Dec Ramsay speaks after a decade of silence with debut single Gretchen Ross

London has become a rite of passage for many Kiwis. Some love it so much they put down roots. For Dec Ramsay it's been nearly ten years. But that doesn’t mean they've forgotten where they're originally from.

Growing up in Ngamotu, New Plymouth and later Poneke, Wellington, Dec has recently released a debut single Gretchen Ross, and it packs a fitting story of resilience. The song speaks of survival and silence. After years in an abusive relationship, Dec was finally able to talk about what happened a decade later and it has now materialised in the form of a song.

And the track itself is appropriately voiced with profound tension and release throughout. It comes together like a ballad with subtle electronic textures sitting underneath, subtly building. The track encapsulates the courage of its writer; it is as much a power track as it is a personal diary entry.

Although this is Dec's first official release, they're no stranger to the music scene. Back in New Plymouth he was mentored by New Zealand alternative icon Peter Jefferies and also spent time performing in various projects throughout Wellington in the 2010s.

Gretchen Ross is a brave release that achieves the strength required to break forward into a new chapter. For Dec Ramsay, this new era is just beginning.