Gavin Fox – Mandolin Island (2025)
Entwining poetic, poignant lyricism with evocative melodies, singer-songwriter Gavin Fox is known for his way of capturing hearts, connecting with audiences, and spreading a message of reflection, acknowledgement, and the heart of reality as we know it. Now, we came across Fox several years back, but since we reviewed his album, Awakened, the Irish artist has continued to turn international heads and evolve as a musician. The latest addition to his discography is the single, ‘Mandolin Island’.
Following his well-received singles ‘You Can Lean On Me’ and ‘If You Ask Me To’, ‘Mandolin Island’ continues Fox’s turn to simpler, softer, more tender folk-inspired music as compared to the likes of 2024’s ‘Slip Inside My Mind’ and ‘Be At One’. Produced with David Arkins, ‘Mandolin Island’ highlights the beauty of acoustic music – an exquisite elegance without too many bells and whistles. The harmonic union of acoustic guitar, steady drums, and underlying percussion seems to ooze old-school folk. Add Fox’s husky vocals with its barebones nature, and you can imagine sitting around a campfire swaying along to the beat and singing even if you don’t know the words.
Inspired by the quiet stillness of the Croatian Island of Lopud – a place void of the loud hubbub, noise and urgency of modern-day cities – ‘Mandolin Island’ captures those moments of pure calm, a sense of tranquil slowing down, the beauty of silence, and simply being. Gavin Fox explains:
“’Mandolin Island’ is both a love letter to a place and a meditation on what it means to belong. I tried to capture the vibe and heartbeat of an island that is the perfect escape, an idyllic place where time stands still and allows you to breathe. The song is about reflecting on connectedness with the earth, with those who have come before, while celebrating the present moment and the universal nature of music.”
Find out more about Gavin Fox on his official website, Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Bandcamp, Soundcloud and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
Listen to more folk music on The Other Side Reviews Folk playlist:
