Browsing Tag

Acoustic Indie Folk

Joshua Wales – Don’t Worry: Sublimely Seraphic Indie Folk

Posted on 13 November 2024

If The National veered into acoustic indie folk territory and took a few leaves from Cigarettes After Sex’s intimately expansive book, the result would echo the same affectingly tender alchemy which drifts through Joshua Wales’ latest single, Don’t Worry.

The indie folk singer-songwriter’s sombrely honeyed, low-timbered vocal register subdues you into the melodious sentimentality of the acoustic guitar-driven single, which sees quiescent swells of orchestral strings brush past the plaintively warm guitar notes.

With “Don’t worry, we’ve got all the time in the world” reprising throughout the sublimely seraphic release, listeners are reminded that pace is the trick as Joshua Wales issues a reminder to his frenetically minded younger self.

The reflectively sonorous score features in Joshua Wales’ discography as a standalone entity and as the opening title single to his debut EP which you will need little convincing to devour in full after bearing witness to the introspective magnetism in the opening salvo.

Stream Joshua Wales’ latest single, Don’t Worry, on all major platforms, including Spotify, now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Warick Pond picked up the pieces with the aching soul in his single, The Wreckage

Posted on 23 September 2022

Taken from his seminal album, Open Roads, Warick Pond’s standout single, The Wreckage, carries the solemnity of Tom Waits, the contemporary Americana edge of Kurt Vile, and the mellow melancholy of the Verve.

Reminiscences aside, the American singer-songwriter puts his own authentic beauty into aching soul through the resounding quiescence of his guitars, which match the gentle outpour of visceral emotion through his Americana-tinted vocal timbre.

When an artist can create such a profoundly emotional soundscape with minimal production and understatedly passionate vocals, you know that you’ve just come across a one-in-a-million entity. Enduring the agony of hopeless romanticism fleetingly became worth it through the resonance extended by Open Roads, which captures the enduring loneliness of the human condition and how tightly we cling to connections which can turn to past tense in the blink of an eye.

The Wreckage is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Spotlight Feature: Pinwheel Valley is stripped-back and spiritual in his latest acoustic indie-soul-folk single, Healing

Posted on 12 January 2022
KAIS

Pinwheel Valley bared his spiritual soul in his latest release Healing. The Canadian Cyprus-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer allowed his acoustic single to explore the deep significance of the messiness of our existence and our ability to clean up through bleeding, breathing and healing.

It is thanks to artists like Pinwheel Valley, that the conversations around trauma have moved past idiomatic ignorance. Remember when we were all under the impression that PTSD existed solely in the minds of those that had experienced war? Thankfully, we now see it as a common experience; every ego-blow and mental scar imprinted leaves us with the option of carrying trauma or moving past it, and that is exactly what Healing forces you to reflect on. It’s enough to make you step in front of the mirror and check for scars that have been pushed into the subconscious.

With Pinwheel Valley’s effortlessly artful vocals atop the acoustic guitar strings and nothing else to get in the way of the evocative impact of his lyrics that find a meta way to resonate as confessional, it is easily one of Pinwheel Valley’s most powerful singles to date. As the perfect example, “fall from grace at god’s own pace I’m travelling through the fire, victim of desire” leaves so much more between the lines than your average lyrical confession for the way it alludes to the conflict between our situational emotion and desire.

For Pinwheel Valley’s fans enamoured by his new venture into psychy indie-soul-folk, stay tuned for his upcoming EP that is due for release in February 2022. Healing was officially released on December 19th, 2021. It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Connect with Pinwheel Valley to keep up to date on his new releases on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Slicing away the doubts: Roses from Bones cuts through the loneliness with ‘Guillotine’

Posted on 27 February 2021

Whilst looking after his father recover from a dreadful accident, Roses from Bones sings from the darkest part of his soul on the impressively sharp ‘Guillotine‘.

Roses from Bones is the consciously advanced DIY indie-folk music project from Florida-based Chris Fritz. He sings about being lonely, dealing with self-doubt, fitting in and having the courage to follow your dreams, no matter what locked doors are in front of you.

His eerily honest voice fills the room full of darkness, his unfurnished room with the air mattress in the corner sinks into the creaky floor of his parents house, as he finds the inspiration to make the type of music he has been visualizing for years.

With recording studios closed due to pesky covid restrictions, he has done an outstanding job to almost-perfect the production, his over analyzing mind lathering over the thoughts, as he realized it was actually done and the time to move on to the next song was near.

With strong vocals that show his ambition, each word is meaningful and with deep thought as he sings so brightly and with that extra hunger in his spine. This is the ultimate underdog who refuses to be shut out, the talent is there and can be heard marvelously here, as he starts this new journey to full enlightenment.

‘Guillotine‘ from Florida’s indie-folk project Roses from Bones, is that special track that makes the hairs on your arms stand up as you nod your head and turn the volume up, eager not to miss any word from this humble underground gem.

Slowly edging away from his doubts, this is the story of breaking free from the shackles of society and being free with the caring sounds of true music.

Stream this gripping single on Spotify and see more about this real artist on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

They make you happy: Breanne Noelle turns cute shyness into heartfelt belief on ‘One Connection’

Posted on 12 February 2021

Taken off her brand new ten-track album called ‘First‘, the lovely Breanne Noelle sings with a bright spark of love, that immerses all listeners into her ‘One Connection‘.

Northern Colorado-born, Bloomington, Indiana-based Breanne Johnson aka Breanne Noelle, is a captivating opera and musical theater-trained American indie-folk singer-songwriter, who lovingly washes away our tears with a stunning distraction from this often cold and gloomy world. She sings with that deep soul and meaningfully strikes our attention to make the world a better place, making that introspective music that has you lighting candles and singing along.

This is the story about realizing that the person you are shy around is actually the one that you care about so much. You want to be with them so badly and just need things to fall into place, to make it all happen. You are love struck and feel like you are under a powerful spell, that fills you with happiness and courage to face each day with a smile.

Her voice is so real and glows into the night and her intricate guitar melodies sizzle at the bright sky while starting cutely at her crush, or possible future lover. With vocals that fill the air with belief and mystique, we are treated to a marvelous musician who is starting to believe more in herself each waking moment.

‘One Connection‘ from the sweetly-voiced Indiana singer-songwriter Breanne Noelle, is a reflective daydream of promise, that leads us into her world of love and is a beautiful single about how she feels deep inside.

Sometimes you just know that a particular person is for you, while other times they might of been right in front of you without you realizing. If the timing is right, everything is going to be alright.

Stream this wonderful new single on Spotify and see her story on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Stay young forever: Swedish Forest Queen Matilda Lundberg is sweetly perfect on ‘Summer Child in Me’

Posted on 25 December 2020

Nässjö, Sweden born Matilda Lundberg transcends the condensed clouds up above to float down and dip her feet in the calm waters below, on her lovely new indie-folk single ‘Summer Child in Me‘.

Soulfully real and with stories of her youth, life beyond the horizon and with vocals that make you gasp with amazement, the sensual soundscapes opens up your heart, to a pureness that is so hard to find these days.

The stories of dipping her feet into the lake, remembering the coffee stained pants of her role model and speaking of going for your goals in life, shows you that she is an old soul. A thoughtful singer that opens the door into her life for a few minutes at a time, her vulnerable energies are a heartfelt gift that is wrapped in a delightful Christmas parcel for us to appreciate and treasure.

With her now introducing her band on the next single, you get the feeling that she is finding the sound that she is looking for and let’s face it, making music and memories with friends is so much better. After living in London for a while, she has opened up a new creative door in her mind and she intends walking right through it and upwards to new experiences.

‘Summer Child in Me‘ from the majestic Swedish singer-songwriter Matilda Lundberg is a piece of breath-taking beauty that can’t ever be copied. Her luscious voice lathers your tired soul with a tender touch that is like a welcome hug from a sweet angel and this is music so incredibly rare and special.

Bless your heart on Spotify and see her adventures in the forest and around the world on IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Slow Capital take us ‘Underground’ with this beautifully alluring acoustic story.

Posted on 21 December 2020

Slow Capital is Andrew Dailey, a filmmaker from Kansas City, MO, who is currently based out of Brooklyn, NY; a precursor to a six-track EP planned for early 2021, Slow Capital’s second single ‘Underground’ is a beautifully mature fingerpicked acoustic guitar track, mellow and delicate, alluring in its simplicity, and carried along by Dailey’s poetic, storytelling lyrical content and up-front vocal delivery.

At just over three minutes long, ‘Underground’ is a perfect piece of alt-folk, confessional, poetic, a narrative tale to music with a harmonious, melodic guitar line and a gentle, tender vocal. You can hear ‘Underground’ on Spotify, and follow Slow Capital on Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

Sleepy days of 2020: Miraduel sings so beautifully on the piano-fused folk single ‘When Evening Comes Too Soon’

Posted on 17 December 2020

Miraduel sings with such grace and honesty on his new single about how this year has sapped the energies and it’s called ‘When Evening Comes Too Soon’.

The exhausting year is taking its toll and Miraduel brings his uniquely incredible style to the fore of our minds here. His voice is effortless and you can feel his stunning energy that drifts through the window as the birds tweet in the background. It’s so easy to get lots on the path of his vocals as he gives us shivers due to his wonderful creation.

Taken off his new full album ‘Mmm…’, this a song to make you feel okay with snoozing lots during this cold and tiring year. Our minds are exhausted from overthinking and need a proper holiday to reboot. You have to cut him some slack as we are all having a tough time and awaiting 2021.

This is a rare talent who doesn’t fit into any box. He is his own genre and brings indie-folk, pop and some elements of soul with his crisp voice and the piano skills are clearly brilliant.

The ambient soundscapes wash over the dirty year and the acoustic melodies are a pleasure to listen to and your heart feels healthier after listening. A smoothie isn’t needed here to feel good, only closing your eyes and letting Miraduel calm those sad hearts on ‘When Evening Comes Too Soon‘.

Stream this soulfully sweet single on Spotify and see the music journey via IG and FB.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Lydia Briggs sings with innocence on delightful ‘Morning’

Posted on 5 September 2020

Lydia Briggs is back with her stunning new song that has indie-folk-blues fuses of reflection on ‘Morning‘.

This 17 year old musician’s work is blessed by such a pure voice; blues-influenced piano; and a bohemian sensibility. She is young in age but wise beyond her years with her deep lyrics that make you listen again and again. This is about that morning love and if you will see each other in the morning or will you just leave again.

Born and raised a mile from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Lydia Briggs has been playing piano non-stop since the age of 5. At 13, she began writing music and lyrics. At 14, Lydia filed for her first business, Gin House Records. At 15, she copyrighted her work and walked into the studio to record with legendary producer Jim Wirt. This singer knows what she wants and is on the right track.

An old soul, Lydia Briggs sings with such elegance and beauty that makes the cold days a bit warmer. She has an ability to hold her voice throughout, her years of experience already helping as she ascends the music world. ‘Morning‘. is a breathtaking song from this young talent with a massive future.

Stream here for the Spotify link.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Australia’s Megan Core sends us mental health conversation starter with ‘Caffeine Fix’

Posted on 5 September 2020

‘Caffeine Fix‘ from Megan Core is the brand new single from the talented young singer-songwriter.

Megan Core is an Australian artist who writes honest and relatable folk-rock with an earthy feel. This down to earth singer-songwriter with a mellow style, makes the year a bit better with this fantastic song. This is her 3rd ever release and you can really feel her growing maturity.

Her last single ‘Lost In Mayfield’ was released a few weeks ago and is pretty personal and based around her love for Newcastle and the special people who can make a place feel like home. With new music out, this must be such an exciting time from the likable musician who is growing after each song. Her authenticity shining through is the most impressive part and there is no flexing here.

‘Caffeine Fix‘ from Megan Core is a lovely song, full of beauty and incredible vocals. The Australian singer flies high with her indie-folk melodies that makes you want to smile and think of things in a positive mindset despite the topic. Speaking with your close ones and making sure they are ok is so vital. This started after Megan couldn’t play for a while due to a broken finger and is such a blessing. Even if coffee makes this fab singer a bit anxious, she will do it to check in on friends.

Click here for the Spotify link.

Head to the Facebook page.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen