Raised in apartheid in South Africa, songs were the lifeblood of liberation for Marisa Handler and her community, and this heritage, this connection to music and the freedom it can bring, is precisely what inspired the anthemic celebration of We Are Rising.
Folk Pop
Acoustic country warmth and stories of nostalgia and experience, connection and contemplation – Biggy captures a sense of melodic and thoughtful wonder, with the five original songs of Rib and Road.
no hope was inspired by Jim Carrey’s infamous commencement speech about hope running into the fire, and it builds a story and mood around this in a distinct, optimistic and memorable way. With a longer project due to release later in the year, isabelle tran’s debut marks a timeless first chapter in this honest and engaging artistic venture.
Inspired by a fifty-year-old romantic meeting between two students from Switzerland and France respectively, Je Ne Peux Pas T’oublier relays a story of long-distance love, from a time when the internet and video calls were unheard of.
Promising a crisp acoustic guitar groove, live drums, and female vocals gorgeously harmonised, I Want The World achieves a style and tone somewhere between the likes of Jewel and Morcheeba – a breathy poetic lead, a hypnotic acoustic groove, and a level of conviction and relevance that’s subtly woven into an uplifting, colourful, creative embrace.
The album makes equal use of instrumental prowess, English and Hebrew lyrics, and features a noteworthy collection of session musicians and engineers from across the globe. As such, each song is uniquely uplifting, calming, colourful, but also modest, and despite the eclecticism of instrumental choices and tones, even stories, the music is always grounded by Amir’s welcoming vocal fluidity, and the realness of this live performance capture.
The connection resounds and comforts, a softness that’s celebratory and calming – Mark Winters blends folk and acoustic pop with timeless positivity, for Man In The Sky.
Great musical arrangements set the bar well, then we need a little depth of topic, an interesting voice, and a melody that engages and even satisfies. Borovsky puts the building blocks in place for all of this, with the unique writing, long-form expressions, ideas and personality, of A Leap In The Dark.
Organic and honest songwriting, live recordings to match – a singer-songwriter authenticity that’s needed in these times. Gregor Vagner brings the melody and music to move you, with the hopeful tune, acoustic groove, and outer-layered meandering electric guitar, of Rosemary.
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.
Great songwriting and lush vocals meet with an electric guitar groove and stripped-back performative realness, as Harry Lines rather masterfully delivers his catchy and romantic single Waiting For June.
An instantly distinct melody captures attention from the outset, as British-born composer and musician Peter Dulborough introduces the refreshingly recognisable, unique nuance and journey of William.