Browsing Tag

indie folk pop

Fair Verona – Egomaniac: Film Noir Folk Pop

Posted on 29 June 2021
Egomaniac by Fair Verona

The atmospheric air in Fair Verona’s latest single, Egomaniac, comes with a tinge of archaicism yet the ethereally melodic soundscape finds itself in tune with the contemporary moody indie-pop sound.

The alternative duo comprises Mickey Vaughan (lead vocals, piano and guitar) and Maxwell Mandell (drums and production). Their profound collaborative chemistry resides in the way the instrumentals, vocals, and production share the same alchemically morose, haunting feel. Egomaniac is mellow and cutting all in equal measure. Fans of Sophe Luxe, Angel Olsen, and Phoebe Bridgers will want to make room on their radars for the Charlottesville, Virginia-residing duo with their vintagely modern sound.

The explicit version and the radio-friendly version of Egomaniac are both available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sahana Naresh explores the dualistic emotions inspired by motherhood in her soulful indie folk-pop single, ‘Milky Hands’.

Posted on 29 June 2021

Indie singer-songwriter Sahana Naresh has released her ukulele-led folk-pop exploration of the duality of motherhood, ‘Milky Hands’. Sonically, it is worlds apart from Amanda Palmer’s candid album, ‘There Will Be No Intermission’, but it still carries the same scantily found honest expression around parenting.

Milky Hands is a coalescence of Sahana’s love of soulful indie and classic Hindustani vocals, which means you get the bitter-sweet tenderness of a Neutral Milk Hotel single, along with the rich vocal melodies that stretch outside of Western boundaries.

If you’re a fan of rich accordant tones accompanying raw emotion, don’t hesitate hitting play.

Check out Sahana Naresh on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Lee Smythe raises a smile with ‘It’s Me’

Posted on 25 June 2021

How to describe Lee Smythe; well, if there’s a word somewhere specifically for that  anachronistic blend of quirky indie vibe perfection and total mainstream pop hit, then that would be a starting point to jump off.

‘It’s Me’, the follow-up to recent EP ‘King Of Cups’, is exactly that – something indescribably great that doesn’t quite fit into any pigeonhole you might have set aside for it. In the same vein as artists like the Urban Voodoo Machine, The Great Malarky, or the Jim Jones Revue, Smythe seems to straddle stylistic boundaries without ever really even noticing they’re there – part old-time London pub sing-along, part indie-pop cool, part alt-jazz musicality.

There’s touches of Daniel Powter, Jamie Cullum, and Harry Connick Jr. in here, but all with a mainstream pop take, and some cute-as-hell little vocal asides-to-camera; it’s just catchy as hell cool-as-fuck indie-pop awesomeness, and it’s absolutely grin-inducing.

Perfection in 4 minutes 12 seconds.

Check out Lee Smythe on Spotify and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes

There’s no time like the present to check out Barry Locke’s acoustic folk single, ‘One of These Days’.

Posted on 20 May 2021

Folk singer-songwriter Barry Locke’s latest single, ‘One of These Days’ carries plenty of hallmarks of the quintessential acoustic folk-pop ballad while the distinction lies in his vulnerable vocals and the lifts in the sonic Americana pop-rock crescendos that make the track an evocatively powerful ride from start to finish.

One of These Days perfectly captures the instability that can often follow periods of self-reflection, the times when you look back, and you can’t recall the footsteps that led you to where you are, but you are still yearning from the life you evolved from.

The upbeat track leaves melancholy by the wayside and thrives on the determination to carry on, even if you don’t know where that energy is coming from. It’s a stunning release, sobering and uplifting in equal measure.

One of These Days officially released on May 20th; you can check it out on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

NYC Singer-Songwriter Clanklin is set to release the most visceral ballad of the year with ‘Oath’

Posted on 19 May 2021
Clanklin

NYC’s singer-songwriter Clara Miller brought the same poise as seen in her performances with the New York City Ballet to her indie piano pop ballad, Oath.

Under her freshly adopted moniker Clankin, she is set to enamour pop, indie and folk fans alike. With the haunting reminiscences to the likes of Angel Olsen alongside her palpable mainstream potential, Clanklin offers a rarely found combination of accessibility and authenticity. She allows you to feel right at home within her magnetic sound while feeling the chills that only manifest through brand-new sensory experience. Oath delivers just that.

Oath is the title single for Clanklin’s forthcoming EP. With her tender vocals running through lyrics that document the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father paralleled with her historical introspection, you can’t help but become compassionately transfixed. If any 2021 release is worthy of a standing ovation, it’s Oath.

You can check out Clankin via her official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Yves Steady – Chamomile King: A Hazy Lo-Fi Indie Art-Rock Lullaby

Posted on 10 May 2021
Yves Steady - The Demos by YVES STEADY

For his latest release, East London-based solo artist Yves Steady curated his demos from the past four years and invited listeners on a journey of intimate aural exploration; the best introduction to his artfully psychedelic sound is Chamomile King. The semi-orchestral soundscape resonates like a garagey, drowsy take on Charlatans while feeding in the same stylish, evocative despondence of Dinosaur Jr.

The sweet and steady chords in the choral feat of new wave indie couldn’t possibly hold more catharsis when they are up against the vocals that sit perfectly in the mix without bleeding or dominating the track that will be a hit with indie, psych, art rock, and folk fans alike.

Chamomile King is now available to stream and purchase via Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Folk-Pop’s prodigal son Adam Wendler returns with his most vibrant earworm to date, ‘Motions’.

Posted on 8 May 2021

After finding himself comfortable on the iTunes Singer-Songwriter charts, gracing over 400 stages across Germany and Canada and opening for the likes of the Arkells and Ryan Sheridan, Berlin-based folk-pop artist Adam Wendler is set to garner plenty more critical acclaim with his latest single, ‘Motions’.

Wendler’s previous singles, such as Thin Ice and Empty Space, proved his proficiency when it comes to producing earworms but Motions is practically an explosion of colour that will awaken even the most bleary-eyed ennui-laden souls from their still-life slumber.

With enlivening reminders that life won’t wait and that you must persevere despite adversity instead of rage quitting on life, Motions is a timely folk-pop playlist staple. Instead of assimilating his influences, such as Vance Joy and Dermot Kennedy, their style is eclipsed alongside his signature sonic sound. Discerning folk-pop fans would struggle to find a more luminary artist in 2021. If anyone has what it takes to reach the same heights as Mumford & Sons and the Lumineers, it is Adam Wendler.

Motions was written by Adam Wendler; recorded by Adam Wendler & Jack Bowden (Tors) in Berlin & the UK; produced, mixed & mastered by Jack Bowden.

You can go through the Motions yourselves by heading over to Spotify.

Keep up to date with new releases from Adam Wendler via Facebook & Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Armstrong & O’Donnell – Altitude: Minimalist Indie Folk Pop Perfection

Posted on 4 May 2021

‘Altitude’ is just one of the quiescently powerful folk-pop singles to come from the collaboration between Scottish guitarist and songwriter Mark O’Donnell and singer-songwriter Chris Armstrong.

The minimalist bluesy popping guitar notes create the perfect platform for Armstrong’s vocals which carry the same soul-steeped air as the likes of Tracy Chapman. That is until the single amps up the energy and makes a sonic shift in tone for the outro crescendo that is arresting enough to make an everlasting impression.

With no hint of hyperbole, the powerhouse duo has what it takes to become the Simon and Garfunkel of our generation. If Altitude doesn’t leave you mesmerised, you’re not paying attention.

Armstrong & O’Donnell’s single is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Delicate, Beautiful, and Haunting – The Real Shade are ‘Waiting For Good News’

Posted on 3 May 2021
The Real Shade

Gorgeously simple-but-evocative strummed acoustic guitar and Tim Vesely’s beautiful, cultured vocal carries the first half of ‘Waiting For Good News’, the new single from Toronto-based The Real Shade, before delicate organ, drum, and backing vocals join us around the mid-point; ‘Waiting For Good News’ is a perfect, tear-jerking-in-a-good-way, poignant and heartfelt yet hopeful and uplifting, it’s an absolutely stunning mix of lo-fi, old-school Americana, folk, and simple, expressive pop. Think Jayhawks, Counting Crows, or the mellower parts of Buffalo Tom, with a little of Paul Westerberg and Justin Townes Earle thrown in for good measure.

Taken from the forthcoming album ‘String Of Lights’, and a collaboration between ‘usual’ The Real Shade singer-songwriter Jane Gowan (Spygirl, Neins Circa) and producer and musician Vesely (Rheostatics), ‘Waiting For Good News’ is inspired both by the feelings a lot of us have right now, as we emerge slowly, blinking and nervously sniffing the air, from lockdown, and the novel ‘All My Puny Sorrows’ (Miriam Toews). It’s an absolutely beautiful, reflective single, perfectly composed and stunningly performed, gorgeous in its simplicity and 1,000,000 times more powerful because of it.

‘Waiting For Good News’ is released on May 14th 2021; you can find more information from The Real Shade’s website.

Review by Alex Holmes

Danny Vye – Chasing Time featuring Stefan Kelk

Posted on 16 April 2021

In collaboration with Stefan Kelk, up and coming indie-pop artist Danny Vye released their debut album, ‘Blown Away’; and that’s exactly how it left us.

The standout single ‘Chasing Time’ is a testament to the UK-based artist’s talent in orchestrating simple yet simultaneously phenomenal feats of folky indie-pop. He didn’t need to deviate too far from the mould to create a viscerally magnetic single. Instead, he relied on the potency of vocal emotion, the poetry in the lyrics and the havoc that the progressive instrumentals play with your rhythmic pulses. If any track can leave you feeling like your soul is creeping up into your throat, it’s Chasing Time.

There’s a slight alt 90s feel to the track that seems to ooze the substance and gravitas that mainstream artists sorely lack. If you appreciate tracks that remind you of your capacity to feel, hit play.

Danny Vye’s EP, Blown Away, is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast