Jessica Smucker beautifully captures feelings of isolation on the delicately crafted tune, ‘Stones to Throw’. A folk-pop ballad, the Lancaster artist flexes her muscles as a singer-songwriter with music that feels like it’s just enough. Production is never overbearing; if…
With its bluesy undertones, sweet, singalong chorus, and—of course—Natalie Gelman’s gorgeous voice, ‘Better Days’ has been a highlight from off of her latest LP, Moth to the Flame (Blue Élan) Just a couple weeks back, the soulful singer-songwriter releases an…
Yuval Ron’s esteemed artistry has led him to Oscars fame for West Bank Story, Getty Museum compositions, and beyond. A renowned name in the world music scene, his broad resume speaks for itself. This makes it all the more wonderful…
Ren Lawton’s ‘Thinking About You’ is the perfect driving folk tune to kick off the week. With its jangling guitar and punchy verses, the tune recalls iconic rambling troubadours of eras past. Lawton rides a melody in stride on its…
At the crux of Ocie Elliott are two kindred souls. Jon Middleton and Sierra Lundy continue to harvest their deep artistic connection, sewing it into beautiful, entrancing folk music. The near-spiritual ‘Coming Home’ is a testament to this bond, and…
Earlier this year, on 30 March, Riley Basford died by suicide. To Christian Parker, he was a family friends’ 15 year-old stepson. ‘Last Glance’ is the artist’s beautiful tribute to the young man and his family. Replete with gorgeous mandolin,…
Akin to her Appalachian contemporaries, folkie Heather Sarona sews her roots from the mountainside. The singer-songwriter grew up surrounded by folk and bluegrass music in the Uwharrie Mountains of North Carolina. Americana runs intrinsically through her veins, informing her warm, rootsy songwriting and multi-instrumentalist abilities—Sarona plays guitar in a way that recalls Saratoga greats, plus banjo and uke. Her debut LP, Head Above Water, invokes all of these elements into a cozy, inhabitable folk soundscape that recalls the likes of Gillian Welch and Watchhouse.
The Ghibertins carry the torch for clap-along, stomp-along folk-rock well on their latest. You wouldn’t be remiss for recalling the indie outfit’s commercial brothers and sisters with the soaring chorus and driving beat of ‘Ropes & Kites’.
Matt Dorrien peeks into the kaleidoscope that is life on his latest, ‘Baby, Will You Come Back Home?’ Its accompanying music video is wonderfully dry in its depiction of a man in need of a change. Dorien states that this…
Matthew Check is as much an everyman as he is a chameleon. Throughout his long-standing career, the singer-songwriter has slipped into bluegrass clothes and Americana duds; he’s written Jewish music, children’s music, and music for just about anyone. You might…