  a companion song — one about forgiveness, understanding, and  unconditional care, without pressure or expectation. 

In the quiet corners of the Australian country scene, true stories often find their way into the melody. For independent artist Simon Orton, his latest single, "A Little Light," is more than just a track—it’s a vulnerable chapter of a life lived with empathy.

Co-written with Sven Tydeman in late 2024, the song emerged from a delicate reality: walking beside someone you love while they navigate the heavy shadows of past relationship trauma.

"A Little Light" captures the bittersweet space between hope and acceptance. It tells the story of a man offering unconditional support to a partner who isn't quite ready to be "whole" again. It’s about the quiet work of:

Choosing presence over pressure.

Offering care without conditions.

Recognizing that while love can heal, it doesn't always mean the relationship can stay.

The song resonates with anyone who has ever had to let go of a person they cared for, simply because that person needed the space to find themselves again. It’s a tribute to the grace found in "losing" a relationship but "winning" a moment of true human connection.

Intimate acoustic guitar and soulful electric back up honest, almost whispered vocals, as Simon Orton explores the intricacies of love, patience, and letting go, for A Little Light.

Promising short lines and a satisfying rhyme scheme and melody, A Little Light builds up slowly towards a beautiful chorus – a strong country groove supporting unfiltered vocals both distinct and accessible.

We get subtle harmonies, minimal but effective guitar play, and a strong use of contrast between moments of quiet, poetic reflection, and those designed to uplift and resolve.

Born and raised in Queensland, Australia, Simon Orton has been hard at work on new releases since 2025, and his storytelling and guitar playing meet with a recognisable, enjoyably imperfect vocal – qualities that shine with modesty and warmth, throughout the lovely new single A Little Light.

 Written during a recent season of challenge and reflection, the song centres on surrender - laying burdens, fears, and struggles at the cross. Inspired by scripture and personal devotion, this release offers a simple yet powerful message of faith, grace, and renewal.

Recorded live in one take, “I Give It All to You” is intentionally unpolished. With no production engineering or mastering, the recording preserves the authenticity of the moment - a genuine expression of worship rather than a studio-crafted performance. This raw approach allows the message to remain front and centre, creating a space for listeners to reflect and respond personally.

Drawing from themes of surrender at the cross and renewed life through Christ, the song reflects a faith journey shaped by grace, trust, and hope. Paired with the message of the empty tomb, it carries the full Easter story - from sacrifice to victory.

Known for honest storytelling and grounded delivery, Simon Orton Music continues to create songs that connect lived experience with faith. “I Give It All to You” is not just a song, but an invitation - to pause, reflect, and lay everything down this Easter season.

Musically and spiritually, the release sits in a space influenced by artists who blend faith, warmth, and heartfelt songwriting, including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Josh Turner, Randy Travis, Zach Williams, and Matthew West.  (May 2026)

Regardless of your musical taste or generational placement across the  eras, this Frank Sinatra classic will most likely have found its way  into your life at some point. A melodic progression that’s iconic, and a  subject matter that’s ever relatable, timeless, and comforting in its  optimism and acceptance. 

This October, Australian artist Simon Orton turns his vocal charm towards the confidence and realism of That’s Life, and it’s a uniquely mellow celebration, which pays a respectable tribute to the 1960s classic. 

Built around an organic live-band set-up of piano, guitars, and light drums, Simon Orton’s cover of That’s Life steers  away from the original bass-band bravado of Sinatra’s track, and fully  leans into this nearly whispered depth and warmth that is the Simon  Orton voice and style. 

The music gathers momentum at the right moments, but it’s all gentle,  reflective in a new kind of way, and aptly underlines the quiet  resilience of our protagonist, and the inspiration behind the cover; a  devastating struggle that urgently required some perspective and  positivity. There’s no better confrontation or relief than the stark  honesty and acceptance of That’s Life, and Orton gifts the song a pleasant recrafting.  Rebecca Cullen

Simon Orton’s debut single “The Next Me,” released on May 16, 2025, is a heartfelt country ballad. Hailing from  rural Australia, Orton brings a grounded authenticity to the track,  steeped in the dusty warmth of the outback and the tender complexity of  new fatherhood. The song captures the seismic shift that comes with  holding your child for the first time, and the weighty yet hopeful  realization that your life will never be the same.

Opening  with the familiar hum of warm guitar strums and the gentle shake of  percussion, the track quickly invites listeners into a quiet moment of  reflection. The drums tap in, steady as a heartbeat, as Orton’s deep,  gravelly, and incredibly tender voice delivers a spoken word that sounds  like a private thought spoken aloud. As the melody unfolds, he eases  into song with emotional sincerity. It holds the grit of a long day on  the land and the softness of a new dad whispering lullabies in the dark.

What makes “The Next Me” remarkable is the way it transforms a personal milestone into a  universal narrative. It’s an anthem for anyone who’s stood at the  threshold of change—unsure, a little scared, but ready to step into the  unknown because love has given them no other choice. The layering of  guitar, percussion, and a subtle symphonic backdrop creates a field as  vast and open as Orton’s own home country.

A student of storytellers like Paul Kelly, Simon Orton writes with restraint and resonance. With “The Next Me,” he has written a letter to the future of him. Be a part of it on Spotify.

Release Date: 10th October - 

Simon Orton’s latest single, ‘That’s Life‘,  is set to drop on October 10, 2025. In a bold reimagining of Frank  Sinatra’s timeless anthem, the Australian singer-songwriter delivers a  jazz-country fusion that’s as unexpected as it is unforgettable.

That’s Life is a reinvention. Stripping away the brassy swagger of  Sinatra’s 1960s classic, Simon Orton rebuilds the song with an intimate  piano-guitar ensemble that feels like a conversation across eras. His  gravelly voice, steeped in hope and hard-won wisdom, transforms the  track into something deeply personal yet universally relatable — a  dialogue between jazz’s soulful intimacy and country’s earthiness.

What sets this release apart is its emotional core. Informed by a  recent family crisis, Simon Orton infuses That’s Life with a quiet  strength that speaks to resilience. His interpretation doesn’t dwell in  despair but lifts the listener through hardship with dignity. It’s a  testament to carrying on, re-imagining a classic message of perseverance  for a modern audience.

Hailing from the wide-open spaces of Australia, Simon Orton brings a  rare authenticity to his craft. A farmer-turned-storyteller, he spends  his days traveling the country to foster safer, more emotionally aware  workplaces. Following the success of his May 2025 single, The Next Me —  praised by Illustrate Magazine as “a heartfelt country ballad steeped in  the dusty warmth of the outback” — Simon continues to carve his own  path. His whiskey-smooth voice and poetic grit have earned comparisons  to a private thought spoken aloud, resonating with anyone standing at  life’s crossroads.     

Australian singer-songwriter Simon  Orton breathes new life into a classic with his latest single, “That’s  Life,” released on October 10, 2025. It’s not your run-of-the-mill cover  of Frank Sinatra’s iconic tune because Orton’s version is a heartfelt  reinvention, fusing the smoky elegance of jazz with the grounded warmth  of country. It results in a nostalgic and new sound, like a conversation  between two old souls across generations. Drawing inspiration from a  recent family crisis, Orton channels his emotions into something  comforting, sprouting resilience from the depths of heartbreak.

The  song opens with mellow piano notes and softly plucked guitar chords,  instantly creating an intimate, fireside atmosphere. Light, brushed  drums follow, keeping time like a slow heartbeat. Then comes Orton’s  deep, gravelly voice with its subtle grit. Pushing through the  struggles, he leans into acceptance, almost like he’s raising a glass to  survival itself.

As the track  unfolds, the melodies run with understated optimism. Gone is the  big-band vibes of Sinatra’s version. Orton gives us something more  grounded, like he’s talking to you from the porch at sundown. His  phrasing lingers on certain words, letting them breathe and ache before  resolving softly, as if he’s making peace with every stumble and start  again.

By the time the final chord  fades, “That’s Life” feels reborn. Simon Orton lives the song, and in  doing so, he shows that rolling with the punches is a philosophy in  theory, and the very rhythm of being alive, when practiced.  

Review by: Naomi Joan 

From rural Australia, Simon Orton is stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, ‘The Next Me’, released on the 16th of May, 2025. This country anthem is a raw, emotional journey through the highs and lows of parenthood, wrapped in the timeless melodies of classic country.

The Next Me captures the life-altering moment of meeting your first child, a milestone that reshapes everything. With unflinching honesty, Simon Orton weaves a story of love, growth, and the bittersweet ache of watching that child step into their own future. The song asks a question that resonates with parents everywhere: What now? Through vivid storytelling and heartfelt lyrics, The Next Me finds hope in life’s toughest transitions, blending the grit of the outback with a beautiful melody.

Raised on a farm and shaped by the wide-open spaces of Australia, Simon Orton brings a rare authenticity to the country music scene. By day, he travels the country, helping businesses foster safer, more compassionate workplaces through emotional support and leadership training. By night, he’s a guitarist, poet, and singer-songwriter with a whiskey-smooth voice and a six-string soul. His music paints vivid pictures of rural life, family ties, and hard-earned lessons, capturing the essence of Australia’s heartland with every note.