Bristol-based folk artist Dryadic returns with the effervescent new single ‘Smiling in the Dark’.
Produced by longtime collaborator Jake Skinner (Sam Ryder, Nigel Kennedy) at Brighton Road Recording Studios, the track showcases Dryadic’s hallmark style: organic instrumentation paired with radiant energy. From the first strum of the acoustic guitar to the buoyant drum beat, the warming double bass, and an uplifting fiddle riff, ‘Smiling in the Dark’ captures a joyful, heartwarming aura.
At its heart, ‘Smiling in the Dark’ is a celebration of love, unapologetically queer and brimming with life. The song’s lyricism follows the relatable experience of falling so deeply in love that even the quietest moments feel electric. A catchy offbeat rhythm transforms into an irresistible chorus, with McDonald’s charismatic vocals leading the charge. The song climaxes with an expressive fiddle solo, a hallmark of Dryadic’s sound, before an exuberant final chorus leaves listeners humming long after the track fades.
In McDonald’s own words:
“‘Smiling in the Dark’ is the only love song I have released (it’s by no means the first I’ve written!). It’s about that moment when you’ve totally fallen for someone and you’re in bed going to sleep, but you’re so head-over-heels that you’re wide-awake grinning. And it feels like it must be so obvious that you wonder if your lover can literally hear you! I clearly remember the one such night, which inspired this song. I really love that it’s obviously a queer love song, sung by a woman to another woman, but this context is completely incidental.
I returned to Brighton Road Recording Studios to work with Jake Skinner, because I just love working with him. Jake is super relaxed, a really intuitive and insightful musician and engineer. After Jake engineered Dryadic’s previous EP No Time Like the Present with such magic, there was no other option really.
Although it’s romantic, it’s not mushy. Its grooving feel-good vibe will make you move and the big old hooks, I hope it will keep people humming and smiling long after the four minutes are up!”
Fronted by the multi-talented Zora McDonald, with Aly Rainey on fiddle and George Pearson on double bass, Dryadic delivers a magnetic sound that blends traditional folk with a fresh, melodic pop edge. On stage, Dryadic has captivated audiences at major venues and festivals across the UK, including Glastonbury Avalon, Brighton Pride, and the Hackney Empire. They’ve also shared the stage with renowned artists like Grace Petrie, O’Hooley and Tidow, and Heather Peace, solidifying their reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting live folk acts.
Listen to the new single below:
