Music has always been the great connector. It's an antidote to the sense of alienation and loneliness many feel in society in general, and that in 2020 grew even deeper as we were asked to actively practise social distancing and isolation. In a year like no other, country music — a genre whose roots derive from themes of home, landscape, hardship and resilience — has soared 15 per cent in streaming time, according to MRC Data/Nielsen Music, with almost all other styles of music losing streaming listenership. Perhaps a collective craving for the regular ol' times explains why country music, replete with visions of land, relationships, heartache and courage, has thrived during our months-long, mandatory stay indoors.