Ed Sykes and Friends makes a graceful entrance with “Always Be Mine,” the debut single from singer-songwriter Naran Rathod, a warm, groove-driven song that hides a rather painful story beneath its easygoing surface. Born in India and raised in the UK from the age of five, Rathod draws from folk, soul, blues, and jazz-tinged songwriting, bringing together the observational intimacy of a seasoned storyteller with the smoothness of adult contemporary music. This is the sort of song you might hum along to before suddenly realizing just how much heartbreak is tucked inside it.
The arrangement immediately establishes that contrast. A warm horn floats above thumping beats and jittery, lightly restless percussion, creating a groove that feels bright without becoming overly cheerful. Rathod’s deep, rich voice enters with a sincere, sensual calm, giving the verses an almost conversational intimacy. A female vocalist later joins him with soft vocals, adding another layer of warmth and making the song feel less like a solitary confession and more like an emotional exchange.
At the heart of “Always Be Mine” is the uncomfortable moment when a relationship is already slipping away, but one person hasn’t caught up emotionally. Rathod writes from that precarious space between denial and acceptance: still reaching, still hoping, still wanting someone to remain theirs even as the signs suggest otherwise.
The music keeps its shoulders relaxed while the lyric carries the weight. Rathod’s years spent listening closely to people through his work as an educational psychologist seem to inform this observational songwriting style; ordinary emotional situations are rendered with enough specificity to feel personal without becoming inaccessible.
His musical influences, from Chris Rea and Steely Dan to Van Morrison, Sade, and Tracy Chapman, help explain the track’s unusual balance of groove, soul, and plainspoken vulnerability. He also self-produces, allowing the arrangement to develop organically alongside trusted collaborators.
“Always Be Mine” is ultimately a song about holding on when you already sense you should let go.
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Review by: Naomi Joan