Three tracks at the intersection of folk and pop that will bring you peace

Cole Swensen – “Just You and Me”
-I’ve been writing about Cole Swensen a good bit in the past year, including an artist interview. If you click play on this song, you’ll hear more of what I like so much about this talented artist. The song has a beautiful sentimentality to it. It’s about a relationship, the difficulties of working out what it means to be together. It’s about balancing needs and distance and complex communication. But at the end of the day, romance and connection is worth it; it’s an integral part of what it means to be human. “You push me through days where I can’t find a reason…” Amen to that. It’s a wonderful song with acoustic guitar, strings, and sincere vocals that all make for a placid listening experience.

Blue Robin – “Persephone”
-Maybe it’s the old humanities teacher in me, but I am always a sucker for a good classical reference. The line “take me to the underworld” is both spiritually loaded and unsettlingly sensual. There’s something about the mood of this track that is both peaceful and… challenging (?). Okay this is turning into a diary entry. Anyways, I adore the expressive style here and the sensual mood cultivated throughout this track. It’s got to be one of the better uses of electric guitars and emotional space that I’ve heard in recent years. If you’re a fan of a smoke-filled room style of romantic singer songwriters, then definitely put this track on and see where it takes you. It’s not out of touch for me to say “for fans of” Billie Eilish.

Pilar Pimenta – “Panicking Crazy”
-I appreciate the calm acoustic guitar work here and the chill vocal style. I’m not sure if there’s a fancy musicology word for this type of rhythm, but I appreciate the sense of swing that the track has. It feels like a good folk tune with a quality vocal to my ears. The line about memorizing our memories really stood out for me because in many ways that what makes a connection worthwhile; if you remember someone fondly, as if the moment is memorized, then that’s true meaning. This track has some unique production elements and a true blend of pop and folk elements to create an emotional mood that feels like a culmination of significant elements. It’s a joy to listen to, so give it a spin.

Image courtesy: Blue Robin IG