Westwood Is Where It All Comes Together For Dylan Gossett

Dylan Gossett sounds like someone who knows exactly where he’s going. His debut album, Westwood, is the product of a whirlwind few years that have seen him evolve from posting demos online to selling out international shows, and every song on the record carries the weight of that transformation.

“When I think back to when it all shifted, it was definitely when I put out Coal,” Gossett says. “That song changed my life. It opened the door to everything.” But it wasn’t just the success of one viral track that flipped the script, it was the moment he started playing live. “A lot of these songs were written once we started touring. That was a huge turning point,” he explains. “It gave me a whole new perspective, and it helped my songwriting a lot.”

That perspective came from a global lens. Gossett’s first time overseas was opening for Noah Kahan right here in Australia, an experience he says still blows his mind. Twelve months later, he returned, this time on his own headline run with support from Australian rising star Tyla Rodrigues. “Hearing people sing your songs back to you halfway across the world, it’s pretty surreal,” he says with a grin.

That sense of movement, momentum, and chasing opportunity inspired the name Westwood. “The first meetings I took were on the West Coast,” he says. “I always think of people heading west for opportunity. That’s what this album felt like, chasing dreams and going for it.”

And while the project is rooted in ambition, it’s also deeply personal. Themes of love, faith, family, and finding your footing weave through each track. “I feel like this album really sums up a chapter of my life,” he says. “Now working on album two, it kind of feels like I’m stepping into the next one.”

The songs themselves are raw and intimate, recorded exactly how Gossett wanted them to sound. “I trust myself a lot more now,” he explains. “Seeing people connect with the music the way I make it, simple, honest, stripped back, that gave me the confidence to just lean into my gut. Westwood is exactly how I envisioned it. Love it or hate it, that’s the sound I wanted.”

That doesn’t mean there weren’t nerves. “This is the most public thing I’ve ever done,” he admits. “There’s confidence, but there’s also anxiety. You just hope people feel something when they hear it.”

One of the most personal tracks on the album, Smell of Rain, captures a quiet, joyful moment from Gossett’s anniversary trip to a small fishing town in Ireland. “It was just this beautiful night of music with my wife, sitting in a pub, trading songs with locals,” he recalls. “That one’s just me and a guitar. It means a lot to me.”

Others, like the folk-leaning Adeline, explore letting go of fear and holding out for better days. It’s a sonic shift that reflects his broader range but still fits perfectly within the album’s storytelling lens.

Part of what keeps Gossett grounded is his support system. “My brother’s on the road with me. The band feels like family. My wife’s with me whenever she can be. I’ve got great people around me,” he says. “So when I come off tour, it’s easy to lock back in and write about the everyday stuff I’m still going through.”

Despite the travel and success, home remains the emotional anchor. “Being away definitely makes you appreciate home more,” he admits. “But seeing how people live all over the world, that gives you something new to write about too.”

Looking back, what would 2023 Dylan say if he saw himself now? Gossett laughs. “I think he’d be pumped. He’d be like, ‘These TikToks are paying off!’ But honestly, I wouldn’t tell him anything. I wouldn’t want to mess with the timeline. I’d just let him keep grinding.”

That kind of humble confidence is heard loud and clear through every track on Westwood, an album about movement, yes, but also about knowing where you came from. And with Gossett heading back out on tour and writing the next chapter already, it’s clear he’s only just getting started.

Westward will be available everywhere tomorrow, July 18, 2025.