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.
NE Guitars Magazine Review:
We have known and followed Willie’s music for a couple of years here at NEG and even popped over to support him last year in Sunderland while touring with Luke Morley. His music is definitely a breath of fresh air with hint of mayhem and pure honesty. His album ‘The Simpleton’ is nothing short of genius and definitely one you need to add to your collection, and if I may add, get it on vinyl if you haven’t already.
The new single is, in my opinion one of Willie’s best. Definitely thought provoking which is something I always find with Willie’s music. We have been lucky enough to get a sneak preview of the video and it is brilliant. Entertainment in typical ‘Willie’ style but delivering great lyrics to a very catchy ‘earworm inducing’ upbeat melody.
Talking about his lyrics in the song, a thought crossed my mind. If you’ve ever wanted to say something about society but can never find the right words, then this is definitely the song for you. Willie pulls down the social and political smokescreens of our society and reveals the hidden truth in musical form. Absolute genius!
It may sound that I’m trying to give a rose tinted view of ‘Rats in the Maze’ but as they say ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’ and on Friday 4th September you will be stuffed to the eyeballs.
‘Rats in the Maze’ will be available on all the usual platforms as Willie says and in the meantime you can pre-order, get more info and learn more about Willie right here: https://williedowling.net
You can listen to more reviews on ‘Rats in the Maze’ and Willie Dowling in our next podcast with Murdock and myself later this month.