Royston Noell's new single 'Dreaming' a powerful anthem of personal triumph

Joseph Guenzler
Joseph Guenzler Published November 10, 2023 at 12.00pm (AWST)

Royston Noell's latest single, Dreaming, boasts a blend of rhythmic keys, echoing a subtle heartbeat, setting the stage for his compelling vocals.

This new single delves into a pivotal moment for Noell, Australian Idol's 2023 winner, after a 14-year hiatus.

The instrumentation on the track gradually crescendos and peaks with an assertive dance-pop beat introducing the song's memorable chorus.

It reflects on a crucial crossroad post-Year 12 when he grappled with the decision to pursue his musical dream in the city or stay home to care for his mother diagnosed with brain cancer.

"I feel like this is the perfect time to release a song like this, a summer a song," Royston told National Indigenous Times.

"It's such a personal song, but it's also fun; you can still have a dance to it. To really get the gist of what it means you have to listen carefully to the lyrics, which I think is pretty cool as well.

"I asked Mum if she wanted me to stay back a year and help out, 'cause she was starting to get really sick and my brother was her carer at the time, but she insisted, 'No, I want you to go out and follow your dreams.'"

The Thanakwith and Wagadagam man acknowledges the difficulty of leaving Mapoon, a remote Indigenous community in Far North Queensland with about 400 residents, describing the move as "challenging".

"Leaving your cultural identity and way of living, and life, to go and live in an urban environment is like navigating two different worlds," he said.

Royston also notes the support he has received from the mob has come in abundance and continues to inspire him.

"Everybody has been so supportive, true god. They all recognise me for what I've done, which is really lovely," he said.

"Especially the younger generation, knowing that Im helping them through their journey's and letting them know they can do that as well."

Two years after his move to the city, Royston experienced the heartbreaking loss of his mother.

Despite the sorrow, he finds strength in knowing she wholeheartedly backed his decision, always urging him to share his musical gift widely.

"I think she'd be really proud, actually. I know she's always with me," he said.

"When I was on Australian Idol, I always asked her to protect me and make sure everything went well."

Royston's impactful new single is a source of inspiration, resonating both lyrically and sonically, mirroring his own uplifting spirit.

Recently, Royston returned from the U.S where he had the opportunity to work with industry acclaimed talents to refine his songwriting skills for future releases and reflected positively on the experience.

Produced by Chris Chidiac, rolling snares highlight the breakdown, providing listeners with a moment to prepare for Royston's, climactic powernote: "Don't wanna wake up dreamiiiiing!"

"I feel really excited and I'm keen to continue on this inspirational journey. There's so much I wanna give, and no dream is too big," he said.

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National Indigenous Times

Disclaimer: This function is AI-generated and therefore may mispronounce.