Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By Toby Wells, Independent/Toby Wells Music 2022.
Toby Wells is living the dream on the beautiful central coast of NSW, surfing and working as a professional musician.
He’s released three or four singles before Ocean Blues, but this song is the one that should bring him to the attention of a wider musical community than just his devoted mid-coast fans.
Toby has a lot going for him; he writes good songs, which are lyrically and musically interesting, he’s a proficient guitarist, and he has a particularly good voice.
In addition to that, he’s developed an interest in production and become hands on with the recording and production of his songs.
He started off learning piano at a young age before getting his first guitar when he was eleven years old.
He didn’t start singing and writing songs until he was in his mid-teens but over the last few years, he’s progressed to become not only an accomplished writer and performer while also a regular on the mid-coast club and pub scenes, including the festival circuit.
He wasn’t always a confident performer.
He tells the story of his first concert as a child where he ran and hid until it was over so that he didn’t have to perform.
Ocean Blues is an up-tempo pop/rock track that is his catchiest song to date, and I anticipate that it will get radio airtime.
It’s radio friendly with ample hooks, a strong melody, a snazzy guitar solo, and of course his wonderful vocal.
There’s a thriving music scene that has emerged on the central coast in recent years which has seen the emergence of a spate of new talent.
Ocean Blues shows that Toby is a leading light among them.
