“On a Prayer with a Broken Wing” - True North
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
True North’s second single, “On a Prayer with a Broken Wing,” arrives like a burst of golden light after a storm — a joyful, soulful, horn-soaked celebration that stands in electrifying contrast to the brooding tension of their debut, “No Exit Wound.” Where their first release cracked open the darkness, this follow-up is a hand reaching back into the shadow to lift the listener toward hope.
This is the sound of a band coming into its own — leaning into both vulnerability and vitality, grit and glow. True North aren’t just writing songs; they’re building a world where pain is acknowledged, danced with, and ultimately transmuted into something liberating.
From the first bars, “On a Prayer with a Broken Wing” brims with life. A triumphant horn section kicks the door open — trumpet and sax weaving around the melody like sunlight breaking through cloud cover. It’s a bold move that instantly sets the track apart, showcasing a band unafraid to reach for colour, texture, and big emotional statements.
The call-and-response mixed-gender vocals give the song its heartbeat. There’s grit in the leads, honey in the harmonies, and a spiritual uplift in the way the voices overlap and encourage each other. The message is clear:
You don’t have to rise alone.
The lyrics act as both balm and battle cry: “shed that damaged skin”, “break on through — like sunshine on a cloudy day.”
These aren’t empty platitudes. Delivered against the bright brass, the rolling soul-rock rhythm, and that buoyant groove, they feel earned — like the kind of advice you can only give after you’ve survived the worst of it.
Part of what makes the single so compelling is the sheer calibre of the musicians holding it together. True North is practically a who’s-who of New Zealand musical excellence, and everyone brings their A-game.*
King’s production is especially noteworthy: clean, punchy, and full of pulse — giving each horn blast and vocal line space to shine without losing the organic energy that makes the track feel alive. The mastering from Waygate Studios in Portland seals the deal, leaving the whole thing sounding warm, bold, and radio-ready.
Photo Credit: Artist EPK
What’s remarkable is how gracefully True North pivot from the shadowed intensity of “No Exit Wound” to the uplift of “On a Prayer with a Broken Wing.” Rather than contradicting each other, the two singles sketch out a full emotional arc — despair and recovery, fracture and healing.
It’s clear that True North’s vision extends far beyond individual tracks. They’re building a thematic landscape where catharsis and compassion coexist — the perfect foundation for their upcoming EP/album in 2026.
“On a Prayer with a Broken Wing” isn’t just a song — it’s a release. A soulful, horn-driven reminder that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable; it’s about rising anyway, even on a broken wing.
True North are quickly becoming one of New Zealand’s most compelling emerging acts — authentic, emotionally fearless, and musically vibrant. If this is the direction they’re heading, the map points true: upward, outward, and unmistakably forward.
“On a Prayer with a Broken Wing” is available now on all major streaming platforms
Song credits:
Tones Thorburn — vocals.
Matthias Jordan (Pluto) — piano and organ.
Milan Borich (Pluto) — drums + gang vocals.
Ben King (Goldenhorse, Grand Rapids) — guitar, bass, harmony, production.
Sandy Mill (The Bellbirds, Basement Jaxx) — vocals.
Greg Johnson — trumpet.
Lewis McCallum — sax.
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