Alice Springs singer-songwriter Katie Harder to release single, Discover Me, on February 28

With a career in the music industry spanning more than 20 years, a Red Centre folk singer-songwriter is now gearing up to release her latest single this week. Find out who it is.

Katie Harder, an Alice Springs folk singer-songwriter, is gearing up to release her new single. Picture: Supplied

One morning, when she was about eight years old, Katie Harder stood atop the back of her dad’s truck, gripped a tennis racket and sung her heart out.

“The truck was my stage … the tennis racket was my guitar,” Harder, now a nurse in Alice Springs and mother of four, recalled.

“Since then, it felt like something was missing in my life when I wasn’t playing music.”

Harder said she always knew music was her passion. Picture: Supplied

With a career in the music industry spanning more than 20 years, Harder is preparing to release her latest single, Discover Me, on February 28.

The single – written as part of an iHeart songwriting club challenge – is an energetic folk anthem celebrating curiosity, growth and the joy of learning.

“Originally, when I left school I thought that was it for learning,” she said.

“But as time goes on you discover, you learn new things and you find new things that excite you.

“Life is about discovering new things about yourself, which is what this song is about.”

Harder is now a mother of four but maintains her dream of producing music. Picture: Supplied

Harder, who is plain-spoken about the challenges of being a working musician with four children, said it was a difficult gig to manage at times.

“I’ve been able to produce probably a CD every five years around having my children,” she said.

“So I hope to keep it up a bit more regularly now.”

The Red Centre’s music scene was both rewarding and fulfilling, Harder said.

“It’s a very supportive community, there’s such great musicians here and we’re all supporting each other … it’s pretty special,” she said.

Harder said the Alice Springs music community had always been very supportive of all artists. Picture: Supplied

“When you’re playing your own original stuff, you can’t be playing all the time because your audience is small

“At the moment I’m choosing my gigs specifically around releasing my full album, Slow Walking, in June.

“I’m hoping I can get the most out of the hard work that I’ve put in and hopefully get leverage out there for my upcoming album.”