Dylan Wright will play a homecoming gig at The Brass Monkey. Picture supplied

Sutherland Shire's own Dylan Wright is coming home.

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While the 2024 Australian Idol winner now calls the Northern Rivers home, he is returning to the familiar streets where he grew up for a performance at The Brass Monkey on May 15.

The homecoming gig is part of his massive 21-date Songs & Stories national tour, but the shire connection runs deep. Before he hits the stage in Cronulla, fans can get a taste of his latest evolution with the release of his new single, Crooked Road, dropping this Friday, April 17.

The track serves as a poignant precursor to his upcoming EP, Crossroads, which is scheduled for release on July 10 and is available for pre-order now.

Dylan describes Crossroads as a personal project, representing the space between his past and his future. "It's a collection of songs about times I nearly broke," he said. "It's me reflecting on the past and looking inwardly, but overall it's about how I didn't give up on myself."

The upcoming record also features his most reflective single to date, Those Nights, which he recently performed during a guest appearance on Australian Idol. The track, defined by Dylan's signature soaring vocals, is a nostalgic nod to the freedoms and friendships of youth - themes that are sure to resonate as he performs just a stone's throw from where many of his memories were made.

It has been a monumental year for the artist. Dylan recently took home his first Golden Guitar award for Bluegrass Recording of the Year with his band, Sons of Atticus. His recent schedule has been a whirlwind, from opening for Tina Arena and touring with Busby Marou to performing at CMA Fest in Nashville and playing across Europe with the dance outfit Breathe.

Crooked Road, co-written with industry heavyweights Alexander Burnett and P.J. Harding, finds Dylan at his most vulnerable. "It's about a time I felt like I wasn't enough," he said. "But it's a reminder to keep going, to reach out to people, and that you don't have to do it alone."

Dylan Wright reveals new single and EP ahead of Cronulla performance. Picture supplied

With a year of international stages and major awards behind him, this intimate Cronulla performance marks a special full-circle moment for one of the region's most successful musical exports. Dylan reflects on the journey that brought him here, saying the community he found on screen remains a priority. "I said to the Australian Idol contestants if you ever need help or want to chat, because things can get hectic and you can feel like you're alone, and a few of them reached out," Dylan said. "The show has such a family vibe, everyone was connected and they grew together."

Returning to The Brass Monkey is a significant milestone for the singer, who has been performing in the area for over half his life. "I started playing at The Brass Monkey when I was 16. I'm 33 now. This is my first solo tour. It's going to be nice to share stories and go back to the days when I was busking at Gymea," he said. This tour and the Crossroads album represent a triumph over intense personal struggles.

"Crossroads is a deep dive into who I am and who I've become. Almost three years ago I was battling depression and I didn't really want to be here anymore. I was in a dark place. I didn't feel good enough or worthy. One week after I planned not being here anymore, I auditioned for Idol. Music gave me a purpose and reignited why I'm here and what I do, especially alongside my daughters."

He said his body of work marks a return to his roots in more ways than one. "This album is coming back to my faith. Music has been my outlet and I've always written songs about what I'm feeling and what I'm going through, rather than what I thought people would like. This album is about being vulnerable and I've had so many messages from people saying how much it's resonated with them."

Even his transition from contestant to guest performer felt full-circle. "The song Those Nights I actually wrote it before I went on Idol. I figured that would be my first single once I got booted off the show. It was surreal to get back on the show and play it two years later. I think everyone can relate to all the songs on the album."

Despite his rising stardom, his heart remains firmly in the shire. "When I'm back in the shire, I always try to get to a Sharks game. Even just to drive past the stadium," he said. Fans might even hear a subtle tribute to his team on the new record. "Actually the first track on the album I wrote, it's about believing in yourself, and at the end of the chorus there's an 'up up'."

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