“She” by Mirabai Ceiba: A Rediscovery of Nature
Some chord progressions are full stories. They start at home, leave, grow, and return having learned something new. Marabai Ceiba’s new song “She” has such a progression. It begins with a pensive descent down the frets of a guitar, but at the end of every line there is an unexpected step upward – a remarkably […]
“Funeral Song” by Daniel God Damn Byrom: Wistful, Folky Melancholy
Hissy 8-tracks, guitar chords I’ve heard a thousand times, and multi-tracked soft-boy vocals always manage to weasel their way into whatever corner of my head houses nostalgia. Whenever I put on a 16 year old Conor Oberst, Roman Candle era Elliot Smith, or (to cite a recent obsession of mine) a Field Medic EP, I […]
“Fireflies” by Caoilfhionn Rose: Cathartic Indie Folk
When people joke about music being the only therapist they need, I sometimes wonder if they’re joking or if they really mean it. Because, in truth, music can be a cathartic and emotionally rewarding experience. Whether or not it is actually a replacement for a therapist, I don’t think I’m qualified to speak on, but […]
“Golden State” by The Indigo is Smooth Indie Rock with Feeling
“Golden State,” the tenth track off of The Indigo’s debut album Future Self Only Dreams, is an unusually warm indie rock song. The Indigo, a post-angst rock band hailing from Birmingham but based out of Nashville, have previously described themselves in three words as, “Not-Genre-Settling.” Equal parts indie rock, R&B, pop, folk, and psychedelia, the […]
“Let the Horses Run” by Samhain: Folk with Passionate Urgency
I know that I am not the only one who is in a constant search for songs that seamlessly blend into the different categories of the day. Meant to match the various moods and phases we encounter as we go about our daily lives, these songs add texture and life into the monotony of routine. […]
“Go Lightly” by Jesse Marchant is a Warm, Folky Hug of a Song
Jesse Marchant’s music is an intimate, personal, life-changing hug that scoops you up and holds you tight, similar to that of the folksy singer-songwriter styles of Lord Huron or Hozier. Marchant’s alluring touches of a tender, near-whispering voice, gently struck guitar and piano notes, hypnotic melodies, and smooth vocal transitions bring his music to life […]
“Paradise” by Sarah Jordan: A Warm, Welcoming Fantasy
Listening to Sarah Jordan’s “Paradise” for the first time feels like wrapping yourself in a thick, fuzzy, blanket that is heated to just the perfect temperature. Right from the first chorus, it oozes a feeling of warm and comforting happiness that envelops you fully in its glow. There’s something about Jordan’s light-hearted lyrical style and […]
“Pull Me Out” by The Meantime Green: Warm, Evocative Folk
The Meantime Green, a musician from Toronto, embraces the charm and simplicity of the folksy bluegrass genre in her list of upcoming songs, set to be released this month. There’s a wonderful ease and purity to her style of singer-songwriter acoustic vibes, featuring classic bluegrass string instruments like guitars and banjos and a subtle yet […]
“Birch” by Maja Lena: Dark, Haunting Art Pop
When the glaciers of the ice age retreated about ten thousand years ago, birches were one of the first trees to recolonize the shifting landscape. It’s appropriate, then, that birches represent new beginnings in Celtic mythology – and that they represent the first letter of the Ogham, the Celtic alphabet. Spindly, paper-white, and resilient even […]
Yaniza’s “i love you” Is a Look Into the Pain and Power of a Bad Crush
The pain of having a crush, something that most of us are familiar with, gets a fizzing rendition in NYC based singer-songwriter Yaniza’s first 2021 single “i love you”. Listening to this song is like stepping into a candyland set. It’s sweet and pure, an intoxicating fantasy-land where Yaniza displays her Cupid’s bow wound for […]
