It’s been a minute since Central Coast artist Gray Days last graced our airwaves, but the charm he’s always possessed remains completely intact. Returning on the 9th of December with the brand-new single ‘Broken Bones’, Gray Days strips back the noise, delivering a track that is beautifully raw and effortlessly organic. It’s an acoustic exploration that immediately breathes with a timeless, almost rustic feel, built upon an easy-going confidence that makes you realise exactly what you’ve been missing.
For fans of acts like The Cure or The Church, this release will feel instantly familiar, existing in that glorious space where brooding introspection meets jangling melodic uplift. The song is lightly textured and features Gray Days’ signature lighter vocal tones, complimented perfectly by the sweeping soundscape crafted by his usual cohort: Michael Greville on guitar and Adam Church laying down the rousing percussion. Behind the desk, Simon Dobson, who also chipped in with a bit of synth. has ensured the production is wonderfully clean while retaining that necessary raw edge.
What really gives ‘Broken Bones’ its unique character, however, is its unlikely genesis. The track was built around a mandolin riff, an instrument Gray Days admits he’d only "played a little in the past but just following already existing guitar." After finally getting his own, the song just exploded out of him: he "wrote this within the first five minutes of playing it, go figure." That spontaneity is palpable in the track’s flow, and he even joked about the unconventional composition, stating: "don't ask me what the chords are, they just spewed out."
That energy drives the track through its structure, rallying around a chorus that truly feels like it’s building towards something bigger. As the song moves towards its inevitable crescendo, Gray Days unleashes a gorgeous whirlwind of intricate guitar work and rousing percussion. This moment is the climax, where the acoustic lightness gives way to a genuine, luscious soundscape, suggesting a bigger, bolder vision at play.
As the first release from an upcoming album due early in the new year, ‘Broken Bones’ is an exquisite return that proves this Central Coast artist has plenty of fuel left in the tank. It’s a captivating folk-indie offering that promises a brilliant start to 2026.
You can stream the new single today on all your favourite platforms, and for more, be sure to connect with Gray Days on Bandcamp, Facebook, and Instagram.
