Radio Drive’s ‘Walk With Me’ is an invitation to step into the personal and musical world of Kevin Gullickson, an artist who continues to mine his experiences, relationships and reflections for his songwriting. Released 15th June 2026 via 12 Story Records, it’s the band’s 18th release and comes after a two year break during which Gullickson took a step back to focus on family and his own life. That break gives the album’s central premise a particular significance in that these songs are not simply another release, they are a deeper reflection of the man behind the music. An album of alternative rock with a pop sensibility, it brings together the influences that have accumulated over the years and is a record which invites you to consider your own experiences as you listen. The title is a perfect encapsulation of the album’s spirit; it’s about walking together rather than walking apart, about honesty rather than performance and about being able to share both the journey you’ve already been on and the uncertainty of what comes next. “The most meaningful musical journeys are not about having all the answers; they are about having the courage to let someone walk with you as you search,” says Gullickson. That’s the essence of the record and the reason he has described the songs as a deeper reflection of his musical and personal journey. Rather than being a record about one thing or one mood, it’s a nine song journey which allows for a variety of perspectives and emotional states, all of which are connected by the invitation in the title. For those who like their alternative pop rock to be accessible and yet still contain a real personal dimension, ‘Walk With Me’ is a record which offers the opportunity to get to know the person behind the project, song by song.
The track listing offers a number of interesting ways in which to approach Gullickson’s songwriting. “Man Inside” is clearly an introspective piece. “Reason and Rhyme” brings together two things that we all do to some degree when we’re trying to make sense of our experiences: the desire to approach things in a logical fashion and the need to find some sort of meaning in what we go through. “Together” is one of the songs on the album that has been submitted for consideration in the 2027 Grammy Awards (in the categories of Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Alternative Music Performance). That’s not to say it’s been nominated, just that it’s been submitted for consideration. That in itself is a clear indicator of the ambition of both the label and the artist. It’s a song that sits at the heart of the *Walk With Me* project and so reinforces the importance of connection and relationship in the wider context of the album. “Love Beyond the Storm” is the second song to be submitted for consideration at the 2027 Grammys (in the categories of Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song). The title is a very direct reference to the idea of love that can survive through the storm. It’s a very natural thematic link to an album that is very much about personal experience and the passage of time. “Here for You” is a song that suggests availability and reassurance. “Catch the Dream” is a song that’s about aspiration and the determination to keep going. “Open Door” is a song about the prospect of new things. “Promised Land” is a song about the search for a destination where hope and fulfilment might finally come together. The track list closes with “Stay Here Tonight” which is a very direct statement about the importance of being present with someone and not letting a good moment pass you by. All of these interpretations come from the titles and the stated themes of the album. We’re not given any detail about the individual lyrics or the arrangements of the individual tracks. Still, the titles together create a very coherent thematic world of belonging, of aspiration, of resilience, of commitment and of discovery. The strength of that world is that it’s a world that is very much one that can be relatable to a listener at any point in their life. It’s a world that can speak to someone who is looking back on a difficult decision, to someone who is holding on to a relationship, or to someone who is in the process of starting something new.
There’s a very experienced production team behind the release. Gullickson mixed and mastered the album with Grammy nominated producer and engineer Marc DeSisto. Marc DeSisto’s CV is very impressive indeed, having worked with U2, Pink Floyd, The Who and Stevie Nicks amongst many others. Gullickson has also worked over the years with a number of other engineers and producers whose credits include the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Adele, Katy Perry, George Harrison, Elton John, Oasis, David Bowie, Aerosmith, Paul McCartney, Foo Fighters, Nine Inch Nails, Billy Idol, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake and Beyonce. That’s part of the Radio Drive story in terms of the creative team, though the substance of the album is of course the material that Gullickson has selected to share. His previous work has also been recognised in the independent music world with “Cast Out Your Light” being nominated and winning awards from a number of different organisations including the Hollywood Independent Music Awards, the Elite Music Awards, the International Singer Songwriter Association, the Toby Awards and 273 Note Records Music Awards. Earlier work has also been recognised by the Global Music Awards, the LIT Music Awards and a number of independent songwriting and music video awards. It’s a record of sustained activity and recognition, but this is a new phase in Gullickson’s career following a period of reflection and re-focussing. The central idea of the album is that it’s an invitation to walk with the artist as he considers where he’s been, where he is now and where life may be taking him in the future. The nine tracks deal with the relationships, the dreams and the personal discoveries that make such a journey worthwhile and all of it is delivered through the established alternative pop/rock sound of Radio Drive. “Together” and “Love Beyond The Storm” are both in the Grammy race. Beyond the award considerations and the pedigree of the production team though, the real proposition of the album is very simple. Music can be a place where the person who makes it and the people who hear it can meet. *Walk With Me* is that meeting place and it’s an invitation to go on the journey at your own pace.
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