โMandolin Island,โ the new single from Dublin singer-songwriter Gavin Fox, landed on September 26 and instantly transported listeners to a world far removed from everyday noise. Written during a contemplative stay on the Croatian island of Lopud, where cars and roads are absent, the track is a love letter to place and a reflection on belonging. Known for weaving folk-rock textures with lyrical honesty, Fox continues his streak of intimate storytelling, influenced by Damien Rice and Nick Drake and grounded in Irish soul.
The song opens with tender acoustic strums that roll in like a soft tide. Foxโs weathered, grainy, deep voice slips in like itโs been carved by the elements of nature in its innate sense of calm. Mandolin comes as it glistens and catches the light like the sun on water. The arrangement stays uncluttered, allowing every note to breathe, mirroring the unhurried rhythm of island life.
As the lyrics unfold, the imagery tides moving in and out, red clay paths, hilltop church and so on. In one verse, Fox sings, โSpirits dance beneath the blue, Mandolin Island, I feel you,โ a line that subtly blurs the natural with the spiritual, suggesting that the land itself is alive with memory. Later, he anchors that sense of connection with, โThese old stone walls, they remind me of home,โ turning the island into both a physical place and an emotional refuge.
The refrain, โBreathe in the moment, salute the sun / The music plays for everyone,โ comes across less as a gentle mantra that calls to pause and recognize the fleeting beauty stitched into every ordinary moment. By the end, โMandolin Islandโ lingers like a sunset you wish could last just a little longer. Listen to it on Spotify.
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Review by: Naomi Joan