Ella Clayton – “Honey”
-If you’re a fan of calm acoustic folk music, give this song a play. Ella Clayton has one of those voices that makes you want to lean in and listen close. The lyrical style is charming, engaging, and softly romantic. If you’ve ever had a honey in your life – someone with sweetness and softness – then this song will certainly resonate. There’s a gentleness in Clayton’s voice that makes it feel accessible and true. I’m reminded of artists like Norah Jones when I listen to this one. It’s a good combination of classic folk songwriting with a dash of pop. Hang on for the second half of the song and you’ll feel the dynamics soar! There’s even a horn solo! Oh yeah!
GOODTIME – “For the Very Last Time”
-If acoustic fingerpicking is your style of folk music, definitely give this song a listen. It’s captivating and demands the attention of the listener. There’s a poetic sincerity in each lyrical line. The phrasing and spacing here really encourages the listener to engage. The playful syncopation on the melody line gives it a lightness that helps the dynamics evolve from the introduction to the middle section of the song. This is an incredibly difficult thing to do as a performer. This song has all the meticulous excellence of bands I’ve loved like the Low Anthem and Darlingside. GOODTIME are a rising band in that artful folk space and we are absolutely here for it.
Satellite Birdhouse – “October”
-Harmony. This song is all about harmony. I love the string work and the quality of the lead vocal, but it’s the vocal harmonies that wins my heart on this one. It’s the kind of spirited folk pop music that motivates us to write about music. The soaring fiddles, the percussive energy, and the overall style here is really wonderful. It has this wonderful combination of rooted earthiness with a light and dance-worthy style. It feels like the kind of music that our ancestors could have danced to, yet has this contemporary production polish that makes it sound and feel thoroughly modern. I dig this one a lot.
Image courtesy: Ella Clayton IG
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