Nic Bearde Proves the Blues Never Age in 'Never Say Die'

There are artists who make records, and then there are artists who live inside their music. Nic Bearde has always been the latter. So when he reappears after nearly a decade with “Never Say Die”, it doesn’t feel like a simple release, it feels like a chapter in an ongoing story he’s been writing for 35 years.

What stands out most this time isn’t just the sound, though the blend of funk, blues, and rock is as vibrant as anything he’s done. It’s the mindset behind it. “Never Say Die” isn’t a comeback song so much as a mission statement from an artist who understands exactly where he stands in his own timeline, and isn’t afraid to speak openly about it.

Bearde grew up absorbing the richness of jazz and R&B through the glow of late-night radio. Those influences, Eckstine, Calloway, Rawls, Withers, still echo through his delivery, but this track lets us see a different side of him: the philosopher, the observer, the man who’s collected stories from countless stages across the world.

That’s the angle that hits hardest on “Never Say Die”. Instead of leaning only on melody, Bearde steps into a spoken-word approach that’s surprisingly intimate. It feels like he’s letting listeners pull up a chair at the end of a long night, sharing the kind of truth you only offer when the world finally goes quiet. He talks, he reflects, he lets the years show, not as burden, but as evidence.

Tom Donald’s production and the hiTrecords team add the perfect frame for this moment: horns that feel celebratory without being brash, guitar lines that underline the groove without stealing the spotlight, and a rhythm section that moves with the confidence of musicians who know they’re backing a master.

But maybe the most telling part of this release is the sense of joy woven through it. The accompanying video, all laughter, camaraderie, and creative spark, reveals what “Never Say Die” really captures: the thrill of making music for the love of it. No pressure. No expectations. Just the spark that started it all.

Nic Bearde doesn’t just come back with this track, he shows us who he has become. A storyteller ageing with intention. An artist still curious enough to experiment. And a voice that reminds us why soul music endures: because it grows with us.

Watch it now: