We've written about Riley Catherall many times before (here, here, and here). It's been a while since we last checked in with him. Five years, in fact. What has this Melbourne-based singer-songwriter with a love of roots music been up to?

He's been steadily working his Australian Alt-Country magic in his home country and around the world, emerging in 2025 as one of the country’s most promising songwriters. His is a blend of traditional folk elements with strong pop hooks and a deeply authentic, broken-hearted mojo. The understated country croon serves as a messenger for his sparse, poetic self-scrutiny: a mixture of advice, anecdote, and something else, something lonely, but majestic.

"Pray That I Won't Be Long" is a re-recording of the critically acclaimed 2019 single that received both national and international attention, with high rotation on ABC Radio in Australia. We're just happy to hear from him again.

Curse me like a white line
Hold me to it all night long
Haunt me like a long mile
Even when I’m too far gone
And I’ll pray that I won’t be long

Visit Riley Catherall on Instagram.