Browsing Tag

Contemporary Folk

Jonas and I reach the pinnacle of contemporary folk with ‘Love’

Jonas and I

Indie folk-rock artist, Jonas and I, are right on the contemporary curve with their latest single, Love, released via Humu Records. The deeply atmospheric track is cinematic enough that it wouldn’t be out of place in a Hollywood Blockbuster, yet Love wasn’t written with commercial potential solely in mind.

Refreshingly, Jonas and I didn’t fall into the trap of becoming yet another Mumford and Sons assimilator. They went further back to the roots of folk to create a richly narrative radio-ready single that easily distinguishes itself from the rest.

With the tenderness of Tom Odell in the vocals with visceral robustness that gives the lyrics far more meaning, it’s hard not to get absorbed with the rich sonic textures.

Love was released on August 27th, you can check it out via SoundCloud.

Check out Jonas and I on their website or Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Migrant Birds invite you to ‘Feel it All’ in their cinematic folk single.

North Carolina-dwelling indie-folk-pop trio Migrant Birds craft their accordant singles to ensure that folk stays contemporary. Their standout single, Feel it All, rekindles the magic of old-school folk while allowing you to get lost in the lush modern production.

In Feel it All, orchestral strings quiver below light acoustic guitars while the sublimely layered harmonies drift above. Any fans of Noah and the Whale, Mumford and Sons and Friendly Fires will want to save a spot on their playlists for Migrant Birds and their escapism-aiding soundscapes.

Feel it All is available to stream on YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Salmon Run have released their chorally accordant country folk single, ‘She’s Alright’

With their latest single, ‘She’s Alright’, Appleton, WI-residing duo Salmon Run played with roots of country-folk while giving the production a chorally enticing contemporary feel.

The lyrics are sentimental and heartfelt enough for you to become personally enamoured with the object of affection which the accordant single gently introduces, reminding you well and truly that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that, for the most part, thankfully, it lies in idiosyncrasies.

It’s a stunning single to hand over your emotions and rhythmic pulses to. Any fans of contemporary folk acts such as Bonny Light Horseman will appreciate this quiescent journey of romantic adoration.

The official video to She’s Alright is now available to stream via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark Houston has made his tribally transfixing alt-folk indie debut with ‘Open up the Pages’

Ironically, Mark Houston’s debut single, ‘Open up the Pages’ is the aural equivalent of a page-turner, each progression immerses you more in the canter, it’s mesmeric and unpredictable in equal measure.

For their debut, the Spokane, WA-residing singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist played with funk, alt-folk and indie-pop elements to construct a sweetly connectable single, confrontational through the directness of the lyricism and soothing through the jangly, shimmering pop-rock melodies.

The grippingly poetic lyrics paired with the tribalistic experimental-to-the-point-of-artfulness instrumentals made Open up the Pages one of the most promising debuts we’ve heard this year. Yeah, it’s only March, but the bar has been set extremely high by Mark Houston.

Open up the Pages is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mackenzie Shrieve has released her intimately absorbing Indie Folk Pop single “In the Before”

There are very few things in life more soothing than Mackenzie Shrieve’s compassionately inviting vocals. In her latest single “In the Before” which dropped on September 10th, her intimately comforting vocals perfectly match the Folk Pop instrumentals which are endearing and absorbing in equal measure.

I think the lyric “I don’t want you to slip away like every other moment in this Summer haze” legitimately broke my heart. The concepts which the track plays with will leave you awash with sun-kissed lovelorn nostalgia. It may be a rough ride, but the accordance, soul, and almost celestial level of ingenuity in the production will definitely soften the blow.

With plenty more in the pipeline for 2020 and beyond, Mackenzie Shrieve is well worth putting on your radar.

You can check out the official music video to In the Before via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sink into Maroney’s tenderly intimate Folk Pop single “Home”

Home” is just one of the tenderly intimate Folk Pop singles on the latest EP “Alur” from Sacramento-born, LA-based singer-songwriter Maroney.

The semi-orchestral, mellifluously magnetic single may draw you in gently, but before you know it, the accordant tones will be creeping beneath your skin and the lyrics will seriously test your capacity for compassion as you listen to the romantically resolving lyrics float around the stunning orchestration which could have only come from an artist with an affinity for Gospel, Bluegrass and Folk.

How celestial Home is, is no coincidence. The female vocals perfect the amorously evocative soundscape as they find reactive chemistry against Maroney’s soothing vocal timbre.

You can check out Home for yourselves by heading over to Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Wednesday’s Wolves – But You Settled on Me Like Dust: Contemporary Folk Concordance

https://soundcloud.com/wednesdayswolves/but-you-settled-on-me-like-dust

When a track title is as poetically curiosity-piquing as Alt Indie Folk Pop artist Wednesday’s Wolves’ latest single “But You Settled on Me Like Dust” pressing play and revealing the nature of the soundscape becomes nonoptional.

Our expectations were exceeded as frankly, there’d be no way of anticipating the effortlessly effervescent harmonies and the dizzyingly hypnotic allure. There’s a simplicity to their sound. But within the frill-free production is arcane alchemy which is poised and ready to feed you haunted yet optimistic alchemy.

The Oxford-based duo has been crafting concordantly ethereal tracks since 2013. Since their inception, they’ve mastered, matured and polished their sound and amassed plenty of hype around it. I can only imagine how haunting their live shows are. If they’re impressive enough to get on the BBC’s radar as one of the most promising up and coming acts, I’m sure they’re good enough for yours too.

You can check out the mesmerising hit for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast