Wrabel Details Sobriety Journey On “one drink away”
March 24, 2023 BY Bailey Vigliaturo
Wrabel has become one of pop music’s most eloquent and accomplished modern day songwriters, with a knack for capturing overarching themes and messages into near-photographic journal-like recollections. And today comes the most personal song of his career thus far, “one drink away”. Over an acoustic guitar, Wrabel confronts a chapter of his life he dreads yet is grateful for and unfolds the story of his eight-year sobriety journey, an experience that has included therapy, a DUI, relapse, and constant day-to-day decisions to choose the right path for his life. It’s haunting, vulnerable, and a testament to the power of the human spirit. Listen here, and watch the music video via People Magazine.
He hopes sharing his story to the world will help empower those going through something similar. “I feel like we’ve come so far in our understanding and destigmatization of addiction,” said Wrabel. “And i think that’s in large part because we as addicts have shared ourselves and our stories more. It’s not an easy path… some days I don’t notice it, I don’t even remember who I used to be. And other days it’s like a robotic woodpecker pecking away at my brain, reminding me, tempting me, poisoning me from the inside out. The honest truth is I’m one drink away from who I was. The flip side of that is I never have to be that person again, I never have to take a sip or draw a line or take a hit. I am alive today because I am sober. And I’m both terrified and so very proud of that. If you are struggling right now, I just want to tell you that you are not alone.”
The track is off of his forthcoming ‘chapter of me’ EP (out April 21 via Big Gay Records/Nettwerk), which serves as the first part of a larger, yet-to-be-announced project set to roll out throughout 2023 which takes the acclaimed songwriter & performer to emotional depths he’s yet to publicly explore. He previously teased the collection with the release of “happier”, a catchy guitar-driven celebration of liberating oneself from the chains that once held you down with a music video that was debuted via Paper Magazine.
The next wave of music also follows the 2021 release of his debut full-length ‘these words are all for you’ which Billboard said boasts “boisterous vocals met by beautiful piano melodies” and that SPIN proclaimed “showcases his trademark, beautifully intimate performances and powerhouse songwriting”. It also will be the latest addition to a songwriting & performance resume that includes partnerships/collaborations with modern music legends including P!nk, Kesha, Cam, Tenille Townes, Louis the Child, Marshmello, Ellie Goulding, Louis Tomlinson, Backstreet Boys, Wafia, and many more.
As of today, Wrabel’s personal discography has racked up over 700m streams across all DSP platforms, and his song “The Village” has become an LGBTQ+ anthem. It recently had a resurgence of social media attention on Tik Tok, becoming the soundtrack to everything from PRIDE montages, to beautiful ice skating routines, to individuals’ transitioning journeys, and more on the platform. Check out some of the nearly 20k uses on Tik Tok HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, inching to over 100 million total views (this video alone has over 4 million).
1. happier
2. one drink away
3. on the way down
4. you got yours
5. feel it now (alive)
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