He has released five solo studio albums, Wisdom is Delight (2001), Fire, Flood, Freedom (2003), Calm Wind (2006), The Harrowing Account of John William Tate (2008) and The Lion's Share (2012).

In 1993 McCarthy began a funk band, Compos Mentis, with family friends Peter Harding and his brother, Tim and bass player, Sam O'Donnell.

[1] He was a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter in the band which he continued to play in until 1999 when he left to study Contemporary Music at Southern Cross University, Lismore.

The album was recorded between Lismore, Central Coast and the studio of bass player and producer Robin Hay in Cooranbong.

[11] McCarthy has had music featured in an array of surf films including Nathan Oldfield's Lines From A Poem, Seaworthy and The Heart and The Sea, Cryus Sutton's Stoked and Broke and Fred Dickerson and Matt McNeil's Alaska Sessions.