UK-based alt-folk band Dryadic returns with a striking new single, “Ghosts,” released October 31st. Fronted by singer-songwriter Zora McDonald, the track is a deeply personal, piano-led exploration of shame, generational trauma, and the hard-earned path toward self-acceptance and resilience.
Built around Zora’s emotionally resonant vocals and sparse, haunting piano, “Ghosts” is as raw as it is empowering. “It came out of the messiness of doing the work — facing shame, unlearning the noise of self-doubt, and learning how to love the messy, imperfect self underneath,” Zora explains. “It’s about naming the pain, but also pushing back against it. The chorus is a promise. A refusal to be held hostage by that voice anymore.”
The single marks a creative evolution for the band. Though Zora has long been a pianist, “Ghosts” is the group’s first official release to feature the instrument at the core of its arrangement. “Piano was my first instrument,” Zora shares, “but I only found the confidence to bring it into the live set a year or two ago. It’s such a big, full sound—it reverberates through your whole body—and that suits the emotional weight of this song perfectly.”
Dryadic’s signature blend of modern and traditional folk is on full display here. The arrangement includes George Pearson’s detuned double bass for added resonance, Aly Rainey’s expressive violin work (improvised and recorded in-studio), and Emma’s dynamic percussion, which builds the track into a cinematic emotional swell. The result is a powerful and immersive listening experience, full of tension, release, and catharsis.
Recording “Ghosts” was an emotionally intense process for the band. “After the final take, everyone in the mixing room was crying,” Zora recalls. “I just sat in the booth and sobbed. Aly came in and gave me a hug. You can’t sing this song without feeling it in your bones.”
That same emotional intensity translates on stage. Since debuting the track live, “Ghosts” has become a fan favorite. “It’s emotional every time. Sometimes it’s hard to sing — especially on tough mental health days — but it reminds me who I am underneath all that,” says Zora. “It always lands with the audience. People listen so hard. Sometimes they cry. They often come up to me after shows to talk about it, and it’s people I’d never expect. That kind of connection is such a gift.”
Zora’s favorite lyric from the song — “I know I’m more than enough” — feels like a personal mantra. “That line still feels like a stretch some days. But singing it makes it real.”
The release is accompanied by an official music video, filmed in a single emotionally charged session, available now on YouTube.
Formed in 2017 by Zora McDonald and Joanna Dziecelska (former bandmates in folk ensemble The Tatsmiths), Dryadic has carved out a unique space in the UK alt-folk landscape. Drawing inspiration from European folklore, protest music, and personal storytelling, their music merges fiddle, guitar, piano, double bass, and stomp rhythms into something distinctly their own.
Dryadic’s sound is unapologetically wide-ranging — moving from feminist protest anthems to romantic folk ballads to sweeping cinematic epics. Their lyrics are candid, their hooks unforgettable, and their performances visceral. Whether commanding stages at Glastonbury Avalon, Chai Wallahs, Brighton Pride, Hackney Empire, or intimate theatre spaces, they captivate with a presence that is both grounded and transcendent.
With several new singles planned for release in 2025 and a full-length album set for 2026, Dryadic continues to push boundaries while staying rooted in community, emotion, and truth. “Ghosts” is not just a song—it’s a statement, and a reminder that healing, while difficult, is powerful.
Listen to “Ghosts”:
Stream on Spotify, Apple Music & more
Watch the official video
Follow Dryadic:
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Dryadic Kit
ISRC: GXHUT2579275
For press inquiries, booking, or more information, reach out via their social platforms or visit their official pages.
