Simon Linsteadt is a songwriter living in New York City but he’s got a decidedly West Coast sound that draws on the sensitivity and light melodic touches of artists like Graham Nash as well as the sweet fragility of Elliott Smith and contemporary songwriters such as Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. Linsteadt recently released … Continue reading
An old-timey voice that blends and warm concoction of folk and country music on this single ‘Any Soul’, from her recently released debut self-titled album. Teresa Duffy-Richards hails originally from the Salt bush plains of Deniliquin NSW, Australia and is now based in Melbourne’s inner north where she’s been refining her classic, atmospheric sound. A dash … Continue reading
Chesterfield, UK native Holly Redford Jones has a brand new single out that finds her deftly navigating a sweet spot between country/blues rock and and a lowdown indie feel. It works wonderfully with her voice the real deal breaker here with its smoky, sultry, almost sneered delivery. ‘Bonjour Madame’ (recorded in Nashville, TN) came about when … Continue reading
It starts with a standard form – sleepy drums, blocks of piano chords and trailing notes, but then Eamon McGrath‘s voice rings high and lonesome, like a man with something to say, hollerin’ from the next room. It’s a great production move to offset the intimacy of the music with McGrath’s anguished declarations as he … Continue reading
Here’s a voice that will grab you right from the outset. Agata Karczewska is a Warsaw-based singer-songwriter with a deep American sound. Bluesy gothic Americana folk is the order of the day on ‘Envy Is My Sin’, a song that showcases her bold and rich voice and makes for a strident and soulful sound. Recommended. … Continue reading
Here’s the recently released single from Demi Mitchell, the first since she released her fine album The Overflow last year. This track hangs wonderfully in the air, built on tension and a noir aesthetic courtesy of ringing guitar chords and a shroud of reverb. It’s a kind of smokey gothic Americana, one of those songs … Continue reading
When a genuine old soul inhabits a voice it conveys genuine emotion and a lived-in rawness to the sound of a song. That was what struck us when we heard this version of ‘House Of The Rising Sun’ by Swedish gothic folk and blues musician Old Kerry McKee. McKee has a history in punk and … Continue reading
Lots to love about this laidback, forlorn track from D.H. Scott, a singer/songwriter who was born in Bakersfield, CA but now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Scott has a wonderful ache and grain to his voice, at times reminiscent of Townes Van Zandt. This great track is the story of a man (Casey Todd) who he would … Continue reading
There’s a dreamy late-night roadhouse vibe on this track from two Asheville, NC musicians – Gold Light (Joe Chang) & Snakemusk (Beau Campolong). Mazzy Star is an obvious reference point given it’s soaked in a similar noir heartache and organic shuffling sway but this also has more of a 60s folk vibe built into its … Continue reading
This is just the kind of folk voice we fall for. The mix of ache and vulnerability, offset with a spirit and strength. There’s a wonderful lilting melody line that threads through ‘Dance With Me’, taken from Kora Feder‘s new album In Sevens which was released last week. There’s a sweetness to the song, as … Continue reading
Sean McMahon‘s new album You Will Know When You’re There is out now and it’s a superb record. We’ve had it on high rotation of late – soundtracking road trips, lazy Sunday mornings and dimly-lit late nights. One of the highlights is ‘Outsider Blues’, a track that is built on a beautiful blend of acoustic instruments … Continue reading
Brad Armstrong comes at you from an otherworldly place – a ramshackle outpost town at the end of the railroad line, a rattlesnake hander on a desert bender. It’s all old-world aesthetic with wailing fiddle, primitive percussion and a great line in storytelling on ‘Brother Ford’. It reminds me of the fire and brimstone style … Continue reading
We love a track where the instant the singer sings their first note they’ve got your full attention. Tommy Alexander does that for us with this new track ‘Rejection’. He keeps things super simple with a measured vocal delivery that hangs meaning on every line. “Rejection is the hardest thing” he sings before a forlorn … Continue reading
New Zealand songwriter Kendall Elise has released this new single ‘Valentine Street’ ahead of the release of her debut solo LP Red Earth. It’s a mature and classic country sound with a dash of jazz thrown into the fabric of the song. Elise has a really great vocal style, a mix of smooth honky tonk … Continue reading
Emily Fairlight is a New Zealand songwriter who’s based in Dunedin but has spent time in Australia and India during her formative years. ‘Body Below’ is the opening track from her new LP Mother Of Gloom, a warm and intimate set of songs that highlight her ability to find shadowy moods in her music and … Continue reading
