A great profile of original songs, real vocals and lyrics, real stories from a life lived with passion, presence, and self-awareness. Something different but timeless, poetry and music naturally performed, and with lots of wild and wonderful moments to appreciate.
Alt Folk
Real human connection in musical form – an intimate capture, acoustic and thoughtful, honest and unedited. Gibishki introduces a sublime and interesting new album, with the rising passion and distinct identity of 7 Wonders.
Introducing a creative duo whose songs are the sort to make long-time music writers instantly excited about their work again. Wisconsin alt-folk artists Leiting & Van Kammen blend organic, acoustic folk musicianship, with honest, alluring vocal charm, rising intensity, and haunting, reflective stories.
Stunning – simple and honest music, the kind of recording that captures your attention softly and with humility, and the kind of songwriting that feels not designed to draw focus to the performer, but towards a feeling or moment, a series of thoughts; an ambience and mood.
You have to hear it to know how it feels – words can’t really convey. This song has the alt-folk beauty and pop warmth of some of history’s classic, unpredictable hits. Something like Ben Howard’s Keep Your Head Up, an alt-folk legend lifting the mood; this time somehow both catchy and not. Calling For Change is soulful, to repeat that truth again. It’s yearning, mellow then emotionally desperate in its outcry, and the set-up furthers this, with modest guitar solo moments and a huge crescendo at the end.
Ambient lo-fi grooves that envelop their listener, alongside deeply emotional vocals – drawn out, expressive phrases and notes, blending something like soul and jazz across a colourful, contemplative tapestry. Matthias Boretius fuses passion and quiet musical presence, for the sweeping sentiments and sounds of Open Door.
UK acoustic vibes blending long riffs and summertime world-music rhythms with conceptual depth. Akiva Zneimer takes us back to the lightness of the warmer seasons, with a song fusing rap and melody to that alt-folk bounce of a style once made underground famous by the likes of Will and the People.
Building from a purely acoustic and nearly whispered introduction, Monsters employs Frida Mann’s unmistakable vocals, and slowly but surely evolves through a story of anger, resentment, confinement. The voice is captivating, and later near-euphoric in its outcry, and as such, this conceptual journey is incredibly passionate, in both vocal and instrumental delivery.
From a heavy alternative ambiance to pure instrumental intensity, by way of folk-like imagery and scenes – the fiercely unique creative act Second Choice deliver a cinematic and soulful journey, for By The Blackened Fern.
Indie music raising the bar as ever for the true and expressive creative freedom that drives things forward. Zuko Sian captures something cool and artistic, a sound rhythmically dancing between alt-folk festival vibes, hip hop, RnB and alternative pop or trip hop.
Organic loops of instrumentation and voice, poetic and personal ideas resounding and lingering – an ambient but largely acoustic presentation, of songs that feel both revealing and mysterious in their vague bursts of both joy and sadness. German songwriter and artist Rico Friebe releases a brand new double album, in the form of the mighty The Desire Path / The Open Glade.
“I want to create a space in music where time moves differently. I want to give comfort even in uncomfortable themes or emotions, so that the music is a place where other people who relate to these feelings and ideas can go and feel that comfort too.”