Folk/Review Nick Byrne - Solstice Sun
Buckinghamshire, UK-based Nick Byrne blends poignant melancholia and thoughtful lyricism into a contemporary mix of indie-folk. The latest single, 'Solstice Sun,' is a collaboration with Gloucestershire songwriter Tom Symmonds. The multi-layered composition explores the changing seasons while portraying the cycle of our own emotional experiences—and features Nick's band members Alex Baker (bass guitar) and Andrew Lane (drums), as well as violinist Sophia Bartlett of Tugboat Captain.
Nick Byrne and Gloucestershire-based musician Tom Symmonds' exquisitely peaceful tune, "Solstice Sun," was released on the eve of the Summer Solstice. The song, which uses the changing of the seasons as a metaphor for personal growth and rejuvenation, examines the close relationship between the natural world and the rhythms of human emotion.
“Solstice Sun” has a gentle and evocative musical style. Symmonds' musical skill and Byrne's warm vocals combine to create a soundscape that is both incredibly personal and wide. While the words subtly contemplate change, acceptance, and the peaceful hope that comes with fresh starts, the acoustic textures and delicate instrumental flourishes conjure the golden warmth of long summer evenings. The gradual arc of the sun across the sky is reflected in the song's tempo, which is never hurried and always deliberate.
Byrne and Symmonds' spirit of cooperation is evident. They create a harmonious interplay between introspection and external observation with their complementary vocals and songwriting sensibilities. The track's quietness encourages the listener to stop, take a deep breath, and think—a pleasant diversion from the bustle of the contemporary world.
“Solstice Sun,” a release that coincides with the Summer Solstice, feels ideal as a musical symbol of change, light, and emotional rebirth. It serves as a reflection on the cyclical aspect of life as well as a celebration of the season. Byrne and Symmonds' joint work is a moving tribute to the beauty of time passing and the subdued force of emotional development.