Cheating On Me – The Story 

Release Date: 16 May 2025
Genre: Country / Alt-Country / Honkytonk
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About the Song

“Cheating On Me” is the latest single from Australian singer-songwriter Jason Kearney, offering a refreshing blend of heartfelt storytelling, traditional country instrumentation, and a sharp sense of humour. Co-written with Golden Guitar-winning country music legend Allan Caswell, the song combines the rich lyrical tradition of classic country with the playful, confessional style of modern alt-country.

Musically, the track is grounded in honkytonk piano, pedal steel guitar, ukulele, and acoustic strumming, all arranged to highlight the song’s clever lyrical twist. With a toe-tapping rhythm and a storyline that turns the conventional cheating song on its head, Cheating On Me dives into the grey area between friendship, betrayal, and personal accountability, all while keeping a smirk on its face.

Jason’s warm, earthy vocal delivery and DIY production approach give the song an authentic, lived-in charm. It’s the kind of track you could imagine hearing in a country dive bar at midnight, or playing in your car on a long drive, wondering just how bad a “bad decision” really is.

The release of Cheating On Me also reflects Jason’s evolution as a producer and mix engineer, having taken full creative control of the track’s final sound after years of refining his skills. The result is a track that’s both sonically polished and emotionally raw, offering listeners a humorous yet relatable take on relationships, loyalty, and consequence.

The Story Behind the Song

The story of Cheating On Me goes back to 2014, when Jason Kearney attended a songwriting retreat at the DAG Sheep Station in Nundle, NSW , a well-known creative hub in Australia’s country music scene. There, he was paired with Allan Caswell, one of the most respected and awarded songwriters in Australian country music history.

Sitting beside an open fireplace in the rustic lounge room of the station, Jason shared a rough idea, a few chords, a title, and a concept: “What if the person your partner’s cheating with… is also you?” The two quickly found a rhythm, tossing lines back and forth, laughing at the audacity of the premise, and letting the story unfold in real time.

“It came together quickly, just a few chords, a funny concept, and a whole lot of laughs,” Jason says. “We knew it had that tongue-in-cheek edge, but it also had something deeper going on.”

Despite how quickly it came together, Jason didn’t rush to record it. Instead, he kept it in his live set for several years, performing it at local gigs and songwriter showcases. While audiences responded positively to the humour and story, Jason felt the song needed time to mature, both musically and emotionally.

“I always believed in the song,” Jason explains, “but I didn’t want to record it until I knew I could do it justice,  the right arrangement, the right musicians, the right vibe. I didn’t want to rush it.”

That patience would eventually lead to a unique international collaboration and a homegrown production journey, resulting in the version we hear today, fully realised, fully independent, and fully Jason Kearney.

Recording During Lockdown

In 2020, with lockdowns keeping artists apart and studios closed, Jason turned to online collaboration. Using Fiverr, he connected with talented musicians across the globe to bring the song to life:

• 🎹 Marco C (Italy) – Honkytonk piano

• 🎸 Simone S (Italy) – Bass & ukulele

• 🪕 Reggie Duncan (USA) – Pedal steel guitar

• 🥁🎤 Jason Kearney (Australia) – Vocals, acoustic guitar, drums, production

These remote performances were mixed and arranged in Jason’s Sydney home studio, making it a true global effort.

The Mixing & Mastering Journey

Jason’s early attempts to mix the track didn’t meet his expectations. Determined to improve, he enrolled in an online course with Michael White, a renowned mix engineer whose credits include Whitney Houston, The Rolling Stones, Talking Heads, and many more.

Through months of training and trial and error, Jason developed his skills as a producer and mix engineer, finally achieving the sound he had envisioned for years.

Cheating On Me is the result of years of songwriting, global collaboration, learning, and persistence. From its early roots at a rural retreat to its final mix in a Sydney studio, this song has come a long way, and now it’s ready to be heard.

Thanks for listening and supporting independent music.