Three folk tunes that feel like they’re from another time (in the best way)

Hills of Belgium – “Diamond Joe”
-When I first heard this track, I was instantly interested in hearing more. The sound is fluid and engaging, the strings all rolling together nicely. I appreciate the quality of the lead vocal as it balances with the strings. The fiddle work has classic energy to it, creating this sense of connection with classic Americana elements like mountain and southern music. I appreciate that the lyrics have this heartfelt sentimentality with characters the listener doesn’t fully know but can relate to. This is a wonderful example of a modern version of traditional folk music and the performance execution is outstanding.

Taylor Kopp – “The Orchard”
-The acoustic guitar on this track is outstanding and caught my attention on first listen. Once the vocal enters the track, though, there’s a whole other level of goodness. It’s a light, almost-whispered vocal style that creates a sense of depth and intimacy. Once the duo vocal enters (with a killer steel guitar), the song feels like it moves into even more special air. To be honest, this is exactly the energy I want in early 2025. I’m not hard charging toward some big change, but I do want to “keep movin’ on.” It’s contemplative and careful, measured and sincere. This is a great piece of songwriting that connects in my bones.

Matthew McNeal – “Dropped the Ball”
-There’s a cool Americana energy to this song that is evident right from the beginning. I’ll be honest – the steel guitar is carrying a lot of weight here – it creates a sense of depth to the song that makes it go from a pretty standard folk song to something that feels heavier. There’s an emotional energy to the song that definitely makes it worth leaning into as a listener. The lead vocal is solid, creating an approachable sound that the listener can connect with in each line. This is the type of accessible Americana songwriting that I gravitate towards and am happy to support here. Sit at the feet of this storyteller and connect; it’s worth it.