Euan McLaughlin – Southside (2020)
Euan McLaughlin is quickly cementing himself as one of the most exciting new folk artists on the Scottish scene. His debut single offered a fresh breath of air and his follow-up, ‘Southside’, is securing his place. Blending his awesome fiddle skills with the talents of acclaimed musicians Angus Lyon, Stephen Hendersen and Tiernan Courell, he creates an instrumental soundscape unlike any other.
While McLaughlin performs with a variety of acts, his own music hits all the right cinematic notes. A multi-instrumentalist, he weaves together his and his collaborators’ styles for a bright tapestry of sound. This single takes his harmonious folk sensibilities and throws in a pinch of pop arrangements for a truly captivating single.
‘Southside’ softly patters to life before a steady flow of music hits you. There is a warm feeling to the music that makes you think of the sun warming your skin as you relax over the weekend. The music has just an easy vibe to it and you can’t help but smile as you listen. The gentle patter of the beats fills you with light while the dance of the fiddle makes you want to skip around. The joyful feeling of the music is really infectious and will have you feeling light and ready to face anything.
The layers of instrumentation combine for a wave of energy while each instrument gets to stand out. Later in the single, there is a slight swing in the tone of the music that hits with a funkier almost jazzy sound. This is perfectly transitioned into and does not feel out of place even as the music moves back to the folky tones. There is a dash of Celtic sounding within the music before you are gently set adrift at the end.
Euan McLaughlin has you vibing to a fresh wave of folk music that fills you with a bright feeling and gets you relaxed and ready for the day. The instrumentation fuses together while allowing each instrument a chance to shine within the whole. This is definitely a single you need to have on your favourite playlist because it will make you happy every time you listen to it.
Find out more about Euan McLaughlin on his Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
