Catching Up with Field Guides, Featuring Benedict Kupstas
Sonically ambitious and creatively raw, we get “Lucky Star in the A.M.” by Field Guides. The song is an enjoyable dose of indie rock that lends it’s solemn lyrics to the fans that appreciate something thoughtful. The arrangement itself is a wild, precise, mix of instrumentation with a bright energy. If anybody asks for something […]
A Closer Look at “Beyond the View” by Rising Songwriter, Chance Pena
The career of a contestant on a televised singing competition isn’t quite what it used to be, mostly because the pop landscape has changed so drastically since the rise of American Idol. An Idol win used to guarantee at least one number-one hit, thanks to the mass-promoting machinations of the music industry. But in this […]
Jordan Mackampa Shows Us Where Soul Counts – “What Am I”
I don’t need to tell you about the state of the world. You know all about it already. You know about the bloated pig carcass running America, the smiling iron fist running China, the KGB thug running Russia. You know about the climate crisis, worsening by the day, to the point where even the most […]
Malin Pettersen is Stealing Hearts with “Get You Back Again”
Ghostly, barren, and serene – these are the words that come to mind when Malin Petterson’s “Get You Back Again” is the subject matter. She harnesses a bold, Nashville-inspired country voice in Norway. Imagine a refined country artist for the purists and old souls who find Broadway in Nashville somewhat “plastic” in comparison to the […]
Abraham’s Ethereal and Emotional New Song “Blue Moon”
Abraham’s new song “Blue Moon” has a truly ethereal sound. Imagining the image of a blue moon above, the first minute delivers a heavy ambience that had me feeling emotional from the start. When the lyrics kicked in, I understood that the music had perfectly captured the feeling of the lyrics. Diving deeper into her […]
Jacob Wright Tells Us a Love Story – “Little River”
Coming in slow and steady with a gentle indie serenade, we have “Little River” by Jacob Wright. His recipe is full of thoughtful lyrics, minimal instrumentation, and the right dose of feel-good melody; let’s not forget the harrowing Americana howl that prances through the chorus. Honestly, it’s hard not to feel something. Although the theme is […]
Hear Steve Itterly Serenade His Love in “My Sweet Pine”
Steve Itterly’s “My Sweet Pine” from his new EP, House Songs, is a charming folky serenade to his love. In his lighthearted and sweet tone of voice, he sings about how he will always be there for the person he loves. They’re always on his mind. You can tell how much love he has […]
Discussing the Aimless Angst of “Emiko” by Tom West
Emiko by Tom West The voice is perhaps the most important tool a folk singer has. If it’s particularly beautiful, it can be the main attraction, as with Bon Iver’s gossamer falsetto or Vashti Bunyan’s break-of-dawn coo. An unusual voice can become part of the artist’s identity; Bob Dylan is an obvious example, but […]
Digging a Little Deeper: Noah Proudfoot and The Botanicals “Wild One”
Forgive me for admitting this, but I’ve been a little bored by Indie rock lately. Though the women of indie have certainly been bringing their A-game, the genre doesn’t seem to be evolving at the same breakneck speed as rap, pop, or country. A lot of tracks that came out this month probably could have […]
Boy Bjorn is “Always Searching” for Something New
Indie singer-songwriter Boy Bjorn just released the first single, “Always Searching”, from his upcoming EP, Warner. On the surface, it’s a chill song to toss in the background, but the lyrics are much deeper and darker than I anticipated. Setting the tone with melancholy keys and an acoustic guitar, he sings of feeling lost. Wandering […]
