Aisha Badru – “Inside”
-There’s a cathartic peacefulness in Aisha Badru’s songwriting that I’ve liked from the first time I heard it. The light, wispy quality of the vocal always calms my spirit and makes me listen more closely. The piano chords set a beautiful base for Badru’s sincere vocal. This is a song about meditation and introspection; it’s a fundamentally spiritual song. This is not about an outward romance, but rather the “greatest love story unfolding inside.” It’s beautifully written and performed.
Alex Francis – “Say it ain’t so Joe” (Murray Head cover)
-It’s rare for us to feature covers on the site, so when we do it’s exceptionally good. It’s even more rare to feature a cover of a song that we’re not super familiar with the original, but the soulful originality of this performance hooked us right away. The quality on the vocal is evident right away. The bassline in the background really holds this one together. The combination of the momentum, soulful energy, and rising momentum make this is a standout performance in the folksy singer songwriter realm. It’s got shades of pop and soul, but we still think our readership will appreciate the quality of this one.
Caleb Hearn – “1200 sq ft”
-I liked this song from the first time I clicked play. While I don’t know the square footage of my childhood home, there is a lot that is relatable to the first part of the song. But then later, I got married to my own best friend and we started off in a few small apartments. The memory style of the lyrics here is absolutely perfect for so much of what I experienced in my own life. Musically, I really like Hearn’s vocal style. The melody makes it easy to connect and engage with the track. The vocal harmonies provide warmth and cohesion to the track. This is a great example of modern indie folk music done well.
Image courtesy: Aisha Badru IG
