South for Winter - Album Review: Of Sea and Sky
Recorded and produced in Nashville TN alongside two-time Grammy award-winner, Matt Leigh, Of Sea and Sky is a beautiful offering from folk-rock trio South For Winter.
New Zealander Nick Stone, Colorado native Dani Cichon (Stone), and Michigander Alex Stradal are three multi-instrumentalists and songwriters. Together they combine elements such as cello, guitar, mandolin, suitcase stomp, and three-part harmonies into a genre-bending sound.
I have been following South for Winter for a few years now, and they seem to have so much fun being a band playing the gloomiest of music!
My favourite part of South for Winter are their harmonies, which have shades of The Civil Wars throughout the album, especially in songs like Something in the Stars. I like them best when they sound like a perfect murder ballad such as in Underneath the Blood Moon, Back in Gold, and Styx and Bones.
Eerie melodies and lyrics are held in a sumptuous bed of folk-rock style instrumentation with bluesy arrangements. The music has a Mumford & Sons feel to it, and I absolutely adore their use of strings!
Dani Stone’s voice is delightful and can sound light and lilting, which adds to a winsome trad-folk sound such as in the song Souls Lost in the Dark. Voices weave together with ease, creating a layered depth which adds gravitas to the overall sound of South for Winter. At times I hear Phantom of the Opera’s darkly gothic romanticism, other times haunting tones of Evanescence such as in the powerful Underneath the Blood Moon.
Lyrics are strong and sung with clarity which gives a purity to their overall sound.
Songs like The Mountains You Move and This Man Will Be the Death of Me have an energy like gothic-Americana band The Dead South and would be just as amazing to hear live. I can’t wait for them to come play for us in New Zealand one day!
Created while living the van-life of a band on tour, Of Sea and Sky is an absolutely gorgeous result of years of inspiration, hard work, and dedication.
Over 14 songs which includes a lovely 3-part instrumental Tears of an Albatross, South for Winter tie together an ocean of a universe with themes light and darkness. They have created an album that ebbs and flows beautifully and effortlessly, and is worth listening to over and over again, just like I am doing!
About South for Winter
The band has landed accolades such as a Finalist for 'Best Group/Duo' in the 2023 International Acoustic Music Awards, Semi-Finalist in the 2023 and 2022 International Songwriting Competition, Official Showcase Artist at South by Southwest Music Festival in 2023, Official Showcase Artist at Folk Alliance International in 2024 and 2022, and 'Most Wanted' emerging artist at Falcon Ridge Festival in 2019. Their music has been praised by sites such as American Songwriter ("laden with delicate harmonies, intricate guitar-work, and earthy vocals... impeccable sound"), No Depression ("must-see artist"), For the Love of Bands ("a wonderful mix of indie and folk rock"), Grateful Web ("eclectic in the best sense of the word"), and AmericanaUK ("an ethereal, dreamy, journey...a journey well-worth taking").
South for Winter recorded their upcoming sophomore album, Of Sea and Sky, in Nashville TN alongside multi Grammy award-winning producer Matt Leigh (Willie Nelson, Sister Sadie). The album - out May 16, 2024 - has already received an outpouring of support, raising over $21,000 (>141% of its funding goal) for its upcoming independent release; achieving shoutouts from sites like No Depression Magazine and Grateful Web; landing on three Spotify editorial playlists with album singles; and having airplay from stations such as WMOT Roots Radio (Murfreesboro TN), WFUV Radio (NYC), Radio New Zealand, and WFMT (Chicago IL).
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for South for Winter
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