Australian singer-songwriter Cat Cork collaborates globally to deliver an uplifting and nostalgic single “Promise Me“, marking the start of her 2025 musical journey.

Cat Cork is a talented Australian singer, songwriter, and composer from Woy Woy who is known for writing songs that make people feel things. She works with artists from all over the world to make her own unique sound.

“Promise Me” sounds like a letter from the future, since it comes out as 2024 comes to an end. The release of this music at this time is wonderfully planned. As the year comes to a close and people start to think about it, Cork gives us what you could call musical hindsight ahead of time.

“Promise Me” pivots toward light without flinching from shadow. In music, it is like opening the curtains after a long night to let in the morning while still remembering how nice it was to be dark before.

What makes this single particularly intriguing is its global DNA. Cork recorded her vocals and guitars in her home studio in Australia. The track also features contributions from musicians from around the world, including Pablo Arruda’s bass lines from Brazil, Ben Trigg’s cello work from the UK, Chris Barber and Horacio Paris’ drums, and Joao Paulo Drumond’s percussion from Costa Rica.

The song is a mix of happiness and sadness, reflecting on the lessons and insights learnt during a difficult year. Cameron Taylor’s presence feels like an anchor point, connecting Cork’s new, more positive work to his earlier work and helping him find his way through these rougher seas.

There is still what Cork calls “the big sonic hit” in the production, which is a signature part of her darker work that makes the music sound better overall.

Milo Cawthorne and Ella Hope-Higginson shot the supporting Super 8 film short, which adds another layer of time complexity to the release.

The old-fashioned look of the black-and-white footage and the upbeatness of the song make for an interesting contrast, as if to say that sometimes you have to look back to move forward.

Promise Me changes the mood, making the sound brighter and happier while still keeping the depth that has made her music famous.

This change in style shows how versatile her art is and how much she wants to try new things. She has grown as an artist because she can move between different emotional levels while staying true to herself.

There is something quietly new about making art that is overwhelmingly positive while still being emotionally complicated.

That is exactly what Cork did by making a piece that recognises the darker parts while choosing to move towards the light. Now that 2025 is almost here, it seems like just the kind of promise we need.