ARIAs 2021: Reigan Derry calls out Jolyon Petch over Dreams vocals

A singer who says she is the vocalist on one of the most popular songs of the year has called out an ARIA nominated DJ for failing to credit her.

A spectacular stoush over a vocal credit has overshadowed Australian music’s biggest night of the year.

Former Australian Idol and The X Factor contestant Reigan Derry has called out ARIA Best Dance Release nominee Jolyon Petch for not crediting her vocals on his smash hit cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams.

Petch didn’t win the category at the awards at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, the award going instead to Rufus Du Sol. However, Petch is attracting headlines for the wrong reasons after Derry detailed the ugly experience on her Instagram in seeing the musician walk the red carpet at the event.

DJ Jolyon Petch’s dance cover of Dreams went to number one on the ARIA dance charts. Picture Rebecca Michael.

Reigan Derry says she is the uncredited vocalist on the track.

“This picture is not from this years ARIA red carpet,” Derry wrote, sharing a series of images on her Instagram explaining her side of the story, as well as a shot of her at the awards on a previous year. “Even though I am singing on a song nominated for an ARIA award this year (Dreams by @jolyonpetch in the best dance category), I was not invited to attend, as @aria_official doesn’t know I am the singer on the track.”

“Jolyon Petch released “Dreams” without my consent and without written agreement. When I first flagged this I thought it was a simple misunderstanding and I never could have imagined what was the follow.

“It has now been more than 2 months since I asked Jolyon to acknowledge me and credit me on a song that is solely sung by me.”

Petch’s manager, Michael Parisi, refused to comment, although a text message was released to media claiming to be between the musicians in which it is alleged Derry said she did not want to be credited on the track.

Confidential has cited the text messages, dated from March this year, and it appears to be referring to another track the pair worked on, Holding On, which Petch had correctly paid the contractually agreed royalties.

Texts between Jolyon Petch and Reigen Derry released by Petch’s manager appear to reference a different track.

The vocals for Dreams were not recorded until August and Derry claims there was no contract and that she received just $300 for her vocals on the track, which was released through TMRW Music and is now certified platinum on top of scoring the ARIA nomination.

“Sitting at home watching the ARIA Awards, it’s such a weird feeling cos I should be so excited and proud, but I feel so invisible and powerless,” she said.

“I’ve been told not to talk about this, but I’m honestly so upset about it. I recorded ‘Dreams’ at my home studio at my dads house in Perth where I have slowly pieced together approximately $10,000 worth of equipment.”

She continued: “Right now, instead of celebrating being a platinum selling, ARIA nominated artist, I have been silenced, insulted and belittled”.

“The song will run its course and what could have been the biggest success of my life, has left me with nothing.”

Derry said her legal fees in attempting to obtain credit for Dreams have so far amounted to $8000.

Label TMRW issued a statement stating the licencing issue was between Petch and Derry.

“As TMRW licenced the recording from Jolyon, these negotiations have been taking place directly between Jolyon and Reigan and their legal teams,” the statement read.

“On 12th November we were advised by Jolyon’s team that an agreement had been reached between both parties’ legal teams for Reigan to feature on the record and participate in a share of the artist income.

“We have been awaiting confirmation of execution of this agreement so that we can proceed with making changes to the product.

“We are disappointed to hear that this is not the case. Reigan is an exceptional artist and we value her contribution to the track.”