“Mansplain” - Dryadic
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Let’s be honest — we’ve all been there. That moment after a show, gig, or even a casual conversation when an over-earnest man leans in with that very specific brand of confidence — the kind that comes with zero self-awareness and just enough IPA to lubricate an unsolicited opinion. Well, Dryadic’s newest single “Mansplain” captures that moment perfectly — and then sets it on fire, dances on the ashes, and turns the whole thing into a queer folk anthem you’ll be screaming along to by the second chorus.
Out July 4th, just in time for Pride, “Mansplain” is the Bristol-and-Gloucestershire-based trio’s fiercest, funniest, and most unapologetically fed-up release to date. It’s the kind of track that makes you laugh out loud and punch the air with recognition. Think fiddle-fueled feminist fury meets cabaret chaos meets danceable rage therapy — and somehow it all just works.
Dryadic have never been ones to hold back — their previous single “Rainbow Family” was a heartfelt, sparkling celebration of queer kinship that earned love from BBC Introducing West and playlists across Orbit and beyond. But “Mansplain” takes that glowing heart and straps a megaphone to it. This time, it’s protest with punchlines. Therapy through harmonies. Think Grace Petrie meets Flight of the Conchords.
Frontwoman and lyricist Zora doesn’t just call out the patriarchy — she dismantles it with wit, clarity, and a brutal sense of timing. The opening lines set the tone immediately: “Self-assured, beer-fuelled ego / Put to the test by this woman on your stage” — and it only gets better from there. There’s venom, but it’s sweetened with humour. Rage, but wrapped in a chorus so catchy you’ll accidentally sing it in front of your nan. And if you don’t catch yourself belting out “Whoa… every time… PLEASE FUCK OFF,” then you might be part of the problem.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Musically, “Mansplain” is deliciously tight and joyfully chaotic in equal measure. Stomping folk rhythms anchor the track while fiddle hooks slice through like sharpened wit. The harmonies (a Dryadic trademark) are rich and layered — there’s something almost choral about the way the vocals build, making the punchlines hit even harder. It’s political theatre meets pub folk meets protest march — and it slaps.
What makes this single really stand out is how Dryadic tap into something so universally relatable — but do it with such precision, flair, and irreverence that it feels like both a purge and a party. “Mansplain” isn’t just a song — it’s an emotional exorcism, a group therapy session with a killer soundtrack. It says: we’re tired of your nonsense, and we’re finally done being polite about it.
Dryadic aren’t just a band. They’re a movement in progress. A space where celebration and resistance shake hands and then burst into a three-part harmony. They’ve earned their place alongside queer folk icons like O’Hooley & Tidow and Grace Petrie, and “Mansplain” only cements that further. This is a band that can play the Avalon Stage at Glastonbury and light up a tiny fringe venue with the same fire in their bellies. That duality — fiercely grassroots and festival-ready — is exactly why they resonate so widely.
So whether you’re heading to a Pride march, dancing barefoot at a festival, or just walking home after yet another exhausting conversation where someone decided to explain your own life to you — queue up “Mansplain.” Play it loud. Sing it louder. And don’t be afraid to hit repeat.
Because the time for nodding politely is over — and Dryadic have just given us the anthem we need to make sure everyone knows it.
“Mansplain” is available now on all major streaming platforms
