My Fine Companions “One Day At A Time”
My Fine Companions Talk Hardship on “One Day At A Time”
Photo credit: Henry Kidney
Written during a time of difficulty where the world was in lockdown, “One Day At a Time” emerged from the expression that people used to cope with Covid. In a simple, sombre Americana-folk soundscape, honest lyricism sets the mood in a “storm,” the song reaches out to people who have been and are experiencing hardship with a gentle pat on the back, “one day at a time.”
“It was a way of working through feelings about this incredibly difficult time. I like the fact that people seem to have responded to the honesty of the song in a positive way,” said Nick Kidney, lead singer of the band.
With their experience in up-tempo live settings, the collective sound of the six-piece band, My Fine Companions, brings together a natural heartwarming, uplifting vibe that softens the grim reality. Centering beautiful vocal harmonies between the three main vocalists of the band, create a very distinctive sound that separates them from the rest.
Just like the band’s name suggests, My Fine Companions was born out of friendship: "I think friendship is a great thing to build a band around and that’s how this band started. We were friends who’d get together, have a few drinks, and play songs. Initially other people’s songs. Then I started writing and quite quickly we were playing our own. The name ‘My Fine Companions’ is a description of what we are,” said Kidney.
“One Time At A Time” sets in a slower tempo and sombre tone that derives from the band’s usual sound. Due to the pandemic and adaptation of different recording processes instead of their usual live sitting, the fourth Companions album is exciting to look forward to.
Commenting on the project still in the mix, Kidney mentioned, “We tried a lot of different instrumentation this time and whilst the songs are similar to what we’ve done before, I think there’s more stylistic diversity,” he then added,
“on the previous albums, the songs were mostly recorded live with overdubs added later. Here we had to record separately and then piece the songs together which was something we’d never done before. Funnily enough, I think it created a more polished sound.”
Written by Katrina Yang