In 2019, my father and I ventured to Melbourne to see the Download Festival. That year’s lineup boasted an impressive display of favourites with Judas Priest, Halestorm, Slayer, Ghost, and Ozzy Osbourne (though his set would ultimately get cancelled). We watched so many great bands that day it’s hard to remember it all.
That is—apart from the first band we saw that day: Voyager. All I knew about them at the time was that they were from my home state of Western Australia and that they were the very first band on the bill for the day. We secured a spot on the rail and waited through the end of their setup. When they opened with What a Wonderful Day, my jaw hit the floor almost immediately—and it stayed dropped not just for the rest of their set, but I’d maintain I never picked it up again when it comes to Voyager.
That was merely the beginning of my love for this band. Since then, I’ve seen them live eight times. I’ve been consistently on the rail and an active part of the Facebook community, even running polls that helped inspire the band’s retrospective “concert” A Voyage Through Time. I’ve sat down for coffee with drummer Ashley Doodkorte, had artwork designed by bassist Alex Canion, and even woken up at 3AM just to watch them rule Eurovision, absolutely destroying the semi-final’s public voting!
In the band’s own words, Promise made them a “20-year overnight success.” They couldn’t have been much bigger in that moment.
Soon after their return from Europe, the band was dealt a devastating blow. In late September of 2023, news broke that Danny Estrin had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. Following a commemorative set celebrating 40 years of Western Australia’s iconic win in the America’s Cup, Voyager went on a long hiatus—one that, at times, felt rather bleak.
That was, until earlier this month, when Voyager announced a two-part comeback show in Perth, coming later this year. Already exciting news. Just a week later, the band announced a new single, titled Seen Better Days—the first new music since the release of Fearless In Love in July of ’23. It’s safe to say I was ecstatic. It’s even safer to say the song deliveredquite the emotional rollercoaster.
Seen Better Days is a song born out of this period of darkness and uncertainty—which you can feel in its very core. Musically, this song drips with the band’s unmistakable sonic signature, best described as progressive pop metal.
While the intro verse begins lighter, the first chorus hits with crushing precision that’s sure to get your head banging—led by the stellar guitar work of Scott Kay and Simone Dow. And through catchy vocal melodies and killer instrumental interplay, the song’s message becomes even more potent.
In the middle verse, Estrin writes:
“So I wear my heart on my sleeve /
and to all but the world it’s a bitter reprieve /
And I stare at your face /
Trembling hands over eyes /
Forward glowing my stance /
To my certain demise.”
It’s a powerful lyric, painting a vivid image of the devastating news that shook our fan base. But we’re also reminded of the strength to push forward in the next lines:
“So hear me now /
Hear me loud and clear /
I am standing here.”
The solo section is a triple-threat: a soaring guitar solo from Simone Dow, a dazzling synth solo by Danny Estrin, and a rare bass solo from Alex Canion. The song is produced by Matthew Templeman and mastered by Simon Struthers—and just like their previous releases since The Meaning of I, the sound is exceptional. Matt knocked it out of the park with this mix, giving each element the perfect amount of clarity and cohesion.
In January 2025, Voyager returned to the stage for a brief 15 minute performance at the Rugby SVNS in Perth. This performance reignited the love for performing live, and allowed Danny to regain the faith in his ability to locally return to the stage in between treatments.
Voyager have now announced that they will perform two live shows in their hometown Perth this coming June/July and have announced the following dates:
21 June 2025 – Rosemount Hotel (All Ages Family show, under 18’s to be accompanied by an adult)
4 July 2025 – Magnet House
Tickets are on sale now: https://listen.voyagerau.com/voyagerperth25Voyager online:
Instagram https://instagram.com/voyagerau
Facebook https://facebook.com/voyageraustralia
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/voyageraustralia
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/16fltNcwTM5V9rnxIlcha4?si=z-RAbUTnTOCEytOFXCRPNw
Voyager are:
Danny Estrin – Vocals and Keytar
Simone Dow – Guitars
Scott Kay – Guitars
Ashley Doodkorte – Drums
Alex Canion – Bass
