Browsing Tag

joni Mitchell

Leah J Jones captured the grace of grief in her latest single, Saints and Stars

As tenderly compelling as I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie, with all the ethereal iconography and tonality to boot, the latest stripped-back and sonorous score, Saints and Stars, from Leah J Jones strikes all the right evocative chords while establishing the singer-songwriter as the Joni Mitchell of our generation.

With a perfect touch of baroque melancholic malady to tinge the magnetic release with a mournful resonance, it’s impossible not to be affected by this attest to grief which captures the interplay between sorrow and gratitude for what a loved and lost figure granted us with their life. It’s a stunning testament to how influence is one of the few things in this life that isn’t ephemeral. We can’t wait to hear what is in the pipeline from the celestial song crafter.

Saints and Stars was officially released on November 5th; stream it on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Susan Ritchie lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in ‘It’s High Time’

Susan Ritchie, whose name has become synonymous with authentic artistry on the Central CA Coast, lit a beacon of tranquillity and wisdom in the standout single, It’s High Time, taken from her debut album, Life is for the Living. So much more than solely a musical score, it’s a journey into the heart of what it means to find peace and meaning amidst the chaos of modernity.

Ritchie gave the adage ‘live and let live’ brand-new potency within It’s High Time by speaking chapter and verse on how it takes nothing to accept trans men and women who are just looking to align their minds with their appearance. Her ability to weave everyday experiences into her songwriting, while giving a nod to the universal experiences we all share, is on full display here. The song is a reminder to pause, reflect, and embrace the moment, a message that resonates now more than ever when it is too easy to be consumed by the insanity which breeds on every corner of the internet.

The influence of her early inspirations, from James Taylor’s finger-picking to the sweet yet sassy blues of Bonnie Raitt, is evident in the song’s composition. Yet, It’s High Time is unmistakably a Susan Ritchie creation. It’s a song that showcases her evolution as an artist, blending soul, blues, rock, and folk into a seamless and captivating experience.

Regardless of how many people find comfort in Susan Ritchie’s soulfully sonorous sound, she speaks directly to you through the intimacy of her lyrics and the magnetically powerful delivery of her gilded-in-introspective-gold lines.

Stream It’s High Time on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Susie McCollum – New Year’s Eve: part love song, part soulful indie-folk ode to bitter-sweet tradition

If it isn’t too early for commercial stores to deck their aisles with items that prove we’re in the midst of a consumer-industrial complex, it isn’t too early to pontificate on what will be the staple fixtures on our holiday playlists, especially when the singles are as superlatively resolving as New Year’s Eve from the folk singer-songwriter Susie McCollum.

Part love song, part soulful indie-folk ode to bitter-sweet tradition, the loungey and luxe feel of the NYC singer-songwriter’s debut single allows you to slip into a reflective sanctuary of a soundscape. The gentle piano keys against the minimalist acoustic guitars construct an absorbing platform for McCollum’s endlessly sonorous harmonic notes to drift into as the lyrics go beyond the commodification of the holiday, which, whether we like it or not, forces us to take sentimental stock of the year gone by and anticipate what we’ll be grateful for next year.

However you choose to spend it this year, there isn’t a situation McCollum can’t elevate with her Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones and Janis Ian-esque sound.

Add New Year’s Eve to your Spotify playlists now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

MANELLA “Young Girls” Ought to Appeal to Audiences of all Ages!

If you’re looking for a fresh new voice in the world of music, MANELLA (Maria Jimenez) is an artist you need to check out. Her song “Young Girls” is a stunning example of her talent as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. With a blend of genres that is all her own, Manella creates a performance that is both memorable and moving.

Her vocals are enthralling, drawing you in with every lyric and note. She has a powerful stage presence that makes you feel as if you’re right there with her, experiencing every emotion. And her songwriting is nothing short of incredible. With a feminist lens, she tackles subjects of loss, love, and strength in a way that is both honest and heartbreaking.

Manella’s recent graduation from McGill’s Schulich School of Music with a double major in Jazz Performance: Voice and Composition is just the beginning of what promises to be an incredible career. Her debut album, “Songs My Mother Never Taught Me,” is an autobiographical account of heartbreak, mental health, objectification, and the loss of innocence in your 20s. It’s a powerful statement from an artist who is just getting started.

If you’re a fan of Joni Mitchell, Phoebe Bridgers, Mitski, or Fiona Apple, you’ll love what Manella brings to the table. She’s an extraordinary musician with a dedication, ambition, and command of the stage that is truly a force to be reckoned with. “Young Girls” is just the beginning of what promises to be an amazing musical journey. Don’t miss out on this rising star!

Succumb to the cinematic nostalgia in Molly Murphy’s folk-pop single, I Miss When We Drove Shitty Cars

Taken from her phenomenal EP, Were You Digging for Some Deeper Meaning? Molly Murphy’s nostalgia-soaked folk serenade, I Miss When We Drove Shitty Cars, will drive you right back to the days when it was okay if everything wasn’t Instagram-worthy.

With all the grace and beguile of Joni Mitchell, this sepia-tinged stripped-back single allows Murphy’s celestial vocal timbre to float atop the quiescently cinematic melodies that lull you into a state of calm before the orchestral chamber strings chorally caress the non-lexical harmonies that will make you Dream Baby Dream.

The NYC indie-folk singer-songwriter is a soulful force to be reckoned with. Watch this space. Or better yet, succumb to the choral mesmerism.

I Miss When We Drove Shitty Cars is now available to stream on Spotify and purchase on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Layla Frankel evades genre and embodies soul in her standout single, Dear Jennie.

Layla Frankel’s recent releases may evade genre, but they revolve around style and soul. Her standout single, Dear Jennie, is a stunning testament to her effortlessly uplifting sound. With her influences ranging from Bonnie Raitt to Sheryl Crow to Joni Mitchell to Bob Dylan, she found her own voice in between, and what a voice it is.

With the same ABBA-Esque piano chords that allowed the Manic Street Preachers to get to the top of the album charts when they used them in their latest album, The Ultra Vid Lament, Dear Jennie brings just as much euphoria with her complexly layered sound that indoctrinates unpredictable progressions, cathartic crescendos and sheer vocal dynamism.

Dear Jennie is available to stream on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Julianna Sweeney tells us like it is with her jazzy soul-pop single ‘all talk’

https://open.spotify.com/track/5amxgKuPmVRg2n4uh8bnzZ

With a sound so celestial it sounds like it has been pulled from the 5th dimension, it’s safe to say the lead single ‘all talk’ taken from Julianna Sweeney’s debut album ‘Exit Fo[u]r is stunning.

The 21-year-old singer-songwriter’s approach to jazzy soul pop will undoubtedly enamour fans of Joni Mitchell, Norah Jones and Carole King while arresting you with the originality of her sound. Nothing is forced, everything is effortless, at least on the surface there’s no diminishing the amount of nuanced skill in all talk. With smooth jazzy instrumental interludes between Julianna Sweeney’s vocals, there’s plenty of room in the soundscape to drink in the romantic frustration which transpires before you learn that actions speak louder than words.

You can check out Julianna Sweeney’s debut album for yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Charlotte Morris Bares Her Soul on new single ‘Three Hearts’

With a delicious blend of folk, pop, rock, and Americana comes ‘Three Hearts’, the new single from Charlotte Morris’ new album ‘Songs For My Next Ex’, and that title probably gives a pretty good lead into what’s on offer here; beautiful, soulful, confessional and personal, soft and gentle and tugging on the heartstrings. There’s a little of Joni Mitchell, a little Sheryl Crow, and a lot of Delta Rae and Brandi Carlisle; a tender and compassionate vocal sitting over gently strummed acoustic guitar chords and a sensitive backing of drums and bass.

Listened to in its entirety, ‘Songs For My Next Ex’ is a soul-bearing ‘story album’, tracing the highs and lows of relationships; her first full-length album, following up 2018’s ‘To New York With Love’ EP, it’s a perfect showcase for Morris’ stunning, plaintive voice. ‘Three Hearts’ is the impeccable, sublime introduction.

You can hear ‘Three Hearts’ on Soundcloud and follow Charlotte Morris here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

CORBETT – Under the Tree: An Alt-Folk Festive Playlist Staple

CORBETT

Usually, when you think of Christmas music, you think of the grating classics you hear in supermarkets or whichever iconic track John Lewis has decided to butcher with their Christmas ad, but CORBETT’s forthcoming single ‘Under the Tree’ will shatter your perception of festively-inclined aural offerings.

With the London Folk singer-songwriter’s enigmatic whiskey-soaked raspy vocals which will send an ethereal chill up your spine interlacing with a stripped-back jazzy Folk arrangement and lyrics lamenting over lactose intolerance, it’s impossible not to be endeared.

I didn’t think that I’d ever see the day where a Christmas song touched my soul and made me turn a smile, it’s practically a Christmas miracle.

Under the Tree is due for official release on December 1st. You’ll be able to check it out via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hampshire based Folk-Roots artist Megan Linford shines bright with truthful ‘’Lessons’’

Put in time and you will get the results. With a soothing piano to start the song, you know this is going to be good. Giving thanks to her parents, speaking about lessons learnt- no matter how hard the occasional trips and falls. 

Megan Linford’, is making her way on the UK Folk/Indie scene with her sun-kissed melodies and honest lyrics, that shows her humble and grateful attitude to life. She is an Indie artist, doing it herself with the love and support of friends and family. She hosts her own music night in Portsmouth and seems to be learning all the sides of the music industry, a very smart move indeed. 

After already pushing out 2 self- released EP’s and 3 singles, Megan is working hard on her first album set for release in 2020. I personally can’t wait to hear the new music and hopefully lockdown hasn’t slowed anything down for her.

From the little I know about Megan, I can tell that this is an extremely industrious and hard working woman who won’t let anything stop her. Her voice is absolutely breathtaking and I can’t wait to see her live at a gig soon. The local music scene needs people like Megan, someone with a positive message and self-awareness, in these troubled times.

‘’Lessons’’ and more stunning vocals from Megan are here on Spotify.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen