Brother Dynamite – Shine (2025)
The project of US-based duo Shawn Moynihan and Alan Miller, Brother Dynamite is the essence of friendship and camaraderie bound in a web of music. In 2022, the pair released their full-length album, If We Dare, capturing the eye and turning the heads of professionals, although we only came to the party with 2024’s ‘The Girl’s In Love’. Our interest followed with 2025’s ‘Radio Silence’, but today we’re taking a look and a listen to their most recent release, ‘Shine’.
Following the well-received single, ‘Radio Silence’, ‘Shine’ is another optimistic single brimming with themes of empowerment, resilience, and strength. Brother Dynamite shares that this track is “…a heartfelt song with a message of hope and encouragement – something we could all use a little more of these days.” With lyrics like: “Don’t let this world dim your light. Just let it shine”, Miller and Moynihan hold our hands and share a grin, showing that it isn’t all doom and gloom, even if this uncertain reality sometimes seems to be.
Lyrically, the song delicately unpicks those moments of despair to find the light beneath the dark; however, it is the melody that enforces this happier ideal with its hard-hitting sound. Using an acoustic-driven arrangement, ‘Shine’ is a merging of acoustic guitar, bass, drums, and some strings interspersed here and there. Its organic originality highlights that we don’t need bells and whistles to make something kaleidoscopic and entrancing. All we need is a good song with a strong message, and everything can be beautiful.
While ‘Shine’ lingers with hints of folk, particularly in the vocal execution and acoustic guitar strumming, the band leans strongly to heavier, harder alternative rock. Dragging us back about 15 years, ‘Shine’ echoes the folk-rock sound of Mumford & Sons; however, while that tone resonates, Brother Dynamite brings a signature sound that can stand alongside the likes of Marcus Mumford and his crew.
Find out more about Brother Dynamite on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more folk-rock music on The Other Side Reviews Folk Rock playlist:
