South for Winter, the boundary-pushing folk-rock band from New Zealand and Nashville, is renowned for their enchanting melodies and introspective lyricism. They are set to release their highly anticipated album, Of Sea and Sky, on May 16. The album promises to take listeners on a genre-bending voyage through the depths of emotion and the vast expanse of the universe. Hints of the album’s nature have been revealed in the six singles released leading up to it, starting with the ethereal, harmony-laden first single “Something in the Stars,” and ending with the bluegrass-tinged murder ballad “This Man Will Be the Death of Me.”
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Recorded and produced in Nashville, TN alongside two-time GRAMMY award-winner Matt Leigh, Of Sea and Sky captures the essence of South For Winter's signature genre-bending style while continuing to push their sonic boundaries. With lush instrumentation and haunting vocals, the album weaves a tapestry of stories unified by celestial and maritime elements, simultaneously exploring themes of creation, destruction, and the unyielding forces of nature.
From the delicate guitar-cello instrumental that opens the album, "Tears of an Albatross (Part 1)", listeners are beckoned onto a diverse musical journey. One moment, they’re pulled into the dreamy world of “Sky Side (Side A)” with finger-picked guitar, angelic vocals, and emotive cello; the next, they’re plunged into the depths of “Sea Side (Side B)” with swampy blues licks, roared melodies, and heavy rock rhythms. Each lyric and soundscape has been meticulously crafted to fit its corresponding album side, emphasizing the thread that weaves these fourteen songs into one seamless creation. South for Winter’s proficiency in melding genres into one unique sound has once again been proven, and each track on Of Sea and Sky invites listeners to immerse themselves in the band’s world of beauty and wonder.
Lead guitarist and songwriter Nick Stone reveals that the album took years of brainstorming to conceptualize. “We had a lot of time to think about the direction we wanted to go in while we were touring together in a van,” says Stone. “We knew we wanted to lean into a bluesier sound for ‘Sea Side’, since that fits the theme, and we also knew we wanted to pull inspiration from post-rock music for ‘Sky Side’, since that fits that theme. Trying to combine our influences into one cohesive sound has been our goal for years, and this album feels like we’ve finally figured it out.”
Lead singer and songwriter Dani Stone describes the album as both a creative and artistic challenge, to which the band rose to the occasion. "From the moment we had the idea for this concept album, every choice had to be really intentional," she says. "From the amount of reverb on the vocals to the simplified drum parts that give the acoustic instruments room to breathe, from the song stories to the lyrical choices… everything had to fit the album’s concept perfectly. We did lots of pre-production, re-writing, song critiques, and touring for two years before recording, to make sure we could achieve the vision we wanted—and we’re really proud that we managed to do it.”
Of Sea and Sky will be available on all major streaming platforms starting May 16th. Fans can also pre-purchase physical copies of the album here.
About South For Winter:
Trio South for Winter consists of New Zealander Nick Stone, Colorado native Dani Cichon (Stone), and Michigander Alex Stradal. Together, the three multi-instrumentalists and songwriters combine elements such as cello, guitar, mandolin, suitcase stomp, and three-part harmonies into a genre-bending sound.
For more information about South For Winter and their upcoming album Of Sea and Sky, visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram @southforwintermusic.
