VIDEO PREMIERE: Wesley Dean - 'Mercy' (Live From The Old Nashville Church)

Today marks an exciting day for Wesley Dean fans. The South Australian singer has released the live video premiere of the new single Mercy and is gracing fans’ weekends with the release of the new album Music From Crazy Hearts. 

After a year in the making, Music From Crazy Hearts is finally here, and Countrytown has the perfect exclusive premiere to kickstart the celebrations.

Music From Crazy Hearts is Dean’s first album in two years and the second release under his new moniker (formerly Wes Carr).

The predecessor of Unknown, Music From Crazy Hearts swims further away from the folky, laid-back tunes Wesley is known for and reaches deeper into the Americana country drenched with harmonica, deep baselines, and a richer, fuller vocal sound. Crazy Hearts is darker than Dean’s previous work, and Mercy is the album’s star song. 

A gospel song turned country; Mercy starts with a pulsating drum beat similar to that of Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk, leaning further into Southern-influenced guitar licks and growly bass. Dean sings “God have mercy” as violin strings whine and a gospel choir erupts into cries. The song is the perfect combination of stony and emotional. 

He sings from the Old Nashville Church, and the gospel choir joins him like a crowd of angels. 

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“There’s been mountains upon mountains to climb to get this far,” the musician confessed on his Instagram story this morning (Friday, 26 April).

“There were a lot of challenges over the last three years acclimating ourselves into a new country, and it’s finally here. The line in the sand has been drawn, and I thank you guys for coming along on the journey and to all my new friends out there that send me messages and to all the people that I‘ve met.”

“For the last few months, people have just sent me wonderful messages about what we’re doing and encouraged us to keep going. It’s been really inspiring, so this record is for you.”

Dean previously released the single Gunslinger ahead of the new album’s release, which Countrytown premiered earlier this year.

Since winning the sixth season of Australian Idol in 2008, Dean has released a string of albums - including 2022’s Unknown, where single Never Thought Of You dominated the Countrytown chart - and relocated from Adelaide to Nashville in 2021.