Mansplain is the latest single from queer folk punk band Dryadic, proving a fiery rebuttal to those who think they know better. I chatted to them a little to find out more about it.
By Graeme Smith
A bright, folksy and infectious instrumental lays the bedrock for the track’s weary tale of being patronised by those who should know better (and think they do), but really don’t. The lyrics articulate the phenomenon with wit, levity and a certain self-deprecation. The vocals are full of charm, backed by some sublime strings.
“Mansplain was kinda abluted in about an hour over coffee, the morning after a particularly annoying show!” explains band leader Zora MacDonald. “But it’s not only about that night, there are characters in there from all over. I wrote it in the context of that show – the place was full of ‘helpful’ guys hogging my space before I’d even moved from the stage, wanting to compliment me for a minute but unable to do so without a lengthy context of of telling me exactly how to do it better and fast track my art straight to the top, none of them musicians by the way!
“The pattern is the same whether it’s daily micro assumptions that we need help understanding something complex, or really overt examples, like the way we get dismissed when taking our van to the mechanic. The queer reference is reference to the amount of times a man will just address my sexuality, after just having met me, in a crass and objective way. They would rarely have the face to do that to a queer man, let alone a straight one – unless they were collectively objectifying women.”
The video, shot in Bristol, is part skit, part performance, and was an endeavour to film.
“It was the hottest day of the year so far and we were carrying our equipment all over Bristol city centre, setting up and playing for hours!” says Zora. “We were dying, but it was a lot of fun. The end session at the Star was a real bluegrass session, so we finished up there and asked all the players to join us jamming to Mansplain, and then we stayed on for the craic.”
Bristol is well-known for its folk punk scene, so I ask about who we should be looking out for down there.
“There’s a lot of punk in Bristol; it’s well known for it, and there’s a good folk scene in Gloucestershire,” she answers. “It’s quite traditional and we break those rules, straddling a few genres. There is an active queer arts community in Bristol and I love that. Shout outs – Big Mambo (Bristol), Songs from the Porch (Stroud), Split Dogs (Bristol), Mister Tee and the Minions (Bristol), Swamp Stomp String Band (Bristol and then some). Also shout out to Firejam Promotions putting us on this summer.”
We’ve been following the music of Dryadic closely since it hit our radar in February 2025. The warm and folksy Rainbow Family was our first taste of it, and Mansplain gives us a different variety of that folksiness, biting, fiery, and full of relatability.
The band was formed by Zora with Joanna Dziecelska in 2017. Completing the line-up are Aly Rainey and George Pearson.
I mention to Zora about how well she captures the queer femme experience with her music.
“I think I articulate that experience because it is my experience!” she replies. “I am fed up with the lingering negative attitude towards feminism. Feminism is a beautiful perspective that calls for empowerment and equity for all of us – it has nothing to do with misandry or threat. Patriarchy has successfully pigeon holed it as a dirty word. As a woman I face patriarchy and misogyny every day. As a queer person I face homophobia everyday. As a queer woman I often deal with both at the same time.
“I try to be as outspoken as possible and stand up for myself and what I believe in – I feel like I can articulate it best in my songs I guess. I really try to challenge things as they come up and it’s not always well received. It’s a fight – the hardest times are standing up to an individual or small group of people then getting scorned with the usual banter, you can feel stupid, vulnerable and gas lit. But those micro-scale conversations, being held in a calm and open manner, with people you share very little values with are probably the most important ones I can offer.
“This is a huge subject. Things are currently bleak for women and queer people outside of our protected spaces. I think there were many bright spots over the last 20 years, but right now, things are getting worse fast.”
I ask her about how she was drawn to folk music as her form of expression.
“I fell in love with folk and folk-punk years ago listening to bands like The Levellers,” she says. “I also love reggae, gypsy and good pop. My uncle played fiddle around me as a child so the marriage of strong, heartfelt songs and fiddle licks really speaks to me. I I learned piano first and then guitar which I then focussed on for years. Currently, I am loving incorporating piano into my live set and studio releases.”
“Lyrics-wise, I have always written about what is important to me and how I see the world. I sometimes feel like I should be playing harder music because of the things I want to say and the social circles I have frequented, but the music I write just comes out as it does. If there’s one single thing I have learned about song writing over the years, it’s to write authentically and make the music you want to hear. If you’re doing that, you can’t go wrong.”
It won’t be long before we hear more from Dryadic. Their track Can’t Keep Up is set for release in August, and Ghosts will be coming in the autumn, a song the band describe as “a special, epic song on the keys.” A new album is on its way early in 2026. “We also have a super fab, busy August supporting Matt Pless on his UK tour and going over to Poland for shows and a street performance festival,” Zora adds. “Coming up shortly we have Tolpuddle Martyrs and Brighton Pride so we are happy!
“We would love to come and play in York… so hit us up if you have a venue you’d like us to play. Our bassist, George, originally comes from Yorkshire – I’ve never been, but York looks beautiful.”
And I bet Dryadic’s music would play very well here, given our own lively folk scene.
Mansplain is out now and you can give it a listen below.
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