This song impresses all the more so with each revisit. Think of those unusual pop songs that just work brilliantly, yet feel a little left of the expected – Drinking in LA, Somebody That I Used to Know. The kind of indie pop song you wish you’d written, and in this case, it’s perfectly captured and produced. An easy must for the summer playlists.
Folk Pop
Acoustic musician and songwriter Summer Redstone leads with a much-welcomed dose of clear authenticity as a modern artist. The sheer feeling and delicate intensity of her two recent singles highlight a sense of talent and purpose in the field, Summer’s voice meandering through long-form melodic musings, backed only by an acoustic guitar, and delivering a fine balance between the familiar and the impressively original.
Delicate indie pop, rising from acoustic guitar and piano arrangements, through extensive lyrical musings and reflections on life and love. Vivi Ash gifts smooth vocals and fearlessly honest lyrics to a timeless format, with the five original songs of the Don’t Cry EP.
Hazy production and relatable, quietly mixed vocals – an upbeat energy and thoughtful, often romanticised lyrics. UK songwriter and musician Dave Vamfer reflects on love and life with playful creativity, throughout Find The Sound.
The song openly wonders whether good men are typically the rule or the exception, and while the hook resolves in a relatable, accessible way, the verses dive into a more poetic and intimate, personal story, letting the listener really build a connection and understanding with the artist behind them.
Korean-born artist and producer just min delves into the complexities of self-identity, grief, and emotional rebirth, with the delicacy and depth of this hugely vulnerable and evocative album Molten.
Introducing a hugely uplifting soul-rock anthem, from Halifax creative ensemble Soul Howe & the Swells. A uniquely genre-fusing single, inspired by and devoted to the Life Rolls On organization – empowering people with disabilities through adaptive sport experiences.
Metaphors and moments musically intertwined – a folk-pop softness that transcends the walls of expectation – Swiss songwriter Andrea Schmider offers unique song structuring, mighty choruses, and a striking balance between delicacy and power, for the Potpourri EP.
Introducing a chance encounter, a collaborative project between two new acquaintances – the singer-songwriter partner of a renowned doctor, and a cancer researcher she met as his plus-one at a medical conference. Mandy May Blest and Dr. Steven Rosen fuse divine vocals with heartfelt sentiments and classic pop melodies, for the evocative ballads and beauty of the album Lover.
Poetic songwriting is key, finding a new way of framing a somewhat familiar sentiment or introspection, and then building a story and song around that central idea. The Architect encapsulates the value of that approach, quite literally in fact, and while the style is nothing ground-breaking, it doesn’t need to be.
Norwegian three-piece GISKE capture an organic folk-pop sound loaded with warmth in both imagery and musicality. Light Upon The Water is every bit as hopeful and uplifting as its title and artwork imply, and the music grows all the more beautiful as things progress.
Sometimes the bare essentials are all you need – great songwriting means something, sounds genuine, connects and moves a listener, and is simply enjoyable to experience. Jack Horton’s Set Me Free is a humble and timeless example of precisely those qualities.