‘Secret River’ by Chasing Twisters review

Chasing Twisters are a five-piece British country band comprising of Laura Holden (Lead Vocals & bass guitar), Craig Chapman (Guitar, Mandolin and Vocals), Craig Cope (drums), Pat Wright (guitar and vocals) and Dave Deaville (keyboard). Based in Stoke on Trent, they formed in 2021 when Laura Holden and Craig Chapman teamed up determined to create original country music which is distinctly UK.

Released 9th January 2026, Secret River is:

“A prayer of inner strength, which I wrote during the lockdown, where I worked flat out as an air filtration engineer with more than 30 hospitals - a very thankless task and one where it was so hard to believe in a higher power amongst the clueless chaos suddenly thrust upon the world.”

Craig tells me how Coventry has an underground river, which leant the mystical feel to the song image.

“Gonna find myself a secret river

But I won't tell you its name

Cold, clear waters make me shiver

It'll be my guide, be my guardian

And in this upside down world, it'll be my flame”

Anything secretive is always intriguing, the mystery of what lays ahead only limited by one’s imagination. Whilst the song is based from an actual river, it also speaks to that inner river that flows within us. “Cold, clear water makes me shiver”  is a powerful image and is a contrasting perspective as clear water is usually calming and reassuring as you can see what lurks beneath. Conversely it could make us shiver because we’re expecting it to be disrupted at any moment.

The lyrics, beautifully written, personify the river to provide direction, “guidance” and being our “guardian”. Further reference of its significance is used citing “it’ll be my flame” and flames are also used to provide light, enabling us to see where we’re going.

“Gonna let the current lead me forwards

And I won't be afraid

Unlike gravity, I'll feel drawn upwards

It'll be my truth, be my rock of ages

It'll wash me over, but not put out my flame”

Letting the current “lead me forwards” is very much saying you’ll go with the flow of life. Sometimes surging ahead, other times you’ll be taking a more leisurely approach to life. It’s interesting the contrasting use of gravity and how it’s used to promote ambition and positivity.

“Some call out for God, some call for Jesus

To guide them through the dark

But all those words might seem unanswered

Maybe ignored

Or just maybe, they didn't come from your heart”

An interesting lyric starts this verse, drawing on biblical references and tapping into our spiritual being to help “guide them through the dark”. The second half of the verse continues this reference by means of prayer, and how sometimes they appear to go unanswered however it also poses the question whether what we’ve said was genuine. Religion can be divisive, however regardless of what faith is celebrated, or none, we’re still asking questions to a greater being, be that externally or a greater version of ourselves.

“Gonna find myself a secret river

But I won't know its name

It's not my place to be name giver

It'll be my guide, be my guardian

And in this upside down world it'll be my flame

And here in this upside down world, you can't put out my flame”.

Whilst we often search for things, sometimes harder to find than others, it is often found more easier when we inward search, trawl our memories and voila! The right to give names can often be hard as it can depend upon various factors, culturally, or geographically for example. Reference to how the world is perceived, “upside down world” highlights that whilst we may have progress, sometimes it’s at the expense of regression. As discussed previously, the flame is very much symbolic of our passion and enthusiasm and we should never allow anything to dampen or extinguish our flame.

“Secret River” was released 9th January 2026, and is available on all your favourite music streaming sites. Make sure to follow them on their social media or at their website www.chasingtwisters.co.uk/ for more news on gigs, festival appearances and more new music!