Winners of the 2026 Milkmaid Folk Songwriting Competition

We’re South of Polaris, the flamenco-infused alt-folk duo of Danii Reales (UK) and Saúl Díaz (Spain), making music that is as emotionally raw as it is sonically rich. Our sound brings together intimate folk storytelling, the fire and rhythmic intensity of flamenco and the theatrical energy of rock, driven by Danii’s soaring vocals and evocative violin and Saúl’s intricate electro-classical guitar.

Our music was born from grief and became a form of healing, turning intense emotion into honest, evocative songwriting that connects deeply with audiences. On stage we move from moments of hushed intimacy to explosive intensity, and we aim to make every show immersive, dynamic and hard to forget.

In just three years we’ve built a distinctive and growing presence on the UK folk scene. Recent appearances include Cambridge Folk Festival and Bury Folk Festival, alongside folk clubs, festivals and venues across the country. We’ve shared stages with and supported acclaimed artists including Mad Dog Mcrea, Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet and Tom Bright, and our music has been featured by BBC Introducing, Alan Ritson’s Fine Folk and Cambridge Radio.

Our debut EP, The Year After (2024), was an important milestone and earned us a nomination for a Cambridge NMG Award in the Folk & Americana category. In 2026 our song Becoming Ocean won the Milkmaid Folk Songwriting Competition.

Now, with a growing national audience and a new album in production, we’re entering the next chapter of our story, pushing at the boundaries of contemporary folk while keeping the emotional honesty and Anglo-Spanish identity at the heart of our music.