‘Half Light’ is the thumping, tumbling new art-rock track by Melbourne artist Ryan Downey, exploring the challenges and cathartic rush of personal freedom and expression. Produced by Burke Reid (Courtney Barnett, Julia Jacklin, The Drones), the track heaves and crashes with electrifying heft yet carries a beautiful sensuality at its core, recalling baroque rock anthems of Kate Bush and David Bowie by way of 90s Britpop, but handled with contemporary indie production flair.
Downey‘s powerfully vulnerable all-terrain vocals centre the song, navigating pulsating rhythms, floor melting choruses and a warped choral interlude. In Downey‘s own words, “’Half Light’ is about facing fear and feelings of inadequacy head on. Sometimes fears have been around so long they feel warm and protective, making them even harder to overcome. The song is a celebration at the halfway point – the dusk of the journey – a celebration you’ve got to have sometimes to give yourself the fuel to go all the way. That pilot light of joy can mean everything venturing into the night.”
New single‘Half Light’ follows the atmospheric trip of Downey’s recent single ‘Contact’, and the album’s debut single ‘Heart Is An Onion’, Downey’s flamboyant take on anthemic indie-rock – both songs taken from Downey’s forthcoming album A TON OF COLOURS and garnering attention from the likes of NME, The Sunday Times (UK), triple J and Double J.
Following 4 sold-out headline shows this month, Downey and his band will be supporting Middle Kids at The Melbourne Recital for 3 shows this May – dates below.
A TON OF COLOURS follows the release of Ryan’s debut album Running (2018, Barely Dressed Records), which saw him nominated for an Australian Music Prize and play a string of headline shows in Australia, as well as being invited to open for support tours across Australia and Europe for artists like Marlon Williams, Sarah Blasko and Emma Louise.
New single ‘Half Light’ is digitally released today with Ryan Downey’s long-player A TON OF COLOURS out May 14th via Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records.
