Karl Sky – Old Friends Don’t Come Around (2025)
With 40 years in the music industry – give or take some months – Karl Sky has been writing, recording and producing music since way back when. A seasoned artist with experiences most can only sit and dream of, the US-based Sky is not only bringing a breath of yesteryear’s sounds to our ears, but doing so with a constantly evolving edge. Breathing life into retro and modern-day country, folk and Americana, Sky touches on timeless themes with personal narratives and that heartwarming “yeah, I feel heard” sound of vintage folk songs. Today, we sit back with a cup of tea to listen to Sky’s ‘Old Friends Don’t Come Around’.
Released in 2025, and one of the tracks on Sky’s upcoming album Wanderin Fools, ‘Old Friends Don’t Come Around’ is a slow, steady, toe-tapping and head-nodding brush of Americana. Not simplistic in its weave of anchoring drums, bold guitar and pedal steel, the melody itself is intricate but elegant. Yet, amidst the full-bodied arrangement, a sense of sparseness and barebones honesty marks clarity and an airy openness to a tender track.
For me, it is not merely the melody that has me staring into the distance with a smile slapped on my face; it is the profound lyrics executed with Sky’s rich, warm voice. As with the tune, the lyricism is not overly complex – rather easy and chilled-out. However, there is depth and weightiness as Sky gives you advice for the future from a wealth of hindsight. Lines like “slow down/ wake up/ Pour some coffee in your cup” matched with “Voices you hear aren’t often clear/ Don’t let them drag you down, my dear” and “Eyes wide/ Childlike/ Manifest your paradise” unpick raw human emotion and experiences from serious consideration to empowering freedom.
So, the overall opinion of Karl Sky and ‘Old Friends Don’t Come Around’? Sincere, sentimental and introspective, ‘Old Friends Don’t Come Around’ is a breath of fresh air. I am eager to hear more from Sky and look forward to the upcoming album.
Find out more about Karl Sky on his official website, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify.
Listen to more Americana music on The Other Side Reviews Americana playlist:
