Drawing influence from classic ’60s rock, pop and country, as well as contemporary artists like Gerry Cinnamon, Drew Russell has caught our attention with his debut EP Into The Night.

By Graeme Smith

Kicking off his music career in 2022, Drew is a growing presence on his local Brisbane scene. He’s also featured on radio stations across Australia, and now his music has made it to this side of the world thanks to his debut EP.

Drew wrote, recorded, mixed and mastered the EP himself, showing us his flair for production alongside his visceral song writing. Lyrically, we get Drew’s take on the modern world from human psychology to political structures.

The EP opens with the atmosphere-building No Time For Lizards before launching headlong into the pacy, plucky Deliverance. Drew’s Americana influences ride roughshod during a cantering pop-rock number that you can’t help but move along to.

Broken Tape is perhaps the collection’s most striking moment. It sits at the heart of the EP, instantly giving us some classic indie pop. Its groovy instrumental tempers the dark defiance of its lyrics, especially during an anthemic chorus where Drew leaves it all out there with his vocals.

Every Little Bleed strips things back with some acoustic rock before Take A Stand gives us some harmonica-infused hopeful melancholia. The EP’s title track Into The Night closes things with a powerful, bluesy anthem. The riffs rumble along nicely while Drew provides plenty of fist-raising moments with his lyrics.

Drew’s debut EP is a heady mix of hard-hitting storytelling and approachable pop rock. It’s an intoxicating combo which means it’s immediately rewarding while still giving the listener plenty to return for. Rarely have I heard a record that makes itself so quickly loveable. With this debut, Drew is truly marking himself out as one to keep an eye on.

Into The Night is out now and you can check it out below.