Three folk singer songwriters that will remind you of the magic of music discovery

imstillFranci – “King”
-If you’ve been around the site much this year, you know I’m a total sucker for the introspective folk singer songwriters that are emerging lately. This song fits in that scene perfectly, sonically feeling a bit more indie pop than folk, but the whole energy of the track is just wonderful. The expressive lead vocal on this performance is to die for. It’s hard to put into words the quality of the singing here, but I’m not overstepping to say that imstillFranci deserves to be in the Billie Eilish and Lizzy McAlpine conversation. This song carries the same kind of deep emotional commentary, focused on a breakup and the concomitant emotional trauma that follows. This is magic and tragic all at once.

CAMPER – “cold weather”
-Every once in a while I run across a singer songwriter that just feels like the real deal. Without all the bells and whistles of other production styles, this track is stripped down and honest. I’m particularly a fan of the layered vocal creating delicate harmonies. It’s ultimately a love song with the hint of a Noah Kahan style of composition energy here. The soft chord changes and emotionally driven style feels like it was tailormade for the state of folk music in 2024. It’s a beautiful track well worth your time, especially if you like harmony-based folk music.

Preen – “English Sun”
-If you’re a fan of cool folk with incredible folk music, this track will definitely stand out from the crowd. I can’t help but feel connections with the mid-20th century style of bands like the Beatles (obviously), but also their lesser-known contemporaries like Herman’s Hermits. The harmonies are rich and rewarding. The way the chord changes follow a quizzical, almost jazzy development makes for some fascinating harmonic textures here. The lyrics are inherently loving, highlighting a lighthearted spirit of desire that the harmonies convey in their own whimsy. This is the type of songwriting that makes me extremely happy; it’s intricate and advanced all while feeling comforting. It’s beautiful and well worth the feature.