A late-night Netflix search gave Newcastle singer-songwriter Sandy Louise the title she had been waiting for. Before the night was over, Hell or High Water had become a song—and a strong contender for her next album.
The new single arrives on 25 September 2026, bringing a gritty slice of alt-country storytelling produced by Australian country stalwart Bill Chambers.
A movie challenge finally finds its song
Sandy had carried a long-standing bucket-list challenge to write a song inspired by a movie. The idea finally clicked when she came across the film Hell or High Water during a late-night search.
“I was doing a late-night Netflix search and spotted the title ‘Hell or High Water’ and instantly knew it would make a great song.”
Sandy Louise
The film’s story of two brothers on the run lit the fuse. Sandy wrote the song that same night, turning the inspiration into an original track with its own raw, cinematic character.
Produced by Bill Chambers
Hell or High Water continues Sandy’s creative partnership with Bill Chambers, who produced the single. Their work together stretches back to her 2020 album Blue Skies Open Eyes, continued through Live For Today in 2023, and included their duet cover of Loving Arms.
The new track quickly became a serious contender for Sandy’s upcoming fifth album. It adds another chapter to a catalogue already spanning four full-length albums and eight singles.
A songwriter backing other songwriters
Based in Newcastle, Sandy Louise has built her music around honest storytelling and lived experience. Away from her own releases, she serves as the Newcastle Regional Coordinator for the Australian Songwriters Association and hosts open mic nights supporting fellow songwriters.
Her work earned the Australian Songwriters Association’s 2023/24 Rudy Brandsma Award for Excellence in Songwriting, while her releases have found listeners across a range of country music charts.
Pre-save Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water is out Thursday, 25 September 2026.
You can also follow Sandy Louise on Spotify and explore her earlier releases while you wait.
