Dylan Wright is one half of the country duo Sons of Atticus, along with Matt Joyce, and after appearing at this year’s Tamworth Country Music Festival Wright went quickly on to appear in Australian Idol – and then to win it. He released a half-EP, Half a World Away Pt 1, a few weeks ago and now the full EP is out, along with the single ‘Mess of a Man’.
The songs on the EP have the heart so evident in the work of Sons of Atticus married with Wright’s outstanding vocal capabilities, which he developed considerably during Idol, as we discuss in this interview. The music team behind the scenes pushed him to really explore the meaning and emotion behind each song, which led to a noticeable evolution in his songwriting too, which means Wright now feels more confident in exploring a wider vocal range and infusing his music with greater personal significance.
The songs on Half a World Away were written in the intense aftermath of Idol; the introspective and honest nature of the lyrics reflects Wright’s journey of navigating his newfound success, family responsibilities, and a renewed sense of faith (which I particularly wanted to ask him about).
During the chat Wright also candidly shares his experiences navigating the intense pressures and demands of Idol. Despite being an experienced performer, he was surprised by the sheer intensity of the show, and he had to quickly adapt to the technical aspects of live TV performance, including remembering lyrics and using his voice to its fullest potential.
We talk too about his long-standing friendship and musical partnership with Joyce, and how that has been a source of support throughout Wright’s whirlwind experiences during and since Idol. The duo is currently embarking on a 30-date regional tour, with Wright’s hometown show in Cronulla already sold out.
When I interviewed Sons of Atticus quite a while ago now, Wright and Joyce were easy to talk to and so interesting, and Wright on his own was just the same. I hope you enjoy watching or listening to this chat, and even though I only saw a little bit of Sons of Atticus at Tamworth the Wright-Joyce live proposition is a fantastic one – so show dates are below in case you’re able to get along.
See Dylan Wright live:
SAT 26 OCT - HERITAGE HOTEL, BULLI
SUN 27 OCT - BRASS MONKEY, CRONULLA
FRI 01 NOV - SHADOWS, CANBERRA
Tickets
FRI 29 NOV - BRUNSWICK PICTURE HOUSE, BRUNSWICK HEADS
SAT 30 NOV - THE WALLABY HOTEL, GOLD COAST (FREE ENTRY)
FRI 06 DEC - KEYSTONE 1889, BATHURST
SAT 07 DEC - THE AGRESTIC GROCER, ORANGE
Tickets
SUN 08 DEC - TILBA VALLEY WINERY & ALEHOUSE, TILBA VALLEY
WA Tour Dates
FRI 15 NOV – THE CHARLES HOTEL, NORTH PERTH
Tickets
*Adam Brand support
SAT 16 NOV – YELLOWFIELDS, VALLEY TAVERN NABAWA
SUN 17 NOV – RAVENSWOOD HOTEL, RAVENSWOOD
Tickets
*Adam Brand support
Listen to Dylan Wright on Apple Music
Listen to Dylan Wright on Spotify
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