Rats In The Maze (369 Music) is the new release from singer songwriter Willie Dowling. The song is available from September 4th 2026, on all the usual digital music platforms, including Bandcamp.
The story driving the musically up-tempo, bright and positive sounding pop rock of Rats In The Maze is somewhat contrary to the music, and highlights a feeling that seems to pervade most of western society at the moment.
“It’s the increasing realisation that despite our attempts to navigate the struggles and the routine predictability of our lives, we are essentially getting nowhere while struggling to keep our heads above water despite our best efforts ”, says Willie Dowling.
“And with more of us uncomfortable with how we’re constantly monitored by a tiny handful of the super-rich who not only control our media and harvest our data, but are making rapid in-roads into owning western democracies, we’re seemingly forced to dance to the tunes they play. But Rats In The Maze also poses the question; Is the past complacency and hedonism of ours and previous generations partly responsible for how this existential problem has crept up on us all?”
Andy Lewis plays bass on Rats In The Maze, with Darby Todd on drums and Jo Lewis on cello and strings.
The music video for Rats In The Maze was produced and directed by James Heron of Carriage Return.
Watch the video on YouTube, here.
Rats In The Maze is the second track from Willie Dowling to be released this year. The first was Carry On Refusing, which followed in the footsteps of Dowling’s critically acclaimed album of piano-driven rock songs The Simpleton, released in November 2024.
Willie Dowling has spent a lot of time in his recording studio in France since touring The Simpleton album throughout 2025. He has a new album recorded, as yet untitled, which is expected to be released early in 2027.
ABOUT WILLIE DOWLING
Willie Dowling is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer and producer for his own bands, as well as for other artists and for film and television.
Willie Dowling’s album The Simpleton was released in November 2024, to great critical acclaim.
Willie has toured extensively for the past couple of years. He’s been tour support to Hillbilly Vegas, Cats In Space, Quireboys and Luke Morley, and also played a number of headline shows across the UK.
Over the years Willie has fronted, written and produced albums for influential rockers Honeycrack, Jackdaw4 and The Dowling Poole.
Willie has recorded studio sessions for, and toured with a wide variety of artists including, Dr Hook, Midge Ure, Hot Chocolate, The Wildhearts, Shane McGowan, Maroon Town, Andy Taylor, Cats in Space, Luke Morley, Quireboys and numerous acts besides, usually on keyboards, guitars and vocals, along with occasional other instruments.
In addition to band/artist production and touring work, Willie Dowling is a renowned composer for film and television in a wide variety of styles and genres, from electro-pop to full orchestral scores. More info here.
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