From all indie genres, Folk seems to have a special place in our hearts. We can't help to get back to folk songs when we look for some calm and inspiration. When we want to hope for a nice dream. Or when we are feeling in the mood for some very well told stories. As an honour to those feelings, this series is entitled TIFU (Today I Folked Up). Only folk songs from new folk artists. To let you and ourselves go.
Eric Gabriel – So Much, Sometimes
The New Yorker singer-songwriter and producer Eric Gabriel is the kind of artist we like to follow. Not only owns a great and mature voice but also seems to have a talent for writing such good lyrics and apparently has really good friends he invites for collaborations, creating a magnificent environment around every composition of him. We’re not only talking about So Much, Sometimes, we’re talking also about Tara Street, two completely different songs, with different pop-folk approaches. If in So Much, Sometimes, the second released single, Eric explores a more uplifting and song with the likes of Fleetwood Mac, for instance, in Tara Street the experimentalism crashes in Bon Iver or late DeYarmond Edison sonorities, including a bunch of horns and melancholic keyboard, and violins and everything that can be found in Beth/Rest. The former vocalist and keyboard player from Melt releases these two singles in two months and already shows enough creativity and ability for many more!
Garrett Kato – All Good
Garrett Kato latest track entitled All Good is a beautiful merge of pop with folk, and one that brings back those Damien Rice vibes we all need for this time of the year. All Good sings about the strugles of a relationshiop and the ability to get trhought them, when all we are just humans with strange emotions and sometimes unpredictable minds. Well, actually that how the track sounds to us. But it serves to say that All Good serves as a hymn for hope, be it by its folk roots or by some incredibly warm vocals.
Harrison Storm – With You
We have a convicted crush for tender, smooth, and sweet voices that perfectly engage with spacious instrumental. In With You, Harrison Storm has it all. The Australian singer-songwriter describes it as “a simple love song, an unusual release for me, but it holds a very special place in my journey”, the lyrics are like those ones that immediately find a way to warm up our hearts and we can definitely feel the dreamy and spacious and vague place where Harrison was when he wrote this song, it is beautifully described in every note and chord played here. The song is the last released track off of his EP Be Slow Also, we love the way it begins, so whispering, so chilled, then slowly grows in complexity and becomes louder. And when it suddenly hit the climax the song comes to an end. Storm doesn’t want it to be much more than this: a simple love song, a one-on-one composition, and lyrics, it’s just him and each one of us.
In Between Years – The Sun
Folk can be shown in many forms and genres and this compilation was created to prove that. That’s why it makes complete sense to feature In Between Years, the German band is not only eclectic but electrifying and energetic. The 3-piece band is like the German version of Alt-J with an impressive selection of horns, accordion, and guitar riffs capable to surprise anyone who listens to The Sun for the first time, including unique and powerful vocals since the very beginning, reminding Bastille or Amber Run. The way they start shows us what they are here for, but the punch comes when out of the blue they stop and break. What comes after must only be heard. This is the first single off of their debut self-titled EP and in the band’s words “we are just getting started!”
Lydia Fairhall & The She Oaks – True North LP
The second Australian featuring in this compilation, Lydia Fairhall & The She Oaks are a fresh and modern way to make Country, although never forgetting its roots. True North is their debut album which is having already a good hype not only in Australia but also in the UK and USA. At first, in Araluen, Lydia sings almost acapella, as the guitar and drums remain so smooth we could almost live without them if it wasn’t for the amazing landscape they create around the higher notes of Fairhall’s voice and embodying the lyrics. And as the album keeps spinning we find Crying Country, and once again the classic sonorities are all there but the band explores new harmonies and tries to keep the instrumental as much rock-ish as possible, and that’s what makes it fresh and puts a smile on our face. In Sign of the Times, the classic meets the modern and the country meets the soul/gospel enhancing Lydia’s voice. Water Underground is an almost 8-minute song and it sums precisely what the full-length record is, in-depth, in lyrics, in harmonized instruments, and in lovable and mature vocals. Just listen to True North and explore it as much as you can.
Metò & Doubtfully Yours, – Breathe for My Peace
Metò is a Quebec City based multi instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer who produces hooking folk melodies that sound both acoustic and organic. With an impressive fragiled tone voice that can sound both electrifying and relaxed, he combines his intrinsic capabilities with gorgeous hugging ambients and vocal layers. His latest track Breathe for My Peace features the perfect combination with Doubtfully Yours,. Never dull, always captivating and surprising. Featuring elements in English and some in French, this is of an unbelievable beauty. Artistic and experimental too, the production never ceases to throw new elements at our ears and soul, without making sure every single element has a job to do. The ending of the track is perharps the most original we heard all year.
Stablemate -Shapeless LP
Two old friends who used to make music together eventually stepped out from music while their lives took other paths. Conor listed in the Navy and set sail to the Persian Gulf and Mitch went to college to have a business degree. While apart, Conor kept sending Mitch some records and demos he recorded on his phone onboard and during a trip, Mitch did from Seattle to Argentina everything came back together and began to make sense. Stablemate joint again and included Anna and Daniel. The 4-piece band releases now their debut LP Shapeless, a deep complex, and emotional 10-track album where folk, pop/rock, and dreamy/indie-pop have a place. All together it creates a unique sonority reminding Bon Iver‘s self-titled album sometimes, and others bringing some of Big Thief and Volcano Choir‘s memories. We leave you here with the whole album since it’s too difficult to choose a favorite one for us!
The Staves – Satisfied
The three sisters are probably the most exciting folk group these days, at least vocally speaking. We can’t find purest, angelical, and harmonizing voices than the ones gifted to the Staveley-Taylor sisters. Emily, Jessica, and Camilla form the trio The Staves, from Watford, UK, and after their highly acclaimed Dead, Born & Grown LP, the trio toured with Bon Iver, whose frontman, Justin Vernon, later produced their second full-length If I Was, giving the sister a completely different vision of their songs, exploring never-ending harmonies, loops and synths. That went so well they eventually released a third album with yMusic, taking their basis and compositions to a more orchestral and organic level. All together -and the fact that they are part of the 37d03d project- gave them the tools to work on a new universe of layers, experimentalisms, vocal arrangements, but never putting the acoustic guitar on its case. After Nazareth, Trying and Good Woman, Satisfied is the fourth single released this year off of a whole new record to come. For us, another perfect album is about to come.
Tiz McNamara – Moving Backwards
What’s the point in moving, if your only move is moving backwards? Tiz McNamara’s latest track Moving Backwards is a distinct and steady building indie-folk meets pop turns to rock track. The song starts off with a sort of slow pace that is brought up by a strong drum and the evolving incorporation of guitars, second guitars, and background voices. Once again this is the reason we’ve been posting about Tiz McNamara consistently, ever-surprising and evolving (and involving), he defies folk barriers with very good productions and a distinctively beautiful recording voice. And everything is round, hopeful, and beautiful. Oh, and catchy alert on this one, it really sticks with us.
All these songs (and all previous songs feature in TIFU) are also featured on our folk playlist. Follow it on Spotify: