“Good To Be Alive” - Dryadic
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
Let’s be honest—sometimes we need a song that doesn’t just blast into our ears but seeps in slowly, like sunlight through leaves or the first sip of coffee on a lazy morning. Dryadic’s new single, “Good To Be Alive,” is exactly that kind of song — a jazz-kissed, folk-rooted sigh of relief wrapped in warmth, wit, and waves of nostalgia.
It’s not just a track — it’s a moment. And one that knows how to linger.
“Good To Be Alive” is a slow burner in the best way possible. Think Norah Jones meets Laura Marling on a canal boat with a bottle of wine and nowhere to be. At its heart is Zora McDonald, who brings her signature gentle gravitas, floating vocals, and the kind of lyrical touch that makes it feel like she’s talking just to you.
Backed by the breezy brilliance of Aly Rainey’s fiddle, George Pearson’s rich upright bass, and Emma Holbrook’s unfussy, grounded percussion, this track is lush without ever being overcooked. It’s got layers — finger-clicks, last-minute keyboard lines, and even a cheeky twist in the lyrics — but it still breathes.
It’s that rare song that can soundtrack both a sun-drenched festival lawn and a solo Sunday morning with the windows cracked open.
Written during lockdown on a boat drifting along the Kennet and Avon Canal, “Good To Be Alive” is as much about finding joy in stillness as it is about survival. “It’s a welcome mat in song form,” Zora says — and you believe her. Because this song invites you in, gently.
What makes it special? The intimacy. The calm. The fact that it doesn’t try too hard — and still completely wins you over. It was almost a filler track, Zora admits, but became one of their favorite openers for live shows. Why? Because it pulls people in. It holds space. It feels like community, like reflection, like ease.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
What’s wild (and wonderful) about Dryadic is that they can weave traditional folk threads with just the right amount of unexpected joy. There’s a definite “jazz bar at golden hour” vibe here — but with a grin. A wink. A kind of wry hopefulness that feels both timeless and totally now.
One moment, you’re swaying gently; the next, you're tapping along to backing vocals that wouldn’t feel out of place in a George Michael throwback. That’s the Dryadic way — genre-fluid but grounded, always with a foot in story and a heart in the present.
Formed in 2017 by Zora McDonald and Joanna Dziecelska (of The Tatsmiths), Dryadic has always had a flair for blending folklore with fierceness. Now fronted by Zora, with Aly Rainey on fiddle and George Pearson on double bass, they craft a sound that’s part dreamscape, part rally cry.
It’s protest music. It’s lullaby music. It’s festival-field-dancing-barefoot music.
They’ve hit stages like Glastonbury’s Avalon, Brighton Pride, Hackney Empire, and Chai Wallahs, and shared bills with Grace Petrie, Heather Peace, and O’Hooley & Tidow. That’s no accident — Dryadic are magnetic live, and this track captures a little bit of that glow.
With a string of singles queued up for Summer 2025 and a full-length album on the horizon in 2026, Dryadic aren’t just stopping to smell the roses — they’re singing about them, and inviting you along for the whole blooming journey.
If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just over it, this is the track to bring you back to yourself. “Good To Be Alive” doesn’t try to fix the world — it just reminds you it’s still spinning, still beautiful, still worth being part of.
“Good To Be Alive” is available now on all major streaming platforms
