The Other Side Reviewstrack of the day

Track of the Day: Coconut Shy – The Finest Day (2023)

From Sinusoidal Music to Music Arena GH, Couch Mag, and the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project, singer-songwriter Coconut Shy has been described as mesmerising, reflective and poetic. The brainchild of Australian musician Joseph Mackey, Coconut Shy is known for his calming, tender folk ballads. With a steady melody and heartfelt lyrics, he captures listeners and has us hanging on each note with anticipation. The latest addition to his discography is the single ‘The Finest Day’.

Following his well-received track ‘Water, Water’, ‘The Finest Day’ is Coconut Shy’s second release in five months and his first single of 2023. Penned simultaneously with ‘Water, Water’, the new song contemplates the profound concept of transition from a brooding past to an optimistic future. Coconut Shy explains the intriguing connection stating that “it’s difficult to talk about ‘The Finest Day’ without talking about ‘Water, Water’. I wrote them practically on the same day, so I had one idea but it sort of spilled out into two different versions. They’re kind of like twins.”

Known for his acoustic folk music, Coconut Shy brings a raw intimacy to a barebones musical style. It is this heartfelt starkness that shines through ‘The Finest Day’. Yet, as with previous releases, a kaleidoscopic nature exists within the tender arrangement. The incorporation of a tambourine atop the acoustic guitar enhances the whimsical quality of the single. Add Coconut Shy’s dulcet tones and you have a toe-tapping tune bringing a nostalgic flair to modern-day folk.

In my previous review of Coconut Shy, I described the lad as the child of Ed Sheeran and James Taylor – and I continue to retain this comparison in ‘The Finest Day’. The thing is, while I still consider Coconut Shy the child of Sheeran and Taylor, this new single builds him up as a possible rival to Ed Sheeran on my playlists. Sincere, sentimental and exciting, ‘The Finest Day’ turned a cloudy, rainy day into one of the finer days this year.


For more from Coconut Shy, check out his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator