SONG PREMIERE: Dwight + Nicole confess to letting go with warm soul sounds in “Saying Goodbye”

American indie soul band Dwight + Nicole is the creative brainchild of award-winning singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Nicole Nelson and Dwight Ritcher. Completing the band are powerhouse drummer Ezra Oklan and keyboard wizard Leon Campos. They have steadily built a loyal following and earned a lot of respect in the industry along the way. They have been nominated for nine Boston Music Awards, eight Daysie Awards and ten New England Music Awards, winning awards for Band of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Best Blues/R&B Band, Female Vocalist of the Year, Blues Act of the Year and Video of the Year. They have opened for their idols including Mavis Staples, who exclaimed, “Dwight & Nicole are tough! This is my new favorite band,” as well as Melissa Etheridge, who said, “Dwight & Nicole are the absolute original, they are outstanding singers and songwriters and I’m proud to have them here. They carry the torch.”

Their latest album, The Jaguar, the Raven and the Snakewill be re-released on August 23rd as a deluxe vinyl record with the new, retro-inspired single “Saying Goodbye” as a bonus track.

Today Slide offers an exclusive preview of “Saying Goodbye” ahead of its official July 12 release date (PRE-SAVE). The song hits you right from the start with a dose of soulful vocals from Nicole Nelson before the harmonies come together in a way that’s reminiscent of the big band sound of the Tedeschi Trucks Band. In the song, the group finds the idea of ​​letting go but gives it a positive twist, packed with Memphis-style soul and funky guitars, a thumping groove and warm vibes to really get the listener hooked on this song.

Listen to the tune and read our conversation with the duo below…

What is the story behind this song? Where did the inspiration come from?

I wrote this song at a time in my life when I was really embracing the concept of letting go. I had experienced several endings in a row, and one day I realized that endings are always a path to a beginning. Suddenly it felt so simple and clear. You have to say goodbye to something every time you want to grow or change. The first step is saying goodbye. Saying goodbye is the root. Without saying goodbye, nothing changes.

Why is it important to you and what appeals to you most about the song?

Once you accept letting go, nothing can hold you back. That is the key to freedom.

What made you want to add this song to the deluxe edition of the album?

It’s a symbolic song. And it’s probably the simplest song I’ve ever written. It’s very dry and pared down. It’s not about developing or cultivating anything… it’s just calling out: Let it go! It feels good! Drop the hot potato!

Are there any lines of lyrics that you particularly love or that are particularly important to you? What do you think makes them resonate?

I think my favorite line is the first verse:

I have been all my life

Stick to a view

Above this bright horizon

A little déjà-vous

Because life can feel so familiar… even before we’ve lived it. It’s like there’s longing and nostalgia built in. And those big emotions that we follow – even when our minds tell us to run away – we do it anyway. We just get sucked in.

If listeners take one thing away from this song, what do you hope it is?

I hope people feel the freedom.

It really feels good to let go like that. It’s like taking off a big, heavy, wet coat. You can breathe again.

How does this song fit in with the others on the deluxe edition of the album? How is it similar or different?

Unlike all the other songs on the album, this one doesn’t tell a personal story. It describes a more universal truth. Saying goodbye is a part of life and we’ve all experienced it. The song came to us after we’d finished the album, but it fits perfectly. In fact, it completes it in a way.

If you could describe your music in just three words, what would they be and why?

Honest, local, intense.

It’s honest because we don’t use a lot of bells and whistles. We go in, do three takes and choose the best one. (Usually the second one)

Home grown because we’re all self-taught music freaks who play multiple instruments and are basically so obsessed with music that we ruin almost every other aspect of our lives because of it.

Intensive because… see above.

What’s next for Dwight + Nicole?

Next we’re recording a live album in Studio G! It’s coming soon, so stay tuned. <3