From bluesy murder ballads to foot-stomping folk, Nashville trio South for Winter has shown a new hand with album single “Always You.” The song’s upbeat stomp and clap rhythm, cheerful mandolin strumming, and boisterous harmonies throwback to traditional sing-along folk music - while the crisp production, anthemic electric guitar, and dancing cello bring the song into a contemporary Americana realm. Yet in true South for Winter fashion, beneath the lively, happy-go-lucky song melodies lie contemplative, topical lyrics.
“We started writing Always You in January 2019,” says lead singer Dani Stone, “Before the pandemic, the political turmoil, and all the other events of 2020. It feels a little eerie, then, how fitting the song lyrics have become for what’s going on right now. The idea behind the song was that even in the darkest, most terrifying, most apocalyptic of times, there is that companion (be it a friend, partner, pet, etc) that really gets you through. No matter what, they give you hope that everything will somehow turn out alright.
‘Should the blood red tides run o’er; should our nightmares all come true; should we lose this holy war, I know there’ll still be you.’
The idea behind those lyrics is something that’s really hitting home for us this year, as our life plans and those of the rest of the world hang in balance; just that at the end of the day, nothing really matters except having each other, our close friends, and our families.”
If you are looking for a song that will get you clapping along from your quarantine, check out “Always You” by South for Winter. Also, keep an eye out for the rest of the trio’s debut studio album Luxumbra, coming soon in September 2020.
