In a world that rarely slows down, Dryadic offer a much-needed pause with their new single Good to Be Alive—a folk-jazz reverie that invites listeners to bask in the moment. Led by vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Zora McDonald, the UK-based trio return with a soul-warming track that captures the glow of gentle afternoons and the quiet gratitude of simply existing.
Co-produced with Jake Skinner at Echo Pine Music and recorded at Brighton Road Studios, Good to Be Alive floats on softly layered instrumentation and tender lyrical honesty. Written during the first lockdown while Zora was moored on a boat along the Kennet and Avon Canal, the song unfolds like a memory—equal parts sun-drenched nostalgia and conversational intimacy. It’s not just a song, but a mood piece that breathes and sways, underpinned by fiddle, keys, double bass, and subtle percussion that lend the track its quiet power.
“There’s something almost cinematic about it,” says Zora. “It started as a filler and ended up as one of my favourite live openers. It eases people in. It says: take your time, we’re here together.”
Featuring longtime collaborators Aly Rainey (fiddle, backing vocals), George Pearson (double bass), and Emma Holbrook (drums), the track channels Dryadic’s signature blend of folk-pop sensibility with a touch of gypsy flair and rootsy swing. Their sound—shaped by mythology, nature, and fierce femininity—is both dreamlike and grounded, always carrying a spark of quiet resistance.
Formed in 2017 by Zora McDonald and Joanna Dziecelska (formerly of The Tatsmiths), Dryadic have steadily carved out their own path in the UK folk scene, with appearances at Glastonbury Avalon, Brighton Pride, Hackney Empire, and more. Alongside names like Grace Petrie and Nadine Benjamin MBE, they’ve built a reputation for genre-blending performances that move with conviction and warmth.
With a full album set for 2026 and more singles on the horizon this summer, Good to Be Alive marks the gentle resurgence of a band that knows how to make stillness sing. Let it be your invitation to breathe deeper, sway slower, and remember the joy of simply being.
