Acoustic guitar extraordinaire Ali Tod has released her newest song, “Day in June,” today, the second and final single ahead of her upcoming self-titled album due out next Friday.
“Day in June” flaunts all of the Scottish-born, now Appalachia-based musician’s best musical attributes: signature, complex guitar skills and deeply honest lyricism, executed with powerful vocals. Utilizing percussive fingerstyle techniques and loop-pedal, her songs are able to evoke levels of intricacy and fullness despite the lack of a full band.
Guitar acts as both a rhythmic and melodic element of the song, providing both structure and complimenting Tod’s compelling voice. Neither string nor singing overshadow the other; the two play off of each other in pleasant symbiosis that is neither awkwardly sparse or wildly overwhelming. Instead, listeners are treated to a sort of refreshing vulnerability through both word and instrument, allowing them to experience both of these aspects of the song wholly.
Lyrically, she sings of a doomed relationship from the jump, yet she can’t help but dive headfirst anyway. “We were never gonna make it / But I still wanted to try / Didn’t take too much to break it / And it’s easy to see why,” she sings with conviction from the start. The bridge showcases a masterclass in guitar picking, and stamps her unique acoustic soul style as truly one of a kind.
Tod has performed alongside artists such as Brandi Carlile, Daniel Ho, and Gabriela Quintero among others, and most recently was a part of the 2026 MusiSHEans collective that toured across Europe. She has also started the Edinburgh Guitar Night, a multi-genre live showcase meant to highlight touring and local musicians alike, and has also collaborated with the likes of Rodrigo y Gabriela, who provided their private studio for her to record Lumbini ‘20, which was her second EP.
Her forthcoming self-titled album – produced by acclaimed guitarist and composer Kaki King – represents a significant artistic evolution, placing songwriting firmly at the center while retaining the innovative guitar work that has become her signature.
Tod’s album release show is slated for October 28th at The Bitter End in New York City with special guest Alex Skolnick.
