Our obsession with 23 Fields seems to grow with every listen! We previously featured his singles Jack and the captivating and hypnotic, Scars, so naturally, we couldn’t wait to experience You’re Alright and share it with you.

You’re Alright opens with a cinematic soundscape of luscious strings and intricate guitar, tapping into a high emotional quotient with the lyrics, “The bricks are stacked against this wall, as you’re climbing up this high, the clouds around your head now, signal it’s time to fight…”

In essence, the song is about struggle and optimism. 23 Fields describes a difficult path where everything feels heavy and uncertain. It is also about accepting what we cannot change. The message is that life brings us challenges that stay no matter what.

23 Fields encourages peace, hope and self-protection with the intentional song, and invites us to move forwards. The climb essentially leads towards clearer air and brighter futures with metaphorical courage and a new beginning waiting at the top.

We deeply connect with the poetic prowess and there is no doubt that You’re Alright would be perfect for a range of sync deals – notably a coming-of-age movie with similar emotional themes to the song.

23 Fields confesses, “This song is about being there for someone when they can’t quite be there for themselves. It’s the reminder we all need at some point – that even when things feel overwhelming, you’re still standing.”

Needless to say, we are in awe, and have added You’re Alright to our New Music Spotlight playlist and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of 23 Fields and anticipate future intentional releases from the artist.

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We previously featured 23 Fields for the captivating and hypnotic, Scars, and Jack, which served as a reflection on life, mastery, and the spaces in-between, so when we heard that the band was back with The Mary Stanford (Eternal Father Strong To Save), we were curious to say the least, and couldn’t wait to listen and share our experience.

Drawing us in with a delicate guitar soundscape and a sublime violin performance with textured drums, The Mary Stanford (Eternal Father Strong To Save) opens with a peaceful nature and brooding vocals as we experience a deeply moving tribute to the crew of the Mary Stanford lifeboat.

For some context, the crew was tragically lost on 15 November 1928 whilst responding to a distress call in hurricane-force seas. The lyrics honour their bravery and the ultimate sacrifice that they made, which marked one of the greatest single losses of life in RNLI history.

Through its lyrics and melody, The Mary Stanford (Eternal Father Strong To Save) is designed to capture both the heartbreak of that fateful day and the courage of those who faced the storm. Speaking on the release, 23 Fields confess, “The Mary Stanford story is one of profound bravery and unimaginable loss. This song is our way of ensuring that their legacy lives on, while also recognising the dedication of today’s lifeboat crews who embody the same values.”

23 Fields is a Hastings-based alternative folk band. Step, the primary songwriter, grew up in the 1990s listening to bands like Pearl Jam, Metallica, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, and Levellers, but always had a love for acoustic music.

He has been writing songs for over 20 years while working as an emergency nurse. Three years ago, encouraged by his partner Paula, he returned to music and began collaborating with Louise Driver (violin) and Jason M. Smith (percussion). Their debut album The World is Raining was released in July 2023, followed by To Follow This Years Fashion in April 2024. The band’s music spans politically driven songs, sensitive reflections on family and lost loved ones, and personal storytelling, all written and performed from the heart.

We deeply connect with the intention of The Mary Stanford (Eternal Father Strong To Save) and have added the track to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of 23 Fields, and anticipate future releases.

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Jack, a contemplative journey woven by 23 Fields, strikes at the heart of an existential paradox encapsulated in the familiar adage “Jack of all trades, master of none.” In its brooding timbre and poignant lyricism, the song unravels the bittersweet duality of versatility – a gift and a burden. The track is both a deeply personal reflection and a universal meditation on identity, potential, and the relentless passage of time.

The phrase has long been a double-edged sword. Originally intended to praise resourcefulness, the phrase evolved to carry undertones of inadequacy, as though breadth must preclude depth. In Jack, this tension is articulated with both tenderness and defiance. The protagonist embraces their multifaceted self while grappling with the societal and internal pressures to specialize, excel, and define one’s worth by mastery.

In the context of the song, the adage adapted as the hook, “This is me, Jack of all, master of none…” becomes more than a simple commentary on skill – it becomes a metaphor for a life lived wide, rather than deep. It captures the hesitance and courage of someone who has ventured across many domains, gathering experiences that shape a mosaic of identity but sometimes feeling the ache of unfinished aspirations.

Musically, Jack complements its themes with a stunning interplay of instrumentation. Step’s brooding vocal timbre is the song’s emotional anchor, delivering the lyrics with a rawness that feels lived-in and unpolished – in the best possible way. His voice is a vessel for honesty, invoking the weight of years spent reflecting on paths taken and those left unexplored.

Lou Driver’s emotive strings arrangement is a masterpiece in itself, imbuing the song with a sense of yearning and poignancy. The violin weaves through the track like a wistful counter-narrative, amplifying the lyrical themes of regret, resilience, and introspection. Meanwhile, Jason M Smith’s intricate percussion provides a grounding pulse, mirroring the forward momentum of life despite its complexities and imperfections.

The intricate guitar work feels both intimate and expansive, evoking the acoustic sensibilities of Step’s 90s influences while carving out a distinct alternative folk sound. It’s a soundscape that feels timeless, rooted in tradition yet unafraid to experiment.

Step, the creative force behind 23 Fields, brings a wealth of life experience to his music. Having spent over two decades as a songwriter while working as an Emergency Nurse, his lyrics carry an authenticity that only someone deeply embedded in the human condition can convey. In Jack, there’s an unmistakable sense of someone looking back – acknowledging the chaos of growing up amidst the grunge and rebellion of the 90s, the pull of disparate influences, and the eventual reckoning that comes with middle age.

The collaboration with Driver and Smith, alongside the deft production of James McMillam, elevates the song’s narrative. It’s a triumph not just of individual artistry but of collective storytelling, where every element – lyrical, musical, and structural – serves to underline the song’s philosophical core.

At its heart, Jack questions the value systems that define success and fulfillment. Is mastery the pinnacle of achievement, or does true richness lie in versatility and adaptability? The song challenges listeners to reconsider the notion of completeness, proposing instead that the fragments of a multifaceted life may be no less beautiful than a single, polished whole.

The brooding undercurrent of Jack reminds us that every choice to explore one thing is a choice not to master another, and that this, in itself, is life – messy, unfinished, and deeply human. Jack is a triumph of alternative folk, a song that is as emotionally resonant as it is philosophically profound. With its stunning instrumentation, heartfelt lyrics, and Step’s evocative delivery, the track serves as both a mirror and a salve for anyone who has ever felt like a “Jack of all, master of none.” It is a poignant reminder that to be many things is not to be incomplete, but to be richly, chaotically, gloriously alive. We have added the opus to our New Music Spotlight playlist, as well as our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the exemplary, wider discography of 23 Fields.

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Establishing the mood with dimensional alternative folk soundscape featuring intricate guitar, immersive strings and textured drums, 23 Fields open Scars with atmospheric vocals, introspective prose, and metaphorical depth.

The overarching emotional quotient of Scars is high, and we appreciate the intentional and authentic brand of songwriting. The narrative laced details are vivid and cinematic, and we connect with the charisma and relatability that the prose exudes.

The soundscape itself is sublime, warm, consciously astute and timeless. 23 Fields‘ Scars feels like a spiritual journey through the raw essence of human experience. From the opening strum, the song envelops us in an intimate, heartfelt atmosphere, where every note and word resonates with soulful tangibility, and the presence of the cajon amplifies the emotional quotient.

The lyrics of Scars reflect on personal battles and the marks they leave with poetic prowess, touching on themes of love, life, and the intricacies connect them. Musically, the song’s immersive and rich arrangement creates a hypnotic soundscape that we cannot get enough of. This allows the emotive vocals to manifest with a relatable timbre, imbuing the song with a profound sense of sincerity, and leaves us yearning for more.

We love what the Hastings based trio are creating, and it is no surprise that Scars is proving to be the most popular track from their sophomore album, To Follow This Year’s Fashion, produced by James McMillan. We have added Scars to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the remainder of the record, and anticipate future releases from the visionary band.

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