Perth's Voyager Are Taking Rock to Eurovision with ‘Dreamer’

For those who came in late: Australia competes in the annual Eurovision Song Contest. Now that that’s out of the way, we typically go alright. We often relied on former TV contest winners (Guy Sebastian, Jess Mauboy, the incomparable Dami Im) or more recently indie pop legends (Kate Miller Heidke, Montaigne) but often got a rousing reception from the live crowd, if not international voters. Sadly Montaigne’s 2020 campaign was derailed by COVID and travel restrictions meant her 2021 performance was filmed remotely in Sydney, a fact that no doubt contributed to the fact it became our first song to miss the grand final. Australian fans were shattered. 

Present Day: Australia’s Eurovision entry is again to be decided by public vote at the cleverly titled event - Eurovision: Australia Decides! On the Gold Coast artists will gather to perform their nominated song and win the right to contest against Europe. With the shock loss in the Semi Finals of 2021, a new approach might be considered, dare I say, a new approach is exactly what is required. It is time to right a wrong. 

This nation's music industry was built on a solid foundation of rock. The Wild One. Barnsey. Farnsey. Bon and Angus. The Oils. Silverchair. Parkway. And we know we do it better than anyone. It is time that we show Europe that we can still do it just as well as they can.

Enter Perth band Voyager. 

Frontman Danny Estrin is a multilingual lawyer by day, and a respected musician by night. Aided by his keytar, some heavy rock riffs and a liberal use of synths, their entry could be the missing piece that has seen victory elude Australia to so far. 

‘Dreamer’ is a beat heavy tune with a catchy earworm vocal from Estrin. It’s an uplifting electro-rock anthem that is neither too heavy nor the sort of sugar gum pop offered up by other countries. And yet there is a darkness lurking, a menace that is captivating and a longing to belong that will connect people across Australia and Europe, much like Maneskin did in winning the competition last year. We know European voters and jurors will come to rock with a pop hook and energetic performance. Voyager can tick those boxes. The video itself has all the colour audiences love, and is both wonderfully choreographed and untamed. It has the high notes, it has the wind machine and had better have pyro on the big stage. 

Australia, the time has come for us to be represented by rock. 

Vote for Voyager - ‘Dreamer’ on Saturday February 26, 2022. Broadcast is on SBS and SBS OnDemand. Check out the track below. You can find out more about Eurovision: Australia Decides here. 

Words: KJ Draven (Twitter). Instagram: @kjdraven 

Listen to 'Dreamer' here