On September 18, Fox De La Rose released the nine-song album Nothing Is Written In Stone, an entirely self-produced work whose conception and execution were guided by a single songwriter who was responsible for every note and nuance. The album combines threads of contemporary pop and rock, features a Britpop style, includes earthy instrumentation, and has soul-searching lyrics. The songs have already attracted international attention: ‘Not Afraid of the Light’ won the award for Best AI Pop at the World AI Music Festival and also received recognition in the categories of Best Human-AI Collaboration and Best AI Music Storytelling; ‘You’re Not Alone Tonight’ won Best Music Video at the Cannes Film Awards; and ‘The Eagle Still Flies’ was given an Honorable Mention at the Europe Music Video Awards. These awards highlight the album’s commitment to creating a distinct musical, narrative, and visual world for each track.
‘Mystery’ starts the album by exploring the hidden thoughts behind life’s most important moments. ‘Not Afraid of the Light’ reveals the feelings involved in accepting change, and ‘From The Heart’ focuses on times of personal struggle. ‘I Don’t Chase Anymore’ marks a change by letting go of restless chasing in favor of freedom and fresh starts. The title track is the heart of the album’s message, asking if one decision can really shape a person’s life. ‘You’re Not Alone Tonight’ offers comfort during loneliness; ‘November Ashes’ uses memory as a rich source for new beginnings; ‘Next Page’ looks ahead without forgetting the past; and ‘The Eagle Still Flies’ closes the album with a feeling of strength.
The album’s stylistic breadth is purposeful, each track sculpting its own sonic landscape to serve the narrative at hand. Rather than adhering to rigid genre lines, the record finds cohesion through its songwriting and overarching vision. While contemporary production and visual tools have broadened what independent artists can realize, Nothing Is Written In Stone remains rooted in authentic creative expression. Fox De La Rose emerges as an artist defined by adaptability, allowing each song to carve its own path and leaving the album open-ended, inviting possibility.
Seth Tabatznik unveils ‘Infinite Beings’, the lead single from his forthcoming third album, via Moth Music (Mother Of The Heart). The track arrives on the heels of a prolific run that includes ‘Flow River Flow’ and a Deep Forest remix of ‘Shining For Love’, and has already drawn attention from 1883 Magazine. Earlier this year, his sophomore album Awakening Embers earned coverage from NOTION Magazine, while singles ‘Shining For Love’ and ‘Choose To Be Alive’ received support from CLASH Magazine and EARMILK. Since debuting in 2024, Tabatznik has accumulated over 400,000 streams and performed at venues ranging from Boschendal Estate in Cape Town to Green Note in Camden. Originally from London and now based in the Western Cape mountains, he crafts a distinctive blend of acoustic folk and medicine music, marked by soulful harmonies and lyrics rooted in nature. His songwriting has been shaped by the guidance of Nick Mulvey and the influence of guitarist Rainer Scheurenbrand.
‘Infinite Beings’ unfolds over five minutes, centering Tabatznik’s songwriting as he navigates themes of self-discovery, purpose, and acceptance. The track opens with a close-harmonised duet, gradually building into a chorus underscored by swelling strings that linger beyond the final note. Sonically, it aligns with the introspective sensibilities of artists such as Passenger, Adrianne Lenker, and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Seth Tabatznik shared: “Infinite Beings is a personal journey out of a rational, achievement-driven mind chasing approval into something a more expansive being. Retreats, plant medicine, and years of self-discovery invited me into a new mindset: we’re not human beings having spiritual experiences. We’re spiritual beings having a human one. This song journeys through health struggles and being lost in my purpose, inviting me to question my existence, ultimately guiding me into my heart and onto my soul path. And so was born ‘Infinite Beings’, of which I am one, too.”
The Mighty Pines, a St. Louis-based quartet known for their deft fusion of bluegrass, soul, and rock & roll, unveil their most accomplished work to date with their third studio album, ‘Good Luck, Nice To Meet You’. Drawing inspiration from Bruce Hornsby, Tom Petty, Counting Crows, and Hiatus Kaiyote, the band’s dual songwriters and signature three-part harmonies shape a collection defined by infectious rhythms, soaring melodic lines, and nuanced storytelling. The group’s stature within the American roots landscape is underscored by standout performances at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, a national television appearance on NBC’s The Voice, collaborations with Michael McDonald, and the continued growth of their annual Pines Fest, now a fixture in the Midwest roots calendar.
With ‘Good Luck, Nice To Meet You’, The Mighty Pines reinforce their standing as one of the most dynamic live acts on the American roots circuit. Read on for our exclusive interview exploring the creative process behind the album.
Hey, thanks so much for sitting down with us today – what’s been the absolute best part of your week so far, music aside?
We’d have to say waking up in our own homes after being on the road for a little while in support of our brand new studio album.
Which genres best describe your music?
Four words: Grass, Soul, Rock ‘n Roll.
If someone wanted to understand the real vibe of the band beyond the music, what’s one story from your everyday life that says it all?
There’s probably not just one story, just the fact that we value time being outdoors, exploring new music, and supporting our colleagues in the St. Louis music scene, cooking for others, and nurturing our relationships with friends and family.
What’s the wildest creative risk you’ve ever taken in the studio that actually paid off in ways you never saw coming?
Trusting in a producer to help mold your sound. That process is quite an interesting landscape. You get vulnerable with someone else handling your songs. For Example, one of our latest songs, ‘Good Luck, Nice To Meet You,’ has a chorus that was more of a double time feel when we first wrote it. Kick on all four beats, accents on the upbeats, kind of a disco vibe. Then our producer suggested that we lay it back into more of a half time feel. It completely changed the vibe for the better and we all dug it on the spot. It grooved harder and that was such a pleasant surprise.
How often do you hope to release new music?
Releasing new music on a regular basis is key in this current musical landscape. Something new every 6-12 months is a goal of ours whether it’s singles, an EP, or full length album.
What is the date of your next planned single/EP/Album release?
Well we just released a brand new studio album titled “Good Luck, Nice To Meet You” on July 31st, 2026. We might toy around with a cover project here in the fall time though.
If you could change one thing about the modern music industry overnight, what would it be?
That record labels/streaming services stop siphoning money from the artists. Pay artists fairly when it comes to streaming and sales royalties.
Do you see AI as a threat to musicians, a helpful collaborator, or something else? How do you plan to keep your music relevant as the industry changes rapidly because of these tools? By embracing AI, avoiding it, or taking a different approach?
In our eyes, we don’t see AI as an ultimate threat to musicians because we believe people long for that human to human musical connection. People would miss it too much if that aspect went away. Sure, AI could be a tool to help musicians on the business side with administrative tasks. And when it comes to music underwriting or music scoring, that could be a threat to some musicians. But when it comes to actual music being written and performed, we have the upper hand because well… we’re human. We will continue to write our own music organically and that will keep us relevant. Side note; It would help if all streaming services banned AI generated music on their platforms.
What is the single biggest challenge you currently face as an independent band?
Doing all of the business/administrative work yourself. General promotion of all shows, answering emails, show advancing, tour prep, managing merchandise, posting on all your social media profiles, creating content, releasing music, the list goes on and it really doesn’t stop. And on top of all of that there always needs to be time for the music. Writing, performing, rehearsing. Rinse and repeat.
What core themes were you hoping listeners would connect with in your latest track?
We don’t really care what theme a listener picks when listening to our music. We know we dig our latest songs and think they’re some of the best work we’ve put out there. If people can resonate and feel good with what they hear, that’s a nice cherry on top.
If you could revisit one decision from your artistic journey and do it differently, what would it be?
Try to hire a producer early on in your career to get used to the fact that outside influence can work in a positive manner.
What’s one unexpected influence, maybe from outside music, that keeps showing up in your work?
I think it’s just all the different kinds of music that influence us to find a way to show up. We have experience from a lot of different backgrounds and since we play bluegrass from time to time, we can also play some really soulful stuff. That kinda keeps our audience on their toes a bit.
What’s one fun or ridiculous moment from the studio or road since this release that still makes you smile?
The fact that we were able to get legendary producer Steve Berlin(Los Lobos) to work with us for a second time and help us make some of the best music we’ve put out to date. It’s really cool to think that we were able to work with someone of that caliber not once but twice in the studio.
London-born folk artist Seth Tabatznik released ‘Flow River Flow‘ this past weekend on 7 August 2026 through Moth Music (Mother Of The Heart), marking the first single from his forthcoming third album. The track follows Deep Forest’s remix of ‘Shining For Love‘, released on 17 July 2026. His second album Awakening Embers, which arrived earlier this year, drew positive coverage from NOTION Magazine, while the singles ‘Shining For Love‘ and ‘Choose To Be Alive‘ picked up plays and write-ups from CLASH Magazine and EARMILK. Since releasing music in 2024 he has passed 400,000 streams and sold out his first live date at Boschendal Estate in Cape Town plus a later show at Green Note in London’s Camden. Now living in the Western Cape mountains of South Africa, Tabatznik works in acoustic folk and medicine music shaped by the places he has lived; Nick Mulvey mentored him through the making of Awakening Embers and guitar teacher Rainer Scheurenbrand remains a clear influence on his playing and approach.
‘Flow River Flow‘ begins with quiet acoustic guitar strums under Seth Tabatznik’s restrained vocal before the arrangement opens into a fuller chorus of sustained pads and unhurried percussion that keep the track grounded and close. The result sits comfortably alongside the work of Passenger and GregoryAlan Isakov.
Seth Tabatznik shared: “This song took me about as long to write and record as my whole previous album! ‘Flow River Flow‘ is a deeply personal journey about my life and my home mountain. Over the past year I’ve been learning to write with more vulnerability and share more of my own life experiences. Up until a few years ago, I thought I knew myself, my mission on this earth. I could recite it with ease. Then my body told me otherwise. Sickness diverted me towards a new path. Not unaligned with my previous one, but with more humility, empathy and a slowing down. I feel much more guided, more rooted in myself and where I’m meant to be. less pressure to achieve and more curiosity to experience, and express myself through music. When I first wrote the song, it was intended to be about the mountain I live on and how it called me to the land. As it evolved, I realized the mountain was me and so included myself into the story. Now it’s about both of us.”
![The Mighty Pines Talk the Studio Risk, the Daily Grind of Independent Band and More [Interview]](https://rcrdlbl.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/THE-MIGHTY-PINES-3-622x700.jpeg)
