Browsing Tag

Indie Folk

Sleeping Through Breakfast brought comfort to the void in their alt-indie release, Black Hole

Posted on 24 September 2024

Rarely do indie folk and pop punk melodically intersect, but as proven by Sleeping Through Breakfast’s single ‘Black Hole’, which brings comfort to the void, soul-teasing sublimity transpires.

You’ll come for the convention-defying instrumentals, but you will stay for the stunningly distinct vocals, which use unique inflections to exhibit just how authentic this outfit is. With guitars that spill sepia tones in the same vein as Muzz, paired with sincerity-soaked vocals and artful embellishments, the duo make a mockery of middle-of-the-road artists with their semi-lucid, endlessly ascending motifs. It’s not just the uniqueness of the soundprint that will leave you aching for more; it’s how intensely the cosmic-hued melodies grip the heartstrings.

Founded in 2021, the alternative/art rock duo Zander Prokop and Joshua Kleiman has been orchestrating for the introspective dreamers with their already expansive discography. With their earlier releases, such as Pillowcase Studies and The A Hopeful Note EP, they set the bar high, but they always find new plateaus to aurally visit. Their latest endeavour, the People Without Faces EP, released on September 22nd, explores themes of death and the inevitable decay of the world while unravelling as a testament to the necessity of finding solace in the love that remains.

Safe to say, Sleeping Through Breakfast has carved out their own space in the alternative scene, and with ‘Black Hole,’ they attest they are here to stay. If they aren’t topping the charts with their Nada Surf-esque tenderness in a few years, we riot.

Black Hole was officially released on September 14; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bask in the ‘Alpenglow’ of Lounna’s latest alt-indie folk rock rendering of poetic yearning

Posted on 20 September 2024
Louanna

Lounna’s latest single, Alpenglow, panoramically expanded indie-folk with a sound infused with the ruggedness of Big Thief and the euphonic beauty akin to the works of Gregory Alan Isakov and Boygenius.

The song unfurls with swathes of soul that seep through every note, achieving a séance of seraphic serenity with its Grammy-worthy craftsmanship. Louanna doesn’t just sing; she commands a profound respect that transcends typical genre confines, pulling listeners into a bask-able warmth.

The traditional folk instrumentation intertwines with ornate crescendos, crafting one of the most stirring aural experiences of 2024. The composition breathes the very essence of wonder, reminiscent of breathtaking landscapes, stunning beyond compare. Each note and lyric in the track feels like a brushstroke on a vast sonic canvas, portraying mental health struggles, difficult life circumstances, and the enduring human spirit.

Brenna Slate, under the moniker Lounna, is not new to the music scene. With fifteen years of songwriting, performances at notable festivals, and opening for nationally touring artists, Slate’s voice has matured into a poignant echo of indie folk innovation, which is exemplified in Alpenglow, which will leave you thematically alongside her, yearning for the nostalgia of lost love.

Alpenglow is being primed to debut on September 20th; purchase the single on Bandcamp; for more ways to listen, visit Lounna’s official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tune into Matt Sayers’ latest tender indie-folk transmission, Radio

Posted on 19 September 2024

In the intricate weave of indie folk, Matt Sayers’ single, Radio, is a razor-sharp cut above the rest. With its artful flourishes and aching eloquence, you’ll feel your soul tremble with the vibrato of his vocals as they sink the teeth of melancholy into melodies that come alive through enmeshing mellifluous rhythms with syncopated layers. There is a palpable tension between the fluid musical movements and the sharp edges of a mind in turmoil, reminiscent of Frightened Rabbit’s ability to sculpt pain into sonic beauty.

Sayers, hailing from England, channels the spirit of 70s Laurel Canyon legends like Jackson Browne and Joni Mitchell, while echoing modern folk influences such as Gregory Alan Isakov and Noah Gundersen. His lyrical journeys vignette life’s profound themes—from the ephemeral dance of existence in Dancing Girl to the quest for belonging in Jericho.

Radio itself is an affecting display of Sayers’ talent to distil torment into art. Needless to say, it’s as radio-ready as the songs that haunted him and inspired this masterpiece which marries lush reverie with the primal pain of a hopeless romantic cascading into despair.

Radio was officially released on September 5th; stream the single on SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Timothy Jaromir tuned into transience in his art-folk installation, Liminal

Posted on 6 September 2024
Timothy Jaromir

Tuning into his latest artfully melodic musing, Liminal, isn’t the first time we’ve been hypnotised by the Zurich singer-songwriter Timothy Jaromir and his command as a conjurer of caressive sonic consolation, and we’re sure it won’t be the last.

Liminal spaces often possess atmospheres of eerie abandonment, but subversively, Jamir filled the threshold of the soul with a tenderly heartfelt touch. In Liminal, the listener is suspended in time to contemplate the beauty of connection and how ‘shadows feed the light’. The sanctity of true love resounds throughout the kaleidoscopic panorama which envelops the underpinned vulnerability of a diehard romantic, unarmed and unfeigned.

When the jazzy crescendo breezes into the organically spaced production which unfolds around you when you lock into the diaphanous rhythms, a rush of seraphic intensity takes hold of the release which will feature on the artist’s highly anticipated album, Man Atlas.

Liminal will be available to stream on all major platforms from September 6th. Discover ways to listen and connect with Timothy Jamir via his official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Somewhere In Between – Mr & Mrs: An Orchestral Indie Folk Tale of Amour for the Ages

Posted on 2 September 2024

Somewhere In Between, the soul-embracing union of Deena Robertson and Austin Bisnow is so much more than a new alt-indie folk act on the scene; the duo is a profound testament to love’s resilience.

Their debut single Mr & Mrs, taken from their double A-Side which also includes the single Wildflower, unfurls as an artfully orchestral folk narrative, resonating with emotional depths through dual-layered harmonies. The intimate glimpse into a romance that has battled odds as daunting as cancer and triumphed with a story sung through their very being reaches the epitome of heart-rending.

The single channels the delicate nuances of Thom Yorke’s artful signatures, the diaphanous echoes of Tom Odell, and the undeniable chemistry reminiscent of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova. It’s an ornately ethereal vignette of romanticism so vivid, it might just redefine your understanding of love, illustrating that true affection demands patience, compassion, and understanding.

Their journey began when Austin first heard Deena singing in Sanskrit during a hot yoga class in LA, leading to an inseparable bond forged at a retreat in Utah. Challenges soon followed, notably Deena’s cancer battle, compelling them to immortalise their vows in song with the aid of Grammy Award-winning artist Ry-X. Today, their Quebec barn-turned-studio is not just a place of creation but a sanctuary where their lives and art intertwine.

For those jaded by Hollywood’s glossy depictions of love, Mr & Mrs offers a real, raw, and profoundly authentic alternative. Hit play, and let the seraphic sentimentality carry you to where love reigns supreme, unscripted and unequivocally honest.

Mr & Mrs is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Gaze into the introspective kaleidoscope of leo hc’s seminal indie folk release, the shades EP

Posted on 23 August 2024

leo hc’s debut release, ‘the shades EP’, elegantly strips music back to its most elemental form, serving as a pure conduit for emotion which resonates through the instrumental textures and the lyrical narratives.

The opening track, the aptly named ‘the shades’, introduces us to a semi-lucid reverie where the angular, fingerpicked guitar notes intertwine with leo’s reticent, whispered vocals. Each motif transcends sound to become experiences shaded in deep introspection, allowing listeners to immerse their own melancholic emotions into the abstract depths of the production.

The subsequent track, ‘two wrongs’, transitions into a more indie folk aura, with vocals that echo Elliott Smith, soaring within a seraphically toned lo-fi backdrop. This piece epitomises intimacy, transforming the listening space into a personal enclave of reflective peace.

Track three, ‘i’m the man’, continues the narrative with a progressively gratifying indie lullaby. It allows for a dynamic interplay of intensity, with artful flourishes that let emotional currents ebb and flow, underscoring leo’s mastery in balancing sonic peaks and valleys.

The EP rounds off with ‘lovers hilltop’, a stunning demonstration of acoustic indie songwriting. Here, the poignant strains of coming-of-age yearning are captured through evocative fingerpicked guitars, drawing influences from classical Spanish guitarists while paying homage to artists like Jose Gonzalez and Hot Left Pole.

Overall, ‘the shades EP’ by leo hc is a pacifying synthesis of introspection and musicality, offering a sanctuary where each track invites personal reflection amidst evocatively crafted soundscapes.

Stream the shades EP on Spotify now. 

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sam Caldwell – feeding the wound: An Indie Art Rock Ode to the Raw Edges of the Human Psyche

Posted on 6 August 2024

The intimacy of unfiltered vulnerability doesn’t just breathe through Sam Caldwell’s standout single, feeding the wound, it quiescently screams and resounds through the delirious-with-self-discontent production which embodies the stripped style of Elliott Smith, and the artfully cultivated expressionist air of Mitski and Neutral Milk Hotel.

Caging one of the most viscerally affecting crescendos that has ever torn its way into my soul, feeding the wound is so much more than a lyrically sharpened vignette of a masochistic mind. Each element serves to visualise a psyche marred with self-awareness and destruction; from the sonic pulls of ennui to how the mind cascades under the weight of affliction, each progression is a revelation of a raw, painfully relatable perception.

The LA singer-songwriter is quickly making a name for himself with his encapsulations of the pain of coming of age; with his debut LP, he’s rivalled the resonance of Brett Easton Ellis’ Less Than Zero. His ability to tune into universal themes of guilt and heartbreak while using heartstrings on his fretboard will undoubtedly see him go far in the industry which is crying out for veritable troubadours of candour.

feeding the wound is now available to stream on Spotify as part of Sam Caldwell’s debut album, wanderlust, which was officially released on July 25.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Pure Notes & Deep Reflections: Ari Jacob Unfolds in ‘Feel It Coming’

Posted on 5 August 2024

Melbourne-based artist Ari Jacob, a singer, songwriter, pianist, and endlessly creative mind with a Bachelor’s in Music, has continued to explore and expand his artistic boundaries since his debut LP, Sink Without Drowning. After moving to Israel in 2017 to strengthen his spiritual ties and expand his creative horizons, Ari found his niche as the in-house composer for Israel Story, a role that took him across the US. His collaborations flourished, notably with Shay Parry in their band Shayari, leading to a rich period of artistic production, including over a hundred concerts and the album Economy of Heart.

His epoch of personal and creative growth has culminated in his sophomore LP, Son Called Moon, featuring the seminal single, Feel It Coming. The single serves as a narrative canvas, drawing parallels with The National’s I Am Easy to Find LP by filtering organic acoustic folk through an evocative indie lens. The tenderness within the lyrical, instrumental and vocal confluence echoes the reflectively profound nature of Glen Hansard as Ari taps into the essence of folk traditions, reinvigorating them for today’s audience.

His songwriting turns everyday details into affecting meditations, revealing the beauty others would be quick to disregard as immaterial matter. The minimalist instrumentals expand like a panorama, laying a foundation for vocals that nestle into the production with a delicate yet full-bodied serenity which attains a sublime lightness, embodying both vulnerability and polished artistry.

I couldn’t recommend a more apt record to discover the potential for depth and purity of modern folk through.

Stream Feel It Coming with Ari Jacob’s sophomore LP, Son Called Moon, on Spotify now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Diehard Romantics Will Meet Their Match in Kaleb Cohen’s Bluesy Indie-Folk Release, Our Eyes Met on Friday

Posted on 26 July 2024

Kaleb Cohen is set to become the second biggest Cohen in folk after the release of his bluesy indie single, Our Eyes Met on Friday.

After opening with an introspectively tender extended prelude, inviting listeners into a defining moment that captures the essence of a soul finally finding its home the song unfolds through increments of upbeat folk elements reminiscent of the Lumineers and Mumford and Sons which surge through the ingenuity within the genre-bending energy.

This release showcases Kaleb’s profound ability to make loungey piano keys bleed pure raw emotion, complemented by his seraphically timbered vocals that masterfully blend the gruff with the smooth. The continuous sonic reinventions throughout the track play havoc with rhythmic expectations, yet each new arrangement is as euphonic as the last, exhibiting the devilishly playful innovation of an artist who could easily skate by on his larynx of gold but chooses instead to go the extra aural mile to beguile.

Kaleb Cohen, an indie-folk-rock prodigy from Connecticut who writes, records, and self-produces his music is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film & Television Production. As an omen of the illustrious path he is destined to pave, his first-ever show in New Haven was a sell-out with fans coming as far as Pennsylvania to witness one of Indie Folk’s most promising names etch their legacy.

Our Eyes Met on Friday will be officially released on July 26; stream the single on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

James Jarmusch – Rattlesnake Road

Posted on 14 July 2024
James Jarmusch

James Jarmusch’s unreleased single, Rattlesnake Road, presents a deep, narrative-driven journey wrapped in the gritty textures of blues and acoustic indie folk; there isn’t an epoch this single could reverberate through and sound out of place, affirming the singer-songwriter’s ability to rhythmically cradle modernism and traditionalism without tipping the balance either way.

Reminiscent of the evocative darkness found in Amigo the Devil’s murder folk sound print and the expressive depth characteristic of Kurt Vile, Rattlesnake Road seamlessly layers raw blues folk undertones with dark Americana-twanged vocals to forge a soundscape that transcends immersive. The melodies sonically transport you to the lawlessly enticing destination where the enigmatic singer-songwriter found his muse.

The track, which will shortly be available to stream, serves as an undeniable showcase of Jarmusch’s unique adeptness in painting vivid portraits with rhythmic brushstrokes; his devilishly magnetic command over tone and atmosphere presents him as a true folk troubadour.

Review by Amelia Vandergast