Meet The Wildlings:
The indie-folk duo that’ll tug at your heart and have you in stitches
Blending emotive vocals with lush guitar and raw storytelling, The Wildlings have become one of regional Victoria’s most captivating live acts.
Now, they’re entering a new chapter – with Grounded in their sights.
We caught up with the duo to talk music and what you can expect from their set.
Not new to the stage
If you’ve spent any time on the regional music circuit, you’ve probably caught Drew Walker or Ryan Gay before. Maybe even both.
Between them they’ve played hundreds of shows, from Echuca to Shepparton and beyond. They’ve opened for the likes of Tom Harrington and Jess Lorraine and soundtracked countless nights in country pubs and wedding halls.
But this year, they’re doing things a little differently.
‘We’re only doing the special gigs now – ticketed shows, festivals, the ones where people are there for the sole purpose of the music,’ Drew says.
It’s part of a new desire to swap the constant grind for something more intentional.
And honestly? We love that for them.
When Drew first met Ryan, she was a vocalist fresh from the theatre scene, and he was a guitarist and producer obsessed with sound.
Together, they’re a force.
‘Ever since we met, we just clicked,’ Drew says. ‘We don’t follow a formula, we’re a bit wild and we do things our own way – I think that’s why it works.’
How they sound
Fans of Angus and Julia Stone and The Civil Wars will recognise the same blend of
intimacy, warmth and rawness in The Wildlings.
They write about love (the good kind and the messy kind), about life as working
musicians, and about holding onto yourself when things get heavy.
Sometimes it’s tender (like their song that captures forgotten love between an elderly couple). Other times it’s cheeky (like Madhouse – their ode to musicians not being taken seriously).
But one thing is consistent: their vocals weave and meet perfectly in the middle,
fusing into something intimate and unforgettable.
‘We want people to walk away from our music feeling like they’ve discovered
something neat,’ Drew said. ‘Two soloists from different walks of life coming together – that’s the sound. That’s The Wildlings.’
Expect banter and a heartfelt set at Grounded
Regional Victoria has produced some stupidly talented artists.
And The Wildlings are right up there.
This year, they’re back in the studio writing and self-producing new material – and there’s plenty in the vault.
‘We’ve probably got an album’s worth of songs ready to be worked on,’ Ryan says. ‘The timing finally feels right to get our next single ready to release, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.’
And lucky for us, Grounded is part of this next, new chapter.
Catch them live and you’ll get it all: heartfelt storytelling and the occasional roast between songs.
‘We can make you laugh and also make you cry,’ Drew says. ‘We’re real people up there performing in front of other real people.’