Three new acoustic folk songs that feel absolutely timeless

Ricky Asch – “town of eternal snow”
-The opening of this song is a gentle acoustic style that I really appreciate, but once the harmonies start this track goes from good to fantastic. There’s something about a subtle harmony that resonates so well here. The lyrical concept is about trying to motivate yourself to go somewhere that feels cold and unwelcoming. There’s an atmospheric energy to this recording that’s a bit more cinematic than much of the gritty narrative folk we usually feature, but the harmonies definitely won me over on this one. It’s like a breath of fresh air (in the midst of a long winter of “eternal snow” this is quite welcome).

Bryse Taylor – “forever already”
-I’ve been a sucker for a good acoustic fingerpicking song for a while now, but Taylor definitely caught my attention with this one. Imagine a storytelling folkster like Joe Purdy, but then bring in a soft atmospheric element for texture (like Sleeping at Last). The combination is wonderful, sitting right between traditional and timeless stylings. I appreciate the simplicity of asking someone to just be kind. Far too often in life we make things more complicated, but we all just want to be treated with kindness. This song feels like sitting around a fire with good friends, agreeing to be kind to one another… to share in a few laughs and make the most of it. The fingerpicking is outstanding.

Luna Keller – “Don’t Kill the Butterfly”
-I’ve written about Luna Keller in the past, so I was familiar with the name in the submission queue. But goodness, this track stopped me in my tracks. Keller’s vocal is captivating and attention grabbing. The cathartic strings set more of a cinematic style for this piece, making it feel more like an orchestral folk song than traditional. But you know what? It works well. The lyrical concept “don’t let me live this life in fear” is so powerful and worth contemplation. These lyrics require multiple listens and I bet even if you listen ten times you’ll still catch something new on the eleventh listen. Ultimately it’s about enduring the trials to get to the payoffs (becoming the butterfly). This is a calm, sweet, introspective call to perseverance and an appreciation of beauty.