His latest gigs have been in the Arctic Circle but the pull of the Blue Mountains is never far away for Katoomba musician Justin Hunter.
The multi-talented artist is very clear about why he still calls the Blue Mountains home, despite a career that has seen him travel all over the globe.
"People who love Sydney always reference the Harbour Bridge or the Opera House. If they live in Paris, it's the Eiffel Tower... [But] Mount Solitary is our Harbour Bridge, Pulpit Rock is our Eiffel Tower, Mount Banks is our Opera House. That's why it is so hard to leave - because we have those iconic landscapes," he said.
Apart from the Arctic circle, Hunter has been performing live and travelling in Europe this year and will release a new single featuring Swedish vocalist Marco DeLeaf on August 9. Titled Changes, the single is recorded under his stage name Em Flach - a tribute to Hunter's Dutch grandmother (Flach was her maiden name) who was part of the Nazi resistance in her homeland.
Hunter plans to put the finishing touches on a new Em Flach EP, Planet Melrose, when he returns to the Blue Mountains later this year. It's a work that is both inspired by the Blue Mountains while featuring collaborations with other Blue Mountains artists.
The EP's first single, Won't Be Long, featuring vocalist Kearna Murray, has already been a streaming hit on Spotify.
"Planet Melrose is a musical representation of the love I have for this place. That's always something I will put in my music.. I'm very proud of it," he said.
But before then, Hunter will take a detour to the United States for New York Fashion Week where he will indulge another creative passion - photography - for Japanese fashion label, Comme des Garons. His work was spotted by one of the label's designers on Instagram, leading to an invitation to attend the high profile event.
It's all a far cry from Hunter's early days playing piano in Katoomba cafes. Customers loved his music so much they asked if they could get it on CD; he obliged and the independent artist's career was on its way.
And while his Blue Mountains inspiration can claim credit for much of his success, Hunter said the ethos that drives him is even simpler.
"Just being passionate and being full of life is key," he said. "A person's energy says everything."