When Mude partnered with Ned to create his artist brand, the goal was to develop an identity that mirrored Ned’s boy-next-door meets vulnerable singer-songwriter personality. For Ned Houston’s debut release, the ache waited patiently for half a year before it finally took hold. “Six months after the breakup, sitting in that Nashville studio, I felt more heartbroken than the night I ended it,” Ned admits. That raw, delayed emotion became his debut single, Self-Defence.

Ned Houston isn’t new to music, but until now, he’s preferred to stay just out of frame. One of Australia’s most respected songwriters — crafting hits for Guy Sebastian and working chart-toppers across Korea and Japan — Ned built his career behind the scenes, a comfortable distance from the spotlight. Now, backed by 3Keys Records and armed with a collection of unreleased songs, he’s stepping forward, finally placing himself at the centre of his own story.

The song came to life during a writing session in Nashville with acclaimed songwriter David Hodges and close friend Melissa Fuller, who was six months pregnant at the time. Ned describes a gentle, maternal energy in the room that shaped the vulnerable yet powerful tone of the track. It was this environment, coupled with Ned’s own delayed emotional processing of his breakup, that allowed him to access an honesty he’d previously guarded. “I’d emotionally shut down to protect myself,” Ned reflects. “Only after time had passed did the emotions catch up. That moment of realisation — that heartbreak can sometimes be delayed in the name of self-preservation — is exactly where this song was born.”

One of the brand’s quiet signatures is the wordmark itself, the ‘Houston’ line beneath his first name is set in his mum’s handwriting. It’s her maiden name, and a subtle tribute to the person who gave it to him. This choice goes beyond simple aesthetics, weaving a deeply personal connection and sense of authenticity into Ned’s visual identity. It symbolises familial bonds, the support system behind his creative journey, and roots him firmly in his personal story.

We deliberately centred Ned’s visual storytelling around his hometown of Canberra. While his career has seen him constantly on the move — writing in studios across Stockholm, Nashville, Korea, and beyond — this release felt distinctly personal and needed to be anchored to his origins. Canberra is where he played his earliest gigs, built his first fanbase, and shaped his musical identity. The visuals captured him in locations around the city and surrounds that matched the atmosphere and vibe of each single release off the upcoming EP. Although Ned has earned a reputation as a globally nomadic songwriter, rooting his story in Canberra was an essential element for the EP campaign, reintroducing him as a storyteller not just for other artists in the writing room, but for his own story too.

Listen to Self-Defence on all streaming services, or follow Ned at @nedhoustonmusic.

You can see more of Mude’s branding work for Ned Houston in our project case study here.