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Best Folk Music Blog & Promotion

Take a Bow: Bruce Tang fears for the future on the reflective gem The End of the Wolf

Posted on 7 March 2023

Sung with so much profound meaning and with a dreamy glance at a romantic memory, Bruce Tang tells us the story about losing that shine which can take humanity to the finish line on The End of the Wolf.

Bruce Tang is a New City, New York-born indie folk-pop singer-songwriter who explores deep emotions such as death, love and time while taking the listener into a whole new universe.

”Influences include Wilco, Radiohead, Beulah, and Beck’s folkier material.” ~ Bruce Tang

With a cinematic journey through time as the world turns sideways, New City underground legend Bruce Tang guides us through the lands that have burnt and blistered from the test of time.

The End of the Wolf from New City, New York-born indie folk-pop Bruce Tang is a rather impressive single which has timeless written all over it. There is a pacifying exuberance which shall send a trigger of introspection to our deepest souls, this is a tremendously excellent experience to dig deep inside.

Sometimes the world can be so cruel to those who have felt the frost for too long.

Hear more here.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Desert folk duo, Medicine Hat, made soul the centre of their gravity in their latest single, She Comes and She Goes

Posted on 7 March 2023

The latest single, She Comes and She Goes, from the breakthrough duo, Medicine Hat, is an instantaneously resolving amalgam of indie, blues, deserty folk, and psych-pop, which will efficaciously pull you into the soul-centred gravity of the harmony-laced release.

While the folky strings exhibit just how much the nostalgically-inclined independent duo respects the roots of the genres they tease through their melodies, the Stevie Nicks-reminiscent lyrics paint a romantically immersive picture of a free spirit that you can’t help falling in love with by proxy.

The riff-driven middle eight gives you the perfect opportunity to appreciate the virtuosic flare of Medicine Hat, along with their ability to reinvent a familiar palette to make it definitively their own.

She Comes and She Goes was officially released on March 3rd; hear it on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

I Am Grounded: The Eighty Six Seas drops timeless new track I Need My Girl (ft. Elly Kace and Straight Pepper Diet)

Posted on 5 March 2023

Doing rather remarkable things to surprise himself and all listeners, The Eighty Six Seas covers The National on his brand new release called I Need My Girl (ft. Elly Kace and Straight Pepper Diet) 

The Eighty Six Seas aka Nick Stevens is a Brooklyn-based alternative folk-pop singer-songwriter who after seven years living in Boston, finds his soul alive in new sounds which are inspiring his every move.

”Stevens was studying at the University of Connecticut when he first started crafting songs, finding his footing as a solo folk artist and later cutting his teeth with indie rock collective The Condescending Foxes.” ~ Nick Stevens

Urging us all to never forget who is truly important in this rather tempting planet, The Eighty Six Seas soaks all of our worries away in an instant here. Pure and taking us to the pacifying waters away from evil, this is a rather excellent effort from all angles.

I Need My Girl from Brooklyn-based alternative folk-pop singer-songwriter The Eighty Six Seas is a relaxing single to change many mixed moods with. Offering us so much hope and love, this is a catchy anthem for all the right reasons. With softly spoken words and kind exuberance, we find an uncorrupted song to wash all worries away.

Hear more news on Spotify. See more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Mariele Jankowski sang ‘The Long Song of Mary Green’ in her folky feat of beguile

Posted on 3 March 2023
https://soundcloud.com/mariele-jankowski/sets/the-long-song-of-mary-green-radio-edit/s-OdOKTKKMffi?si=6275f7fbaf144e95a35971da75ba80b0&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

The latest single, The Long Song of Mary Green, from the London-based singer-songwriter Mariele Jankowski keeps the true storytelling roots of folk blossoming in blissfully melodic beguile.

Around the vivid imagery that spills over the acoustic guitars, which rhythmically guide you through the release beneath Mariele Jankowski’s timelessly mesmeric vocal timbre that lends itself well to distinction, is a compelling tale that is worth heeding.

As we all embark on endless quests for eternal happiness, and we fail to account for the world’s tendency to throw us curveballs as it turns, upending the promise of eternal bliss. Mariele Jankowski delivers the soulfully resonant reminder that for any real shot of happiness, we need to master the art of letting go and enjoying the journey instead of fixating on the destination.

I can honestly say I haven’t been this taken with a folk artist since discovering Amigo the Devil, and that isn’t an accolade I part with easily. Yet, the euphorically euphonic outro is one that I will delve into this extended release time and time again for.

The Long Song of Mary Green will be available to stream from March 3rd on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ringing In My Ears: Wise Woman rises from the deep on Fen Woman

Posted on 28 February 2023

Taken from the recent 4-track EP called Thread, Wise Woman moves mountains and changes the oceans back to a captivating crystal blue on the rather wonderfully sweet new single Fen Woman.

Wise Woman is an East Anglian/ Welsh power-folk foursome who brings back that 90s girl vibrancy which will ignite the spirits within our deepest souls.

With a blend of folk, jazz and blues mixed with that creative musical theatre, Wise Woman takes us to the light and shows us what is possible if strong hearts can join together as one. This is a cinematic-like experience which might calm all fears away in just an instant, just like the truly world-class outfits do.

Fen Woman from East Anglian/ Welsh power-folk foursome Wise Woman is a special song which deserves all the love possible. Projected with so much love and fearlessness, we find a scintillating soundtrack to rise up from all depths. Layered rather expertly and features dynamic energy which will inspire us all to keep on flying upwards, no matter what obstacles are present.

Listen up on Spotify. View more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Mike Blue gazed into the twilight of the soul in his jazzy feat of soulful folk, Saphire

Posted on 24 February 2023
Mike Blue

The soulful rhythmicality of the folk singer-songwriter, Mike Blue’s latest single, Saphire, will tattoo itself to your memory from the first euphonically melodic meeting. As a departure from his previous sound, along with his band, Blue melded elements of blues, jazz, prog and rock to construct a track visceral in authenticity and sticky sweet in emotionally balanced sentimentality.

The first single taken from his forthcoming album, The Unbearable Weight of All Things Considered, stands as a soul-stirring testament to his ability to envelop you in the stories he eloquently weaves atop his acoustic guitar strings. The sax solos, which soar as high in the mix as the electric guitar riffs, amplify the intimacy of the lyrical expression while never compromising the resonant impact.

If the singer-songwriter was born decades ago when folk raconteurs were celebrated in modern culture, there would be few names as revered as Mike Blue. After the release of Saphire, the luminary artist will take his full band on tour across the UK, which also featured on the accordantly-bodied release that has the capacity to captivate a stadium.

Saphire will officially release on February 24th. Hear it via Mike Blue’s website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Surrender to the divinity of Zanny Xy’s ukulele anthem, Hungry Ghost

Posted on 23 February 2023

After being gifted a ukulele and penning a song under a full moon, the debut 3-track EP, Chartreuse Phoenix, was composed, and the rest is far from history for the spiritually compelling singer-songwriter, Zanny Xy.

The standout single on the EP, Hungry Ghost, pairs the strikingly soul-stirring vocal timbre of Xy with the zealously plucked nylon strings that spill serotonin in exactly the same way as when Amanda Palmer picked up a Ukulele and recorded In My Mind.

After heading to Maui solo in 2021 to heal and rise from the ashes, Xy came out as trans, left a career in tech, and continues to travel and make music-full time through the belief that art is integral to the sanctity of the human condition. We wholeheartedly agree. If anyone has what it takes to lead the soul-seeking revolution, it is Zanny Xy.

Chartreuse Phoenix was officially released at the end of 2022; you can check it out by heading to Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lanchasire’s loquacious bard Oliver Hulme struck again with his twangy country-folk single, The Paper

Posted on 22 February 2023

After a stint of silence, the Lancashire country-folk singer-songwriter, Oliver Hulme, has followed on from his relatable deadpan debut single, I Hate the Bus, with the just as resonant stripped-back lo-fi hit, The Paper.

With instrumentals that find the triadic middle ground between Tom Waits, Gogol Bordello and Neutral Milk Hotel, Oliver Hulme effortlessly made the twangy staccato rhythms and folky baroque vocal timbre his own.

The Paper brashly drags you in even deeper with the balladic lyricism that will be an instant hit with fans of Nick Cave. It’s only a matter of time before Hulme is more than just regionally renowned. He undoubtedly deserves more legacy than a hotpot.

The Paper is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

You’ll Be Leaving Him: Minneapolis folk artist shugE drops live version for Concrete and Steel

Posted on 19 February 2023

After a decade away from the music game shugE resurfaces and goodness, it was certainly worth the wait on the super single to gain knowledge from inside the eye-opening track, Concrete and Steel.

shugE is a Minneapolis, USA-based indie folk singer-songwriter who is one of those underappreciated musicians who is truly respected on the underground circuit.

”In 2013 shugE went on hiatus to fight a long, drawn out child custody battle & was triumphantly able to return to performing in 2022.” ~ shugE

Rather angry as he wrote the lyrics, shugE shows us the harsh realities where cities are built to be seemingly unhospitable and hard to navigate. Questioning the reality of our current land, this is the story of wondering where a true home really is.

Concrete and Steel from Minneapolis, USA-based indie folk singer-songwriter shugE is a rather real song for so many to ponder on deeply. In a rush-rush world, we find a quality song taken off the upcoming EP I’ll be in love with you until the day I die, which is due out on 13th April.

If this is a sign of things to come, our tired souls will surely reinvigorate.

Listen up on Spotify. View more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

No More Tears: Morgane Oll leads us into infinity on Lightyear

Posted on 18 February 2023

Featuring an appearance from John Clementine, Morgane Oll wonders if it’s all a dream with the planet-seeking stunner to stare at the stars with, Lightyear.

Morgane Oll aka Morgane Ollivier is a Paris, France-based indie pop-folk artist who studied at the Royal Conservatory of Mons in Belgium and has been in the music world since she could barely walk.

”Morgane’s father was a singer in the 1970s, and she often felt connected to him through his music, despite the difficulties of growing up in a family that moved frequently. Her mother passed away when she was just two years old, and the loss has inspired much of Morgane’s music. The song “She Falls” is a poignant tribute to her mother and a reflection of the sorrow and grief she feels.” ~ Morgane Oll

With a keen eye for words and so much authentic class, we find a super performance from Morgane Oll just waiting to be opened up like a much-awaited present. Catching our hearts and taking our minds into a distant place, this is a real gem to cuddle with when everything gets a bit too much.

Lightyear from the multi-talented Paris, France-based indie pop-folk artist Morgane Oll is a ray of hope and rather welcomed for its elegant mindset. Soaked in a magnetic combination of such outstanding proportions, this is a rather memorable song which has been carefully crafted with an excellent gaze of beauty to behold.

Hear more on Spotify. See more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen