Now that we’re in the second half of the year, after the passing of summer’s peak on June 21st, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. We often find that music puts us in an introspective headspace and we just so happen to have the perfect song for this moment – Nick Byrne‘s ‘Solstice Sun’. It’s a tranquil and soothing acoustic number which centers on the unstoppable force of change, whether it be seasonal, emotional or spiritual.
Co-written with songwriter Tom Symmonds and produced by Jake Robbins, ‘Solstice Sun’ merges alt-pop melodies with indie-folk textures to enhance that theme of transition. The track commences with warm synth, bass and drum machine sounds, providing a subtle yet distinct driving rhythm. The addition of deftly fingerpicked strings, both acoustic guitar and charango, really grounds this track in layers of organic richness, while also incorporating Byrne‘s Chilean heritage.
More than a straight-forward reflection of the time of year, the image of the high-summer sun is transformed into a metaphor of renewal and hope amidst extraneous circumstances that lie outside of your control. In keeping with this, Byrne aligns those glimpses of joyful brightness with quiet moments of pensive melancholy. His vocals act as the listener’s spirit guide through the emotional turbulence, which confidently maneuvers through the layers of strings and synths.
Credit must be given to Byrne‘s collaborators on this single, namely bassist Alex Barker, drummer Andrew Lane and violinist Sophia Bartlett, whose contributions really helped to elevate this acoustic track to its meditative and thought-provoking level.
Before we leave you to dive into ‘Solstice Sun’, here’s a word from Nick Byrne about why this release means so much to him:
“Solstice Sun walks you through the cycle of the seasons, but it’s constructed using some memories, like spending a summer’s night on the beach, and other more abstract, imagined scenes. For me songs about nature instantly immerse us in a specific place as well as help make us feel connected – both to the natural world and each other – making us feel less alone.”
You can also listen to ‘Solstice Sun’ in our Folk This Way playlist.
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