Darren Gillis, a committed police officer in Wongan Hills, is taking the plunge. He’s abandoned his law enforcement responsibilities in favor of a full-time country music career. For 20 years, Gillis poured his heart and soul into protecting and serving his community. Now, he’s on a one-year “sabbatical” from law enforcement as he dives headfirst into the rich culture and life of the musical landscape. His story embodies his individual aspiration. It further shows his personal commitment to mental health advocacy through his work.
Throughout this year off, Gillis toured all around the country, hitting music festivals and perfecting his production skills. His time as a cop, along with what he’s witnessed outside of policing, and the experiences in his own life have shaped his songwriting in powerful ways. His songs borrow from his experiences with mental health and loss, and his original tracks are full of this authentic, pulsating energy. He wants to provide comfort and hope to those who fight.
Gillis’s career highlight to date has been taking the stage at the renowned Tamworth Country Music Festival. There, he further honed his skills, representing his musical gift alongside many of the industry’s brightest stars. Moving beyond the role of a typical performer, he achieves national notice as an emerging artist. In 2024, he won the People’s Choice Award at the WA Country Music Awards. The following year, he wreaked havoc on the Lancelin Buskers Festival and won first prize! He was named the up and coming artist of the year at the Chapman Valley Country Music Festival.
Speaking with Gillis about his path into music reveals how personal misadventures and triumphs sparked his songwriting. He is now able to share his experience after having to confront and challenge these feelings while serving on the force.
“I’ve had some people that I’ve worked with in this job who I have considered to be like a brother or sister who have taken their lives,” said Gillis.
On the Today Show, he continued to discuss his mental health challenges, opening up about times he felt “cornered.”
“I’ve also been in that place mentally where you can only see one way out,” he stated.
Through music, Gillis not only found an outlet to release these emotions, but a way to share them with others. He was inspired by this experience and many others to write songs that deliver hopeful messages and inspire candid discussion about struggles with mental health.
“I felt that I owed it to them and those who have been suffering with their mental health to put words onto paper that there is hope and that conversation and honesty is vital,” he explained.
At first, Gillis wouldn’t share his original songs with anyone. Only playing them for himself.
“When I first started with my originals, I would sit in my room and sing them in private because they were just for me,” he recalled.
He began sharing his music over campfires with friends. Eventually, he found his home outdoors, moving on to perform in public spaces such as caravan parks. All of this positive feedback he was getting really helped to boost his confidence.
“The amount of feedback that I would get from my original music was reassuring of what I was doing and built my confidence to slowly replace covers with original songs in my gigs,” he said.
He’s been involved in the workshops at Tamworth. Working alongside other established artists, including Kasey Chambers, gave him the conviction to know he was going in the right direction.
“I had a shot at all the different stages there…and that really gave me the understanding that I was on the right path,” Gillis commented.
While policing and the music industry alike are facing enormous challenges, Gillis stresses that resilience is key to success in both fields.
“Policing is a tough job, so I’ve learnt to be quite resilient in this role, and to be a musician, you definitely need to be resilient because there’s been far more nos than there have been yeses,” he noted.
Darren Gillis is preparing for his next big break at the Tamworth Country Music Festival early next year. He remains committed to striking that dual identity as an officer — and musician — of the law. His story is an inspiration to the others charting their own paths between their passions and making a difference in their communities.
