Three brand new indie folk tracks that bring a beautiful sense of peace

Nan MacMillan – “Seams”
-I’ve probably made this comparison before, but every time I listen to Nan MacMillan’s voice I think of one of my favorite artists, Andrea von Kampen. I adore the soft, acoustic style of this song. The folksy guitar works well as a basis for the exceptional vocal work. The unhurried style of the song feels peaceful and endearing. The imagery seems to be natural, with a bird seeking flight. Put together, it’s a subtle and sweet bit of folk singer songwriter magic.

Old Sea Brigade – “Polygraph”
-I’m not sure how many times I’ve written about Old Sea Brigade, but they’re one of those artists that always seem to find a way onto my coverage. This track is another welcome addition to the Old Sea Brigade discography; it’s a thoughtful acoustic folk song with delightfully sweet harmonies. The melodic structure is more complex than the simple “three chords and the truth” style of writing. The layers are complicated and the lyrics are more Simon and Garfunkel than Woody Guthrie. I appreciate the esoteric structure. I would recommend this track for fans of the Milk Carton Kids and the intellectual turn in 21st century folk music.

Casey Marie – “Unspend”
-It doesn’t happen every day, but sometimes I get the rare “chills down my spine” when finding new music. That absolutely happened when I found this incredible new song from Casey Marie. I don’t know the full story behind this artist or this song, but what I can tell you is that it’s the real deal. The phrasing, the pacing, the melody, and the use of space in this song is outstanding. I have heard submissions from award winning songwriters that didn’t have this sense of timing and meaning. The lyrics about “hours of talking on freeways” and sharing friend, it’s a song about figuring out how to “unspend” time that was invested in a relationship. It’s a song about what could have been. It’s a tragic post-love-song and it absolutely resonates. I feel this one in my heart, genuinely.