GREG GOULD RELEASES POWERFUL SEXUAL ABUSE ANTHEM ‘WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION?’
Primal, moody and inescapably moving, the powerful new single Who Gave You Permission? out today from Australian powerhouse Greg Gould is a potent blend of pop, soul and searing intimacy. With an accompanying music video slated to land next week, and also set to captivate crowds with his latest release live in action throughout 2024, including onstage at SYNTHONY, Australia’s biggest orchestrated dance party this June, Gould also vigorously tackles exceedingly difficult narrative terrain via Who Gave You Permission? with unwavering finesse and poise.
Opening with a melancholic piano line, Who Gave You Permission? swells alongside Gould’s cogent vocals, ultimately building into a formidable primal pop anthem. Equally gripping musically as it is lyrically, Who Gave You Permission? weaves nods to the likes of Benson Boone, Rag’n’Bone Man, Teddy Swims and Sam Smith while also profoundly detailing an exceedingly personal experience for Gould himself. “To be honest I’m only just starting to feel comfortable to talk about this,” shares Gould. “The first time I performed the song live I burst into tears. I have been a victim of sexual abuse on four separate occasions in all very different circumstances from when I was 10 years old, right up until I was 30. Each time left me feeling so violated, so powerless, paralysed. Nobody has the right to touch you without permission. No means no. It was a very emotional, heart wrenching and confronting experience to write this song to be honest as I’d pushed a lot of those feelings and experiences down and hadn’t dealt with them – it took a while for me to be ok to admit it. There is a stigma around sexual abuse in general, and I do think it can be really difficult for men who are the victim – whether it be at the hands of another man or a woman. In my case, it was both on separate occasions. I want other men to feel comfortable to talk about this and speak up too.”
Seeking to empower fellow survivors through Who Gave You Permission?, Gould co-wrote the compelling new single with Benedict, working alongside Gould to unpack his trauma and ultimately pen a connective and sonically robust ode to survival, along with production by Sydney duo Cressbrook, with live strings composed by Ryan Youens. With a striking music video set to accompany this deeply powerful song on April 20, filmed in Gould’s home state, the clip for Who Gave You Permission? flourishes with its sonic elegance alongside poignant visuals to further amplify the driving message at the track’s core. “The music video features a protagonist moving through an old house,” shares Gould.” As they enter each room, a different storyline unfolds, each scenario reveals as we move back and forth between the rooms. I wanted to highlight that sexual abuse can happen in many forms and in many ways…without over-dramatising or sensationalising it.”
A creative cauldron from way back, Greg Gould began singing the moment he could talk; a talent which ultimately followed him to securing the runner up slot at the grand finale of Australia’s Got Talent in 2013. Following his Australia’s Got Talent success, Gould has gone on to generate millions of streams as well as views of his award-winning videos, perform multiple sold out shows and festivals, tour the globe and ignite charts at home and abroad; and all while continuing to foster and grow an authentic connection with his fans through his heartfelt creations. From snagging the #1 spot on the iTunes Albums charts via his 2020 album 1998, through to collaborating with En Vogue’s Maxine Jones (“a real pinch me moment”, Gould shares), Gould’s proudest moment to date remains releasing his first-ever self-directed music video, a cover of En Vogue’s 1996 smash single Don’t Let Go (Love) with the song’s heart wrenching video having amassed an impressive 20 million+ views. Fast-forward to 2024, and Gould has embraced the mixture of excitement, anxiety, nerves and relief to unveil the vulnerable yet hopeful Who Gave You Permission?, with the latest track also offering a hint as to what’s to come from Gould’s debut album of original songs, Strings Attached, set for release July 12, including his duet with one of the Philippines’ most successful artists, Morissette called Love It All Out (co-written by Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko) which recently hit over 1 million views on TikTok. Gould has also written and performed the main song for the credits of a new Australian feature film getting its theatrical release later this year, which is set to debut at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Set to perform Who Gave You Permission? at an array of events this April and June, fans can expect to hear Gould’s latest track live in action alongside many other original songs. As to what fans can expect in the not too distant future? “Whether the subject matter is darker or lighter, guests at my shows can expect big vocals, big moments and lot of fun,” Gould enthuses. “I love to perform and I’m excited for the next 12 months! I’ve got big plans and even bigger dreams. I am so proud that Who Gave You Permission? is out now and I’m moving forward both personally and professionally! I would love if even one survivor of abuse feels stronger as a result of hearing this song. I want people to know they are seen, they are heard and they are believed. We won’t be broken.”
Who Gave You Permission? is out now.
Strings Attached is out July 12.
Listen: WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION?
Stream: WHO GAVE YOU PERMISSION?
GREG GOULD – UPCOMING SHOWS
KEEP THE FAITH – GEORGE MICHAEL & WHITNEY HOUSTON
SAT 13 APR | LOEV, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from loevmoorabbin.com | All Eventbrite Outlets
GREEK LEGENDS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
SAT 20 APR | STATE THEATRE, SYDNEY NSW | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | All Ticketmaster Outlets
GREEK LEGENDS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
FRI 10 MAY | PALAIS THEATRE, MELBOURNE VIC | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.com.au | All Ticketmaster Outlets
KEEP THE FAITH – GEORGE MICHAEL & WHITNEY HOUSTON
SAT 18 MAY | ROYAL BRIGHTON YACHT CLUB, MELBOURNE VIC | 18+
Tickets available from trybooking.com
SYNTHONY
FRI 7 & SAT 8 JUNE | CARRIAGEWORKS, SYDNEY NSW | 18+
Tickets available from www.carriageworks.com.au
CLOE WILDER SHARES ETHEREAL NEW SINGLE ‘AFTERGLOW’ EP ‘I SPENT MY SUMMER ON THE ROAD’ SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 19
A stunning mix of romance and nostalgia, the new single Afterglow from American singer-songwriter Cloe Wilder is a shimmering modern folk gem, marking an ethereal step closer to the release of Wilder’s impending new EP I Spent My Summer on the Road, set for release on Friday April 19.
A folksy ballad soaked in acoustic guitar and dreamy melodics, Afterglow also features glossy vocals from both Wilder and her long-time collaborator NICOLOSI, with the track reminiscent of Bon Iver and Lana Del Rey caught in a gauzy trance. Simultaneously introspective and wistful with celestial overtones, Afterglow ultimately evolved from a melancholic narrative, as Wilder elaborates, “Escaping from locations is a big theme in my songs, but I also love the concept of leaving someone behind. Afterglow sort of morphed into this story of two people growing apart in the wintertime; the understanding that the house has gone cold and there’s no way to imagine what that could feel like until it happens. I absolutely love that visual.”
Working alongside NICOLOSI for both Afterglow and its overarching EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road, Wilder also teamed up with Grammy Award-nominated engineer Adam Grover (Maggie Lindemann, Zach Bryan, Dizzee Rascal) and videographer/photographer Jesse DeFlorio (Matt Maeson, Imagine Dragons, American Authors) to bring her creative visions to life, with the accompanying lyric video for Afterglow seamlessly reflecting its subject matter, as Wilder offers, “I wanted to reference the essence of Afterglow. It’s a little bit of a nostalgic nod to classic folk with the super 8 look, but I feel that Sam and I wanted to give it a post-modern twist.”
Following on from her debut 2021 EP Teenage Lullabies, Wilder spreads her sonic wings on her upcoming EP, with I Spent My Summer on the Road traversing everything from stripped-back bedroom pop (Little White Pills), to coming-of-age odes (Fake ID), lush indie swoon (Take It In), folk-hued warmth (Afterglow) and enraptured calm (Five Years). And while still laden with youthful exuberance following the release a few years ago of her debut EP at the age of 14, I Spent My Summer on the Road is a stirring and disarming experience, with Wilder once again finding magic alongside NICOLOSI and an array of influences, as Wilder explains, “I started writing with Sam when I was 14 and working on my first EP. I honestly didn’t let him go after. Lana Del Rey is my ultimate reference for everything. Bon Iver, Matt Maeson, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeroes, The Lumineers, Florence & The Machine, and so many more came into play. This EP is a testament to the last three years of my life. It’s my coming-of-age scrapbook through the lens of being 17 and confused. In the course of processing that evolution, I started to accept it and I had to write about it.”
Emerging as a teenager armed with earthy melodies, wistful narratives and gossamer vocals, Cloe Wilder’s innate ability to evoke warm and familiar melodies with her witticism and heartfelt lyricism aligns her comfortably as a Floridian young Taylor Swift, with sonic poise well beyond her young years. Dabbling in the bedroom pop realms of Lana Del Rey and Phoebe Bridges as well as folk and modern sentimentality, Wilder is as much a confidante as she is a conduit for evocative and memorable music. With her previous single Call Me If You Need Me currently in command of over 1 million individual streams, Wilder also has an array of live performances in her wake, including Breaking Sound in Los Angeles, and supports with EMELINE, Spencer Sutherland, Steinza and is currently on the road with Charlotte Sands. And in 2024, her journey continues with the impending release of her sophomore EP, I Spent My Summer on the Road.
“I put out my first EP out when I was 14, so I’m beyond excited for this new introduction,” Wilder concludes. “These songs are really important to me, and I’ve loved being able to grow with them.”
Afterglow is out today, Friday March 29.
I Spent My Summer on the Road is due out on Friday April 19.
THE DREGGS SHARE LUMINOUS NEW SINGLE ‘PEEPS WITH THE GOODS’ DEBUT ALBUM ‘CAUGHT IN A REVERIE’ SET FOR RELEASE APRIL 26 + AUS AND NZ ALBUM HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF IN JUNE + APPEARING AT SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS IN JULY
Disarming, charming and sonically warm as a summer breeze, the new single Peeps With The Goods from beloved indie-folk The Dreggs draws on the pair’s trademark vivacity, while also unfurling a fresh new direction as the band sit poised on the release of their debut album Caught In A Reverie, due out on Friday April 26. With The Dreggs set to celebrate their first-ever full length via a national Australian tour this June and July, fans can also catch some extra Dreggs infamous live magic rounding out the Aussie run with an appearance on the main stage on Saturday July 20 as part of the stacked lineup for Splendour In The Grass.
An effervescent addition to their ever-expanding repertoire, Peeps With The Goods finds The Dreggs, aka Paddy Macrae and Zane Harris, exploring new terrain, injecting elements of airy soul and gospel alongside a treatise on life as an independent artist in the modern music industry. With inspiration from fellow Aussie indie legend Matt Corby, Peeps With The Goods was fittingly conjured with the man himself, as The Dreggs’ own Paddy Macrae explains, “Matt Corby was a huge influence for this track. We were given the opportunity to write and record with Corby and this song is the result of that collaboration. The song is about the push and pull a lot of independent artists have to confront within the music industry. It’s an anthem to those who have experienced equal parts joy and frustration with their career, but also a reminder that persevering is the only way to push through and find that ‘happy place’, whatever that might mean for them.”
Working alongside Alex Henriksson as well as Corby in the studio to bring Peeps With The Goods to life, with mastering courtesy of Paul Blakey, the latest single from The Dreggs joins recent drops Take A Little Time and Places, setting the scene for a universe of magic lying in wait on the duo’s long-awaited debut album due out this April. Building on the sturdy foundations set out by their 2018 debut EP Seas Embrace, Caught In A Reverie is The Dreggs taking full, shimmering flight, with 12 songs set to delight, calm and charm. Opening with the breezy warmth of Peeps With The Goods, Caught In A Reverie sonically transports you into a daydream of acoustic percolating beauty (Train Left The Station), stirring indie folk (Places), airy stomping yarns (I’m A Little Older) and bluesy bliss (Berlin), with each passing track glowing with The Dreggs’ intuitive storytelling and vibrant instrumentation. An equally intimate and engaging journey, Caught In A Reverie unfurls its poignant core themes in the seamless hands of Macrae and Harris, with the end result emerging as one of wonder and catharsis as well as showcasing the pair’s compelling growth and shift as songwriters. “We are so beyond stoked to finally be releasing our debut album,” shares Macrae. “It’s been a long time coming and we are confident that people are going to take something from it. I would be lying if I said we weren’t nervous, however, as this is an introduction into a slightly different scope of our songwriting and where it will eventually take us. Some of the tracks may surprise some of our listeners but, alas, this is a journey for us as much as it is for our fans and it wouldn’t much of an exciting one if we kept using the same equation. The album has a lot of themes of grief spread throughout. That of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then eventually acceptance. This album is very much a personal diary, showcasing some extremely personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions with the goal to provide listeners with an individual and very raw perspective of grief without judgement. Hopefully people will listen to this album and understand a little more of how important it is that we all experience grief as individuals, and that in itself is a good thing.”
A genuine force to be reckoned with in a live setting, as anyone who attended their respective mass-singalong sets at Spilt Milk and NYE On The Hill will attest to, The Dreggs will hit the road this June and July to launch Caught In A Reverie nationally, before rounding out their Aussie run with an appearance on the iconic Splendour In The Grass lineup. A band who can hold giant crowds in the palm of their hands with their irresistible wit and vulnerability, there will also be a few surprises in store for fans later this year onstage, as Macrae reveals, “It wouldn’t be a Dreggs show without a singalong and we’ve made sure there are plenty of magical moments throughout the set. One of the goals we have been working on is incorporating lot of moments where we can involve the crowd. On top of that, we are excited to be bringing the energy onstage with the addition of other band members. Don’t worry, it’ll still be Paddy and Zane, the folk duo, that we started out as, but just with some friends with us to turn it from a ‘performance’ to a ‘show’! We are also ecstatic to be a part of one of Australia’s largest and most well-known contemporary music festivals in Australia’s music history. It’s been a dream of ours for so long, and to be given the opportunity is absolutely wild. There’s no better way to finish up our major Aus tour than to top it off with Splendour!! We’ll see you guys there!”
Kicking off 2024 as triple j Unearthed’s first feature artist for the year, The Dreggs are only just getting started as they approach the release of their debut album. But 2024 isn’t the first year of highs for the Sunshine Coast band, with the pair catapulting from the release of their debut single Give Myself To You back in 2017 into one of Australia’s most in-demand live acts, alongside having their debut track certified Gold in Australia in 2023. Also selling over 15,000 tickets in Australia alone last year with their largest ever headline and regional tours, and mesmerising crowds of around 10,000 with their sets at Spilt Milk Festival, The Dreggs are undeniably the hottest ticket in town, with their recently announced album release week shows selling out in 48 hours – purely off the back of an Instagram post. And it’s not just at home that The Dreggs love runs deep, with the duo also continuing to turn heads overseas, with their return to the UK and Europe this May set to deliver their biggest headline shows to date.
Peeps With The Goods is out today, Friday March 22.
Caught In A Reverie is due out Friday April 26.
Streaming link: PEEPS WITH THE GOODS
THE DREGGS – UPCOMING ALBUM LAUNCH PARTIES
FRI 26 APRIL | MIAMI MARKETTA, GOLD COAST | SOLD OUT
SAT 27 APRIL | KINGS BEACH TAVERN, SUNSHINE COAST | SOLD OUT
SUN 28 APRIL | THE TRIFFID, BRISBANE | SOLD OUT
WED 1 MAY | TORQUAY HOTEL, VIC | SOLD OUT
THURS 2 MAY | NORTHCOTE SC, MELBOURNE | SOLD OUT
THE DREGGS – ALBUM TOUR – AUSTRALIA/NZ
FRI 14 JUN | HINDLEY STREET MUSIC HALL, ADELAIDE SA | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 15 JUN | METRO CITY, PERTH WA | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 21 JUN | FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 28 JUN | ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 29 JUN | FORUM, MELBOURNE | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 20 JUL | NGARINDJIN NORTH BYRON PARKLANDS, BYRON BAY | ALL AGES
Tickets available from https://splendourinthegrass.com/tickets/
FRI 26 JUL | THE CHURCH, CHRISTCHURCH, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SAT 27 JUL | U BAR, DUNEDIN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
SUN 28 JUL | YONDER, QUEENSTOWN, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
THU 1 AUG | SAN FRAN, WELLINGTON, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com
FRI 2 AUG | TUNING FORK, AUCKLAND, NZ | 18+
Tickets available from www.thedreggsmusic.com