Sydney’s producer UNDEFYND, German producer Second Road, and LA-based songstress Casey Cook unite for their new single on SLANDER’s label, a compelling melodic bass song about bereavement.
Sydney-based producer UNDEFYND joins forces with Germany’s Second Road and LA-based vocalist Casey Cook for “Southern Skies,” a soaring melodic bass single out now on SLANDER’s Heaven Sent imprint. The collaboration captures the label’s ethos of emotional storytelling through cinematic sound design, balancing intensity and intimacy in equal measure.
Built around Casey Cook’s luminous vocal performance, “Southern Skies” tells the story told from the perspective of the departed, offering guidance and protection to loved ones on the other end of the veil. Her pristine falsetto radiates reassurance as it floats above a rich sonic backdrop of dramatic piano chords, shimmering arpeggios, and driving percussion. As the arrangement unfolds, sweeping synth leads and atmospheric textures intertwine to create a sense of weightless momentum—a sonic landscape that feels both celestial and deeply human.
UNDEFYND introduces the song, saying “‘Southern Skies’ was heavily inspired by a friend’s loss and his own journey in grief and healing. Around the same time, I spent a lot of time looking at the stars wondering where the departed finally go—which is where the name came from. The song ultimately became a love letter from the soul of someone who’s passed on to the one they leave behind. To me, the song is equally about grief but also a reminder that love always remains after loss—because they never really leave you.”
Summing up the weight of their collab, Second Road adds, “‘Southern Skies’ is proof that love outlives loss.”
Delving deeper into the meaning behind the lyrics, Casey Cook shares: “Creating this song was an exceptionally delicate process that moved me to tears from writing to recording to hearing the final master. I’m deeply proud of this collaboration. Honored to be part of it and to share what it became; a story told from the afterlife.”
The single marks UNDEFYND’s third appearance on Heaven Sent, following 2024 releases “Otherside of You” and “Here’s to Hope.” Both singles drew combined media coverage from IMPRINT, Aipate, Wave Music, Perspective, Beat for Beat, Indie Dream, Find Your Sounds, Frontview Magazine, Roadie Music, and Music For All, establishing him as a rising voice in the melodic bass movement. His sound, merging the emotional resonance of progressive house with the intensity of rock and cinematic influences, continues to earn the support of tastemakers including Gryffin, JVNA, and Hoang.
For Second Road, “Southern Skies” serves as an early showcase of his emotionally-charged production style. The German producer has built his reputation through remixes for Miles Away and Misael Gauna x DrewOne x Noctilucent, crafting melodies that draw inspiration from scene leaders such as Seven Lions and Jason Ross while carving a unique identity centered on melodic storytelling.
At the heart of the record lies Casey Cook, whose vocal presence has become a fixture across modern dance music. The Rhode Island-born, LA-based singer-songwriter has collaborated with leading names including Trivecta, Blanke, FrostTop, yetep, and Codeko, while lending her pen to Tritonal, William Black, and Le Youth. Her voice – heard on stages from EDC Las Vegas to Beyond Wonderland and featured across major DSP playlists and film/TV placements—brings a grounded emotionality that anchors “Southern Skies” in authenticity.
Together, UNDEFYND, Second Road, and Casey Cook deliver a track that embodies the emotional core of Heaven Sent: melodic, cinematic, and profoundly human. “Southern Skies” stands as a vivid testament to the label’s continued commitment to spotlighting collaborations that bridge heartfelt songwriting and forward-thinking electronic production.
UNDEFYND is a melodic bass producer from Sydney, Australia. Drawing inspiration from his old rock and metal CDs, pop music and nostalgic 2000 & 2010’s EDM, he has spent the last two years releasing music featuring lush soundscapes and intimate storytelling that centre around healing and growth from scars.
He has featured on labels including Heaven Sent & Ophelia as well as recognition on major Youtube platforms including Wave Music. Following a headline show with Orlost in New York and an opening slot for Virtual Riot in Sydney, UNDEFYND is now focused on shaping the local EDM landscape with a dream that Melodic Bass will be a stape genre in Australia.
Rhode Island native and LA-based songwriter/vocalist Casey Cook is a first-call collaborator for top EDM and pop producers and an acclaimed artist in her own right. Known for her chilling vocal performances, captivating melodies, and honest storytelling, her ethereal timbre has resonated with listeners worldwide.
She is an NBC Songland finalist, whose music has been heard on New Music Friday, Apple Music Dance, Dance Rising, Mint, and Bass Lounge, among others, and featured in film/TV placements including Netflix, Vice, Hallmark Channel, and Sundance Now. Fiercely independent since her debut in 2016, the multifaceted artist’s otherworldly vocals have dominated the electronic dance music scene working with Wooli, Blanke, Trivecta, MashBit, VisionV, SABAI, yetep, and more.
Her skillsets rise beyond her vocals, penning songs for respected acts like Tritonal, William Black, Le Youth, and Markus Schulz, to name a few. Following a life-changing year, the songstress resumed releasing her own music with her debut EP ‘In Its Time’ encompassing loss, healing, and hope in hard times. Casey Cook continues to captivate audiences performing at major EDM festivals and on nationwide tours, showcasing her uplifting vocals while expanding her roster of high-profile collaborations and shaping her artistic legacy.
UNDEFYND, Second Road, and Casey Cook’s new single “Southern Skies” is available on all platforms via Heaven Sent.
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