There are moments where music carries more than melody, where it becomes a call for change.
Australian vocalist Greg Gould steps into that space with the release of his powerful new album 'Strings Attached (Deluxe)', led by the powerful focus track 'No More', featuring Kate DeAraugo, Adam Noviello and Kween Kong.
Created in response to the tragic deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, the song's accompanying music video is grounded by an incredibly personal presence, with Baird's mother appearing on screen in a moment that transforms the work into both a touching tribute and a powerful statement.
"My hope is that this reaches people who need it," Gould says. "That it starts conversations. That it makes some noise around issues that are far too often not talked about yet so close to home for so many.
"Most of all, that it reminds survivors that you are not alone. Being on set with Helen and the other survivors was incredibly powerful – there were many tears, but also so much shared strength."
That same spirit carries through 'Strings Attached (Deluxe)', which reimagines Gould's 2024 ARIA chart-topping album. "When I first released 'Strings Attached', it was my debut original album.
"Some of those songs had been sitting on my heart for a long time. Getting them out into the world meant everything to me, but I always knew I wasn't finished with them. These songs deserved to grow, and so did I."
Expanding on themes of survival, hope, and resilience, the deluxe edition allows Gould to revisit these stories with renewed perspective, deepening their emotional impact while continuing to advocate for voices too often left unheard.
1: Marching On (with Asher HaVon, Ada Vox & Mykey O)
This is about pushing forward together. I was thinking about the queer community and all minorities who fought for the rights we have today, and how much of that we now stand on.
I wanted to honour that progress, but also be honest that the fight isn't over. There's still work to do, and for me this song is about not giving up – we keep marching.
Asher HaVon was the winner of 'The Voice USA' in 2024 and the show's first openly LGBTQ+ champion, known for his powerhouse soul vocals and deeply emotional performances.
Ada Vox is the San Antonio-based drag vocalist who broke through as a finalist on 'American Idol', 'Canada's Got Talent' and runner-up of 'Queen Of The Universe', widely known as The Voice Of Drag.
Mykey O'Halloran is the Phillip Island TikTok star whose rainbow-painted home drew international attention after homophobic abuse, turning that experience into advocacy for the queer community.
2: Just A Man (with HYM)
This one is really personal. It came from feeling pushed and pulled by everything around me, the pressure, the noise, the expectations, and getting to a point where I felt completely overwhelmed.
I had to stop, take a breath, and ground myself. At the end of the day, I'm just one man doing my best, and this song was me reminding myself of that.
HYM is a rapper, songwriter and viral online creator known for 'Drag Race' reaction and commentary content across social platforms, recognised for his honesty and passion for excellence.
3: Who Gave You Permission? (with John Fedellaga)
This song comes from my own experiences with sexual abuse. It's about reclaiming who I am after having that taken away, and refusing to let anyone else define my worth.
Writing this was confronting, but also really freeing. John and I are both survivors, and bringing that truth into the room made this one incredibly raw, but also incredibly powerful.
John Fedellaga is a LA-based Filipino drag performer and content creator, and star of 'Drag Race Philippines'.
4: Love It All Out (with Morissette)
This one is about that emotional release, written by the great Tania Doko from Bachelor Girl. For a long time I held a lot in: grief, pain, things I didn't know how to process.
This song for me was about finally letting that out, not holding it together for everyone else, and giving myself permission to feel everything.
There's a real sense of healing in that and Tania really put exactly what I was feeling in a song without knowing it.
Morissette is one of the Philippines most celebrated powerhouse vocalists, often called 'Asia's Phoenix', known for her extraordinary vocal range, global performances and viral live renditions that have captivated millions around the world.
5: Bloodlines (with AJA)
This is a bold one. It's about chosen family, abandonment, and identity, and unpacking what you inherit versus what you choose for yourself.
There's anger in it, but also strength. For me, it was about taking those parts of my story and turning that pain into something powerful and unapologetic.
Aja is a Brooklyn rapper, award winning drag artist and trans icon best known for being one of the most loved queens on 'RuPaul's Drag Race'.
6: Something Has To Change (with Mario Jose & Scott Alan)
This came from that moment Scott Alan's (renowned songwriter) relationship where you can feel things slipping, even if no one's saying it out loud.
The love is still there, but something isn't working anymore, and you start to feel that quiet distance growing. It's that point where you both have to ask the hard question – is this enough, or does something have to change?
Mario Jose is the American soul and pop vocalist known for his powerful voice and viral performances, gaining a global following from his rich tone and emotional delivery.
Scott Alan – acclaimed American composer, songwriter and pianist best known for his emotionally powerful musical theatre works and collaborations with Broadway and West End performers like Cynthia Erivo and Lea Solanga.
7: Come Home (with Tarryn Stokes)
This one comes from a really specific moment – a fight that felt like it ended everything. Words said, walls up, and that feeling of 'this is it'.
Then almost immediately, the regret. When everything quiets down, it strips back to something really simple and human – just come home.
Tarryn Stokes won 'The Voice Australia' in 2023 and recently toured with Josh Groban as his special guest on the Australian leg of his Gems world tour.
8: Hurricane (with Willam)
I wrote this while I was in the US performing at Full Moon Fest. It's about one of those relationships that's chaotic, intense, unpredictable – a full hurricane.
You know it's messy, you know it's not easy, but there's something about it you can't walk away from. That push and pull is what this song lives in.
Willam is an iconic drag performer, actor, and recording artist best known for 'RuPaul's Drag Race'. He later appeared in 'A Star Is Born' and has featured in numerous TV shows and films.
9: You Are Enough (with Royston Noell)
This one is about coming back to yourself. It's about learning to show yourself compassion after being your own worst critic, and slowly rebuilding that belief in your worth.
For me, it was about really sitting with the idea that I am enough, exactly as I am, without needing to prove anything.
Royston Noell was the winner of 'Australian Idol' in 2023. A proud Thanakwith and Wagadagam man from Mapoon in Far North Queensland.
10: Home (with Shoshana Bean)
This song really resonated with me from the moment I heard it. It's about love and connection, and that feeling of safety you find in someone.
The idea that home isn't always a place – sometimes it's a person you come back to, no matter what.
Shoshana Bean is a Grammy winning, multiple Tony-nominated Broadway star known for 'Wicked' and 'Waitress'. She recently originated the role of Jersey in Alicia Key's hit musical 'Hell's Kitchen'.
11: No More (with Kate DeAraugo, Adam Noviello & Kween Kong)
I wrote this after the senseless and tragic killings of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. I remember feeling sick, heavy, and completely shaken.
I didn't want to get out of bed. Writing this was how I processed that, but it also became something bigger – a line in the sand. No more silence, no more excuses, no more violence.
Kate DeAraugo won 'Australian Idol' in 2005, scored a #1 ARIA single with 'Maybe Tonight', and later joined the multi-platinum group Young Divas.
Adam Noviello is a non-binary Australian singer-songwriter and actor. He was named by triple j as one of ten queer artists to discover before they blow up.
Kween Kong is a Pasifika New Zealand drag performer best known as a runner-up on 'RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under' season two, and runner-up on 'Global All Stars' and is set to star in the upcoming 'Traitors Australia'.
12: Like This Before (with Jaz Flowers)
This one is about going through some of life's hardest moments, the kind that make you question everything, and then finding love on the other side of it.
That feeling of not thinking it was possible, and then it arrives when you least expect it.
Jaz Flowers is an Australian musical theatre star, originating the role of Tracey Turnblad in 'Hairspray'. Jaz has since become a TikTok star with a huge following around the world.
13: They Don't Know
This song sits with me in a really heavy way. It's about animal cruelty and the destruction of their homes, and that haunting truth they don't understand why this is happening to them.
There's something really confronting in that innocence, and it's something I wanted people to sit with.
14: All That Glitters (with Karise Eden)
This one is about survival. About what it takes to break cycles, to face what you've been through, and still choose to stand in your truth. It's about strength, resilience, and not letting your past define you.
Karise Eden won the first season of 'The Voice Australia' in 2012. She made Australian chart history when four of her recordings entered the ARIA top five in the same week.
15: Just For You (with Joan & The Giants)
This song is incredibly special. Written by Grace after an unimaginable loss, it carries so much truth and emotion.
For me, it's about holding on through the darkest moments, and that quiet reminder that even when everything feels unbearable, you’re not alone.
Joan & The Giants are a powerhouse alt-pop band, known for emotionally charged songwriting and soaring vocals. Having supported P!nk and The Fray, they've built a reputation for bold, heartfelt anthems that connect deeply with audiences.
16: Running (from the motion picture 'Body Blow')
This is the theme I wrote for the film 'Body Blow', and it really sits in that moment where everything shifts.
It starts in survival, in tension, in holding on, and then builds into something stronger. The moment when you stop running from yourself and run towards someone who's going to love you back.
