Mad Nad Bo might be a fresh name to some of you, but this Swiss-based powerhouse is no stranger to blending old-school soul with a modern twist. The brainchild of Nadine Jordan, also known as Nad, Mad Nad Bo’s music taps into the deep, emotional wells of blues, jazz, and reggae-inspired rock. Born in the scenic Rhine Valley of St. Gallen, Switzerland, but with a heart forever echoing the soulful rhythms of Edinburgh, Nad has created a unique sound that’s as much a nod to the past as it is a kick into the present. In their latest track, “Hello, My Old Friend,” released on November 29, Nad and her band, featuring her husband Sandro Jordan on guitar, Annie Mumford (UK), and Dominique Borriello (CH) on drums, serve up a stunning emotional journey steeped in rawness and vulnerability.
The song opens with a laid-back, reggae-like rock groove that sets a nostalgic atmosphere. It’s not just a beat; it’s a pulse, a gentle but persistent throb. The smooth yet stinging guitars float alongside a subtle percussive flow, creating a rhythmic cradle for Nad’s vocals. Right from the first line, “Hello, my old friend. Hello darkness, here we go again.” You know this is going to be an exploration of something deep and unspoken. Nad’s voice swoops in like a vintage soul singer from another era, smooth and washed with rawness, as though each word carries the weight of years of experience. The opening lyrics offer a glimpse into a relationship with darkness itself, one that’s familiar yet painful, one that’s always looming and always returning.
Nad’s vocal performance is effortlessly captivating. It’s delicate and forceful when it needs to be. Her voice brings the feeling of a confessional, a raw and emotional outpouring that resonates with anyone who has faced their inner battles. There’s a kind of soulful calm to her delivery, but it’s a storm hiding beneath, carefully controlled but ever-present, like a breath before a storm.
Lyrically, “Hello, My Old Friend” is an intimate conversation with an old adversary—darkness. It’s a song that feels like an unburdening, painful but necessary confrontation with one’s inner demons. The lyrics, “Every time I said my farewell. You were right there to quietly dwell” speak to the inescapable nature of personal struggles that seem to follow us, no matter how much we wish them away. Mad Nad Bo captures the feeling of someone who’s tried to escape but has always been drawn back into the very thing that drains them. The message, clearly one of anguish and longing for release from the hold of this inner darkness, rings out loudly in her phrasing
From a production standpoint, “Hello, My Old Friend” is a masterclass in blending genres. The reggae rhythms and blues influences work together in perfect harmony. The instrumentation—where every guitar riff and drum beat feels deliberately placed—captures the attention with its subtlety and intensity. It’s a sound that pulls you in, leaving you longing for resolution yet knowing full well that there’s no easy way out.
In a world that sometimes demands an easy fix or a feel-good anthem, “Hello, My Old Friend” resists. Instead, it’s a haunting reflection of an ongoing battle, a reminder that we all carry the weight of something, and sometimes the most honest thing we can do is acknowledge it. It is just a taste of what Mad Nad Bo has to offer, and if you’re looking for a song that’s as rich in emotion as it is in musicality, “Hello, My Old Friend” is where you’ll want to start.
Listen to “Hello, My Friend” on Spotify
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