Stephen Mugford rides a golden wave on 'Palooza Beach'

Sometimes an album comes along and feels more like a place you can slip away to, a shimmering escape from the grind. 'Palooza Beach', the debut from rising songwriter Stephen Mugford, is exactly that: a sun-drenched sanctuary built on easy grooves, nostalgic warmth, and lyrical soul-searching.

Originally unveiled in September 2024, 'Palooza Beach' has found fresh momentum nine months later, and it’s easy to hear why. These eight tracks radiate the sort of breezy optimism and sly introspection that make you want to roll down the windows and drift down the coast with no particular destination in mind.

Mugford, who traded in boardrooms for chord progressions after a life-altering health scare, brings decades of lived experience to every note. His voice feels both familiar and newly inviting. Think Jason Mraz’s easy charm meets Paul McCartney’s narrative finesse, with a hint of Willie Nelson’s tender, windswept wisdom.

Beyond Mugford’s magnetic presence, 'Palooza Beach' shines thanks to collaborations with heavyweights like producer John Escobar and guitarist Claudio Ragazzi, whose tasteful touches add depth without overshadowing his own voice. There’s a generosity to the album, where each song feels like it was made to be shared, ideally on a porch at sunset or around a fire as the waves crash nearby.

At its core, 'Palooza Beach' is a love letter to living fully and savouring the small moments that often slip past unnoticed. Mugford captures that golden-hour glow where laughter, melancholy, and hope intermingle. If you’re craving a soundtrack for your next road trip, or just an escape from the day-to-day, 'Palooza' Beach is a must.