“When the sun hits the water, it’s a smile on my face”: Dylan Cartlidge Channels Joy into Song on His Hopeful, Sunny, & Soulful “New Day”

Dylan Cartlidge © Leo Walton
Dylan Cartlidge © Leo Walton
Pure joy manifest in song, Dylan Cartlidge’s radiant anthem “New Day” channels hope and possibility into soulful, sun-kissed, and smile-inducing sound.
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Stream: “New Day” – Dylan Cartlidge




When the sun hits the water, it’s a smile on my face…

* * *

It’s a “New Day” for Dylan Cartlidge, and we’re absolutely ready to join the British singer/songwriter in wholeheartedly embracing a fresh start with wide open arms.

Released November 27th, Cartlidge’s first single in over three years finds him channeling hope and possibility into soulful, sun-kissed sound. “New Day” is an uplifting anthem leaning into new beginnings, inviting us to keep our eyes and minds open to all that tomorrow has in store.

Lord knows, I was,
Sad and afraid,
Sad and afraid of the day,
that you’d say the time has finally come.
To stand again,
On my own two feet,
Wake up from a sleep,
Remind me we’d been chasing
Speedboats, heartache,
Dumb luck, close shaves,
Throwing up in doorways.
I know we’re safer, older,
Arms round my shoulders,
But say it isn’t over.
New Day - Dylan Cartlidge
New Day – Dylan Cartlidge

“‘New Day’ is about stepping into unknowns and embracing change, which can be both beautiful and tricky – some of the best decisions can also be some of the hardest,” Cartlidge tells Atwood Magazine.

“When I was 16 years old, I was faced with such a decision. I had to decide to either stay in my current circumstances living in and out of foster care –experiencing trauma, poverty, and addiction – or to move away to start again, leaving behind everything and everybody I’d ever known to live in different part of the country.”

“I made the decision to take a leap of faith, a new beginning.”

Cartlidge rises to a seductive and spiritual high in the chorus, his energy infectious as light pours out of his soul.

It’s a new day, a new day,
When the sun hits the water
it’s a smile on my face.
It’s a new day, a new day.
It’s everything you wanted
but it won’t be the same.
And that’s ok!

Hailing from the coastal town of Redcar in North-East England, Cartlidge is no stranger to these pages. His track “Dare to Dream,” taken off his infectiously energizing debut album Hope Above Adversity, was featured as one of Atwood Magazine’s Best Songs of 2021, with writer Oliver Crook praising it as “uplifting and endearing, carrying a message that we really need right now.”

Crook also hailed Hope Above Adversity as powerful, eclectic, and with enough good vibes to weather the toughest storms. “But it’s not a corny, fake happiness,” he wrote. “Cartlidge tackles difficult topics with realistic eyes, underpinning it with a sense of white-knuckle hope.”

It’s getting lost,
Down familiar streets.
Waking up when you know
we should be fast asleep.
So comfortable,
That’s no excuse.
I wanna’ live, I watch you
stumble and it hits me.
So hard, can’t breathe,
I want life badly,
A little weight to carry.
And though we’re safer, older,
Your arms round my shoulders,
You know it isn’t over.
Dylan Cartlidge © Leo Walton
Dylan Cartlidge © Leo Walton



Fast-forward to 2024, and Dylan Cartlidge continues to embody a spirit of hope in his music.

“New Day” is joy manifest in song: An invitation to bask in the sunshine, dance in the moonlight, and sing along as the artist revels in a moment of meaningful connection and catharsis.

We may not always have Cartlidge’s merry and bright mindset, but we owe it to ourselves to try; to approach tomorrow as an opportunity and as a gift; as a new day.

It’s a new day, a new day,
When the sun hits the water
it’s a smile on my face.
It’s a new day, a new day.
It’s everything you wanted
but it won’t be the same.
‘Cause it’s a new day, a new day,
When the sun hits the water
it’s a smile on my face.

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:: stream/purchase New Day here ::
:: connect with Dylan Cartlidge here ::

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Stream: “New Day” – Dylan Cartlidge



— — — —

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? © Leo Walton


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