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Best Folk Music Blog & Promotion

Adelaide’s Orelia glides freely with their breezy new single, ‘Parachute’

Posted on 12 April 2022

Taking us to soar-filled pinnacles that make us sit back and allow our bodies to float naturally into an enchanting place of wonder, Orelia has assembled a single so calming that you will feel like your whole mood has been flipped into a better mindset on, ‘Parachute‘.

Orelia (pronounced Oh-Ray-Lee-Ah) is an Adelaide, South Australia-based indie 4-piece band who bring us a soulful mix of hope, love and loss in their own incredibly genuine way.

”Puts you in the driver seat of your first car, on your first road trip, to see your first love, feeling like you are floating on a breeze. Everything is new, vibrant and you want it to last forever.” ~ Orelia

Orelia is the kind of tranquil outfit that you tell your pets, friends and family about. They make much ear-pleasing music that ignites your smile to become alive again, with such kind lyrics and a tight beat to match, that shows you their genuine connection together.

‘Parachute‘ from the highly likeable Adelaide, South Australia-based indie act Orelia, is a body-moving-to-a-better-place type of single from a band who make that pure harmony you just want to hug all night. With crystal-clean vocals and a stunning vibe that will be caught kindly in your throbbing veins like when you kissed for the first time. There is so much sweetness inside this song that you might need to go to the dentist tomorrow, as they take us on a floating journey of love.

Life is so much better when you know that you are with your forever, as you hope that they truly feel the same as you too.

Hear a single that will cause your heart to flutter beautifully on Spotify and see more moves on their IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The Brothers Reed take us ‘Home’ in their folk Americana heart warmer

Posted on 9 April 2022

The Brothers Reed’s latest single, Home, is sweet enough to make you homesick for a place you’ve never been. If that doesn’t stand as a testament to stellar songwriting and performative charisma, I’m not entirely sure what does.

The playful bluegrass roots blossom in the eclectic yet traditional folk instrumental arrangement while the lyrics and honky-tonk vocals paint a vivacious picture of miles travelled and home comforts yearned for. If you don’t feel the oxytocin start to flow by the time you’ve hit the romantically punchy chorus, you might want to check that you’ve still got a pulse. We can’t wait to hear what follows after the Brothers Reed’s stint away from the airwaves.

Home will be available to stream everywhere from April 8th, including SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shane Cooley finds freedom in isolation in his alt-indie-folk single, Coyote

Posted on 8 April 2022
https://soundcloud.com/shanecooley/shane-cooley-coyote-radio-edit/s-3SBTPIaFsbn?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Inspired by tumultuous times and personal emotional upheavals, the acclaimed alt indie-folk singer-songwriter, Shane Cooley, stepped into the metaphysical wild to create his seminal upcoming album, Forest. The first single to be released, Coyote, is a hauntingly euphonic hit that blends tonal palettes of Jack White and Elliott Smith while experimenting with artful simplicity and the dust of desert rock. Vocally, Cooley parallels Grandaddy with his honeyed high timbres that still resonate as organic despite the raised velvety pitches.

With lyrics that run like wild poetry, “A coyote/In grown man’s clothing/Forever lonely/Forever free/Down in the valley/Out on the streets/If you push me/ I’ll show my teeth”, this modernised feat of indie-folk Americana won’t fail to reel you into the themes of isolation and freedom, which are proven to be two of the same.

We can’t wait to hear what the rest of his seminal LP delivers. The Richmond, VA artist may be flying under a lot of people’s radars. Yet, it is only a matter of time before he gets full recognition for his inexplicably honed-in talent and instantly magnetic charisma as a songwriter.

Coyote will officially drop on April 8th, 2022. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

London folk hero, The Guv gave neo-folk an exotic twist in ‘December in Istanbul’

Posted on 5 April 2022

Istanbul-born, London-based folk singer & songwriter, The Guv hasn’t lost sight of the muse since making his debut in 2020 – especially on the basis of his most successful single to date, ‘December in Istanbul’. Today, he’s back with new release ‘Love and Joy’.

A decidedly loving and romantic ode to life, and the potential it gives all of us to truly be happy in our relationships with ourselves, ‘Love & Joy’ was mastered by Andy Baldwin / Metropolis Studios who also worked with The Who, UB40, Pet Shop Boys.

While the classical strings cause a drop in the temperature in December in Istanbul, the easy accordance from the acoustic folk guitar progressions will envelop you in the warmth of the timbre. With a chorus that could rival the euphonically anthemic feel of Mumford and Sons paired with the Eastern folk nuances and roots-deep western folk sensibilities, December in Istanbul is an instant timeless classic.

Fans of Queen, Tori Amos and Tim Buckley will want to pay attention to the modernist multinational spin on folk, as well as lovers of high caliber, Decemberists-leaning sensibilities.

As The Guv will be launching new music twice weekly, the Istanbul-born, London-based artist is well worth a spot on your radar. You can check out December in Istanbul without grabbing your passport by heading over to Spotify, where you will also find The Guv’s already-extensive collection of affable neo-folk.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Colin Clyne sings the blues in his profoundly plaintive alt-folk single, Wishing Winter Away

Posted on 5 April 2022
Colin Clyne

The endlessly accoladed Aberdeen alt-folk singer-songwriter, Colin Clyne sang the blues in his orchestrally decorated raw Americana single, Wishing Winter Away; winter’s teeth have scarcely seemed sharper than when they bit into the warmed sepia tones.

The roots of folk sway in the highly evocative melodies, but Clyne also discernibly has a knack for modernising profoundly plaintive folk. With his Waitsy vocal timbre that shares the same honeyed whiskey-soaked gravity falling over the arresting acoustic guitar progressions as they weave around the striking keys and classic strings, it is enough to test your soul’s capacity to feel. Or at the very least leave you yearning for summer.

Check out Colin Clyne on his official site, Instagram, and Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Americana goes pop in Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis

Posted on 29 March 2022

Marcus Liuzzi’s latest single, I Met Her in Memphis, has shifted his alt-country sound to a poppier territory; it is a move we more than approve of. With the playful college rock radio vibes in the vein of R.E.M., mixed with the Memphis Americana instrumentals, you’ll get just as hooked in the narrative lyrics as you will the poppy country guitars that compliment Marcus Liuzzi’s viscerally upbeat vocal style.

It is impossible to listen to the roots deep record that comes with a twist of modernity without turning a smile. We can’t wait to hear what follows. If there’s anything the world needs more of now, it’s stellar songwriters that know how to bring the escapism.

I Met Her in Memphis is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Bard of Ely, Steve Andrews waxes lyrical in his latest climate-conscious single.

Posted on 27 March 2022
Mother Nature Rap by Steve Andrews

On March 21st, Steve Andrews, AKA the Bard of Ely, showed us a brand-new facet to his consistently conscious talent with the release of ‘Mother Nature Rap’. The rap track drifts away from his usual psych-folk style but keeps the heart of it behind the canter of the rapped vocals, blistering synths and heavy rattle of the 808s.

I can safely say that I haven’t been this arrested in a socially dissecting hip hop track since Scroobius Pip launched his Logic of Chance album. The vocals take on a brand-new style of conviction as Andrews takes a no holds barred approach to announcing the impending climate doom and pointing out that we are already living it.

There is no shortage of cutting lyricism, but my personal preference has to fall upon, Mother nature ain’t here for your dream, You’re in hers, so let it be, and The Mother’s lungs have been cut out, It’s happened but it’s obscene. The imagery is as haunting as it is captivating in its unflinching John Cooper Clarke style.

Mother Nature Rap was recorded in Portugal at Verdelho Studio with Ricardo Verdelho as the producer. It also features synth overdubs by Crum (ex-Hawkwind, ex-Moonloonies). It is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mel Fine wonders if this lover really means those words on ‘Alone Together’

Posted on 26 March 2022

Urging this dreamy lover to say the words that have been yearned for so long while they are far away from each other, Mel Fine sends an honest message to those who understand this feeling that is lodged deep inside the soul with ‘Alone Together‘.

Mel Fine is a Boston, USA-based, Sharon, Massachusetts-born non-binary indie-pop/folk singer-songwriter and Berklee College of Music student.

”Mel grew up singing jazz standards and admiring Etta James’ soulful vocals, and later fell in love with the storytelling lyrical stylings of folk singer-songwriters like Joni Mitchell.” ~ Mel Fine

Showing us why this excellent song is so highly regarded with so much excellent lyrical ability and beautifully-lipped vocals, Mel Fine sends the world a captivating single with so much to embrace and hold tightly.

‘Alone Together‘ from the Boston, USA-based non-binary indie-pop/folk artist Mel Fine, is a gorgeously-sung single by a romantic soul who wants to be more than a fleeting lover. Mel projects these kind emotions in such a stunning way, showing us into this special moment that will take our awakened consciousness to a happy place of contentment. This is the type of single that will have you wondering if this romantic partner will take the next step – to move those words into action – to prove that they are for real and not just a fleeting summer crush.

Hear this lovely new track on Spotify and see more on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Casey Freedom is right on time in his country folk single, On My Own Time

Posted on 25 March 2022

The country singer-songwriter Casey Freedom soothingly proved that pace is the trick with his latest single, On My Own Time, which kicks back the tempo and allows you to lull yourself into the breezy Americana cool and collected atmosphere.

After graduating as a music student from the University of Oregon, Casey returned to his hometown to replant his roots enamour crowds at open mic shows. Over lockdown, he started writing his own material, which is becoming increasingly defined by the evocative themes, narrative lyricism and glistening country charm.

His songwriting style already carries decades of maturity and nuance, even after such an inexplicably short span of time; this may seem hyperbolic, but the proof lies in the slice of Americana. Take a bite.

On My Own Time is now available to stream via Spotify and YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Dreamy Modernism entwines with country roots in Kimberly Atwood’s latest single, ABY (Anything But You)

Posted on 23 March 2022
Kimberly Atwood

Kimberly Atwood brought a touch of dreamy modernism to her country roots in the effortlessly arrestive single, ABY (Anything But You), which explores our innate human inability to forget the people that became the centre of our gravity before leaving us listless and directionless.

There’s no void quite like it, and that’s exactly what Kimberly Atwood poignantly articulates in ABY through the lyrics, “I’ve never had a problem forgetting anything but you”.  Atwood’s fearlessness when it comes to vulnerability and humility is simply stunning to witness. Notably, Nashville has a new icon in the making in its midst. If you pride yourself on keeping your finger on the alt-country pulse, make room on your radar.

Check out Kimberly Atwood via her official website, on Bandcamp or Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast