Brady James – “Empty promises”
-This is a sad song about the broken promises between a father and son. The acoustic guitar work is really what shines on this one. The overall instrumentation and vibe of the track is what narrative folk music is all about. The chromatic work on the bridge is really satisfying, making the song feel emotional and moving. The expressive lyrics about the sense of loss and disconnection is powerful. This one could be a tear-jerker for folks who did not have the best father figure in their lives.
Levee Wolf – “Pam”
-If you’re looking for an acoustic narrative folk song, give Levee Wolf’s “Pam” is an excellent song. The story is a connection between a woman who helps people who are down on their luck. There’s a good time energy to the song, despite the lyrics being quite sad. There is great wisdom in the story about calming down, slowing down, and embracing easy life. I immediately shared this with a friend with the phrase, “relatable characters in 3 minutes.” I dig the instrumentation, sure, but the story arc of this song is nothing short of remarkable.
Kiernan McMullan – “Talk to me”
-One of the first artists that I loved when I started writing about folk music was Noah Gundersen. Hearing an artist like Kiernan McMullan utilize some of the same expressive folk elements as Gundersen makes me really happy. The subtle harmonies here work really well in contrast with the strained, emotional vocal elements. The whole energy of the track is longing for a connection to make a relationship endure. This is definitely an excellent example of indie folk singer songwriter music done right. The desperation comes across with brilliant sincerity.
