Scottish singer songwriter Stephen McCafferty is one of the best artists to emerge in 2025. He’s released a succession of great singles, showing off a writing talent that refuses to be pigeonholed.

‘I Am The Buffalo’ shows off his more melodic side in many ways, and feels like a callback to the mellow verses of his brilliant ‘I Only Want To Hear Sad Songs’. Its semi-busy rhythm sets an interesting backdrop in place that sounds perfect for a very adult pop-rock tone, but this isn’t a track that feels at all showy on a musical level. The solid sounding arrangement is more than content with acting as a platform for a great voice, and Stephen taps into a tone that brings a slight folky air to a great pop-rock track, allowing his vocal to glide very naturally across the semi jangly riff. Augmented by an echoing harmony, the folky element within the tune is highlighted very subtly at first, but by the end of the number, a round of multi-layered vocals provide a huge hook that blends folk and pop in a timeless way, creating something that really makes an impression.

This is a very deliberate move, giving the performance something hugely memorable as the last notes fade, balancing out a chorus which sidelines an obvious immediacy for something a little more sophisticated; something that expects the audience to listen a few times before its flowing melody leaves its mark. It may be quite subtle, but ‘I Am The Buffalo’ is a smartly arranged number that, in time, will certainly give McCafferty’s extant fans plenty to enjoy.