Premiere: Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders Share Video 'Happiness Is Near'

Co-recipients of the 2020 Tui award for Best Country Artist, Delaney Davidson and Barry Saunders (The Warratahs) have reunited with 'Happiness is Near', a new video for an as-yet unreleased song by the pair that we're proud to premiere for you today. A teaser for a forthcoming second collection from the legendary team that gave us 2019's Word Gets Around, 'Happiness is Near' was originally inspired by a cheerful phrase Saunders spotted while watching late night Russian TV, then polished off in collaboration with Davidson. A superb showcase for their golden vocal tones, the tune exudes tangible rustic charm as the worldy duo ponder the idea of good times yet to come with a sparkle in their eye. Davidson's scene-setting lyric video doesn't dispel the song's mystique in the slightest, rolling down a dark highway no doubt zooming from show to show, with a classy font to help us all sing along. Presently gearing up to tour with Troy Kingi in November and December, Davidson gave us the full lowdown...

"Happiness is Near”. Barry Saunders saw it on late night Russian TV, written in English on a wall behind a broadcaster. It stuck in his head. Then he and Delaney Davidson started banging it around on an old, out-of-tune 12-string and it stuck at the heart of their next collection of songs.

They say the sentiment really fit with how they were feeling then, but has come into a whole other context now.

When the world is taking huge steps, and we are sitting in uncertain times. Waiting and watching to see where things might go or what we should do. It can feel like losing momentum, like fear and doubt.

This is a reminder that there’s something friendly waiting down the road. From the middle of isolation and loss, looking back, it’s easy to forget... but there are good times around the corner! You can walk these days and remember them any way that you want.

Kia kaha Aotearoa. Kia ora Aotearoa. Kei te tata te hari." — Delaney Davidson