Sydney-based producer UNDEFYND teams up with Germany’s Second Road and Los Angeles–based vocalist Casey Cook on “Southern Skies,” a cinematic melodic bass release arriving January 23 via SLANDER’s Heaven Sent imprint. The collaboration channels the label’s signature focus on emotional storytelling, pairing expansive sound design with an intimate, deeply human narrative.
Anchored by Casey Cook’s radiant vocal performance, “Southern Skies” unfolds as a message from beyond—spoken from the perspective of a departed soul offering comfort, guidance, and reassurance to those left behind. Her delicate falsetto carries a sense of calm and protection, gliding over dramatic piano progressions, shimmering arpeggios, and driving percussion. As the track builds, sweeping synth leads and layered atmospheres create a feeling of lift and motion, blurring the line between earthly emotion and something more celestial.
Reflecting on the song’s origins, UNDEFYND shares, “‘Southern Skies’ was heavily inspired by a friend’s loss and his journey through grief and healing. Around the same time, I found myself staring at the stars, wondering where the departed finally go—that’s where the name came from. The song became a love letter from someone who’s passed on to the person they leave behind. To me, it’s about grief, but also about how love never disappears. They never really leave you.”
Adding to that sentiment, Second Road describes the collaboration simply: “‘Southern Skies’ is proof that love outlives loss.”
For Casey Cook, the record carried an especially personal weight. “This song was an incredibly delicate process—it moved me to tears from writing, to recording, to hearing the final master,” she explains. “I’m deeply proud of this collaboration and honored to help tell a story from the afterlife.”
The release marks UNDEFYND’s third appearance on Heaven Sent, following 2024 singles “Otherside of You” and “Here’s to Hope.” Those releases earned coverage from IMPRINT, Aipate, Wave Music, Perspective, Beat For Beat, Indie Dream, Find Your Sounds, Frontview Magazine, Roadie Music, and Music For All, helping establish him as a rising voice in the melodic bass space. His sound—melding progressive house emotion with cinematic and rock-inspired intensity—has drawn support from artists including Gryffin, JVNA, and Hoang.
For Second Road, “Southern Skies” highlights his emotionally driven production style early in his career. The German producer has previously delivered remixes for Miles Away and Misael Gauna x DrewOne x Noctilucent, drawing inspiration from melodic bass mainstays like Seven Lions and Jason Ross while carving his own identity rooted in melody and feeling.
At the center of the track is Casey Cook, whose voice has become a familiar presence across modern electronic music. The Rhode Island–born, Los Angeles–based artist has collaborated with Trivecta, Blanke, FrostTop, yetep, and Codeko, while contributing songwriting to projects by Tritonal, William Black, and Le Youth. Her vocals have echoed across stages from EDC Las Vegas to Beyond Wonderland, as well as major DSP playlists and film and television placements.
Together, UNDEFYND, Second Road, and Casey Cook deliver a release that captures the emotional heart of Heaven Sent—cinematic, melodic, and profoundly sincere. “Southern Skies” stands as a reminder that even in loss, connection and love continue to resonate.
“Southern Skies” by UNDEFYND, Second Road, and Casey Cook is available now on all platforms via Heaven Sent.