NEWS
Doves confront darkness with smouldering new track 'Lean Into The Wind' ahead of Record Store Day
11 April 2025
Manchester legends Doves have unveiled the compelling and cautionary new track, "Lean Into The Wind," a previously unreleased gem unearthed from the studio sessions of their recent Top 5 album, Constellations For The Lonely. The atmospheric song, fronted by Jimi Goodwin, delves into themes of temptation, surrender, and the insidious nature of addiction, offering a raw and honest glimpse into personal struggles.
"It’s all there in the lyrics, it’s about addiction,” explains Goodwin. “It’s drawn from a situation I was in at the time… Going to someone’s house, trying something and it consuming you within days… hopefully it’s a cautionary tale.” Despite Goodwin's continued absence from their live performances due to well-documented health challenges, his distinctive voice and the enduring collaborative spirit with bandmates Andy and Jez Williams are powerfully present in the track.
"Lean Into The Wind" will feature as the lead track on a limited edition AA-side 10” red vinyl, alongside the song "Cally," exclusively for Record Store Day on Saturday, April 12th, 2025. This special release follows the band's celebratory and entirely sold-out UK tour last month, marking their busiest period since returning from a seven-year hiatus.
As they head into the festival season, with significant outdoor appearances on the horizon including a headline show at Halifax’s Piece Hall on August 23rd, 2025, Doves' expanded songbook promises to resonate deeply with audiences. While Andy and Jez Williams have been handling vocal duties on tour, Goodwin’s poignant lyricism and vocal delivery on "Lean Into The Wind" serve as a powerful reminder of his crucial role in the band's creative core.
The origins of the track lie in Jez Williams' initial musical ideas, which were then shaped by the collective "Doves filter," with Goodwin and Andy Williams contributing lyrics that imbue the song with a palpable sense of authenticity. Andy Williams reflects, "Jimi took the song away and came back with the first verse. There was just instant recognition that it was about some of the stuff he must have been going through… Ultimately, it had real authenticity to it."
Originally demoed in Porto, both "Lean Into The Wind" and "Cally" were developed during the sessions for their critically acclaimed sixth album. This Record Store Day release offers fans a unique opportunity to own a tangible piece of Doves' recent creative output, bridging the gap between their studio work and their continued live presence.
Doves Upcoming Live Dates:
Fri 30 May - Madrid, Tomavistas Festival
Sun 1 June - Cheltenham, Wychwood Festival
Thu 17 July - Reading, Heritage Festival
Sat 19 July - Sunderland, Monument Festival
Sat 26 July - Bexhill, Pavillion Lawns
Sun 27 July - Suffolk, Latitude Festival
Fri 22 Aug - Cumbria, Solfest
Sat 23 Aug - Halifax, Piece Hall
Fri 29 Aug - Lindisfarne, Lindisfarne Festival
Sun 31 Aug - Birmingham, Moseley Folk & Arts Festival
"It’s all there in the lyrics, it’s about addiction,” explains Goodwin. “It’s drawn from a situation I was in at the time… Going to someone’s house, trying something and it consuming you within days… hopefully it’s a cautionary tale.” Despite Goodwin's continued absence from their live performances due to well-documented health challenges, his distinctive voice and the enduring collaborative spirit with bandmates Andy and Jez Williams are powerfully present in the track.
As they head into the festival season, with significant outdoor appearances on the horizon including a headline show at Halifax’s Piece Hall on August 23rd, 2025, Doves' expanded songbook promises to resonate deeply with audiences. While Andy and Jez Williams have been handling vocal duties on tour, Goodwin’s poignant lyricism and vocal delivery on "Lean Into The Wind" serve as a powerful reminder of his crucial role in the band's creative core.
The origins of the track lie in Jez Williams' initial musical ideas, which were then shaped by the collective "Doves filter," with Goodwin and Andy Williams contributing lyrics that imbue the song with a palpable sense of authenticity. Andy Williams reflects, "Jimi took the song away and came back with the first verse. There was just instant recognition that it was about some of the stuff he must have been going through… Ultimately, it had real authenticity to it."
Originally demoed in Porto, both "Lean Into The Wind" and "Cally" were developed during the sessions for their critically acclaimed sixth album. This Record Store Day release offers fans a unique opportunity to own a tangible piece of Doves' recent creative output, bridging the gap between their studio work and their continued live presence.
Doves Upcoming Live Dates:
Fri 30 May - Madrid, Tomavistas Festival
Sun 1 June - Cheltenham, Wychwood Festival
Thu 17 July - Reading, Heritage Festival
Sat 19 July - Sunderland, Monument Festival
Sat 26 July - Bexhill, Pavillion Lawns
Sun 27 July - Suffolk, Latitude Festival
Fri 22 Aug - Cumbria, Solfest
Sat 23 Aug - Halifax, Piece Hall
Fri 29 Aug - Lindisfarne, Lindisfarne Festival
