Almost two years on from the release of his debut studio album, Dean Lewis has officially ended the drought of new music, sharing the first taster of her highly-anticipated new record today by way of “Falling Up”.
First teased on Instagram last month, “Falling Up” arrives as the first piece of new material from Lewis since his 2019 collaboration with Martin Garrix, which in turn followed on from his chart-topping debut, A Place We Knew. Featuring lead single “Be Alright”, the track spent five weeks atop the ARIA charts, while its accompanying album saw Lewis take home Album of the Year, Best Male Artist, and Song of the Year at the 2019 ARIA Awards.
Now, with anticipation high, expectations raised, and excitement bubbling, Lewis has returned to the fold with “Falling Up”, which saw the artist facing his lifelong feelings of frustration and anxiety during the songwriting process.
“I always thought I would be happy when I finished school or when I passed an exam, or I got a job or a promotion or if I went travelling and then I was like – ‘Ooh, now I have a record deal, what if I have a big song?’,” he explains.
“Then, I had a big song, and I was on the road for three years and when I stopped, I realised it had all passed me by and I was actually less present and more anxious and stressed than ever. I looked back on my life and at all of these points along the way and I realised that I’ve never felt any better, it’s always been onto the next thing, always moving.”
With lyrics that speak to the sort of anxiety faced countless individuals around the world following the events of 2020, “Falling Up” arrives as a song for the times as it paints a picture of a man in despair: “I’m alone in the spotlight/And the walls are caving in/And I thought I’d be happy/But I’m barely breathing.”
“Those lyrics are about being online and focusing on that one negative comment in a sea of good,” Lewis explains. “You feel the negativity and it affects your life and I took it on, and I found myself feeling more and more anxious and isolated. I really struggle with that.”
Described as the first taste of his second album, details surrounding the new record are expected to be revealed in the near future. Meanwhile, Lewis will also hold an official music video premiere for the track via his YouTube channel at 7:30am AEDT on Saturday, March 6th. Lewis will also be joining fans from 7:10am for a live Q&A ahead of the premiere.
Dean Lewis’ “Falling Up” is out now through Island Records/UMA, while an official video will premiere via YouTube from 7:30am AEDT on Saturday, March 6th.
