Three brand new folk singer songwriters to add to your May playlists

Imogen Clark – “Squinters”
-If you’re a fan of relaxed folk singer songwriters, definitely click play on this one. I appreciate the delicate balance between the guitar, vocal, and soft strings (sounds almost like a harp?) in the background. It’s a light and inspiring sound. There’s even a subtle organ part creating some additional depth. The lyrical theme is about being “stuck” as a result of mistakes made in the past, yet the line about a “soul full of splinters” really feels like the main message of the song. We are more than our circumstances, but this song shows how those things directly influence the way we perceive our life experience. It’s sweet in instrumentation and melody, yet heavy lyrically and emotionally.

Amelie Lucille – “Piece of You”
-It’s impossible for me to listen to this type of acoustic singersongwriter without making at least a slight hat-tip to Joni Mitchell. The funny thing is, I didn’t grow up on Mitchell but I grew up on people influenced by her songwriting. There’s a gritty emotionalism to Lucille’s songwriting here, “after all you put me through” that feels just right. The stripped down acoustic guitar work ushers in believable, meaningful lines. Lucille captures some of the rawness that I’ve always loved from artists like Noah Gundersen or Jeffrey Martin. I appreciate the depth and sincerity from Amelie Lucille here. Her talent is the type that is going to continue to emerge with these reflective, deep songs. The heartbreak is evident in each line and it’s relatable. The hopeful orchestral crescendo, “…we’re not the people we used to be…” is sort of a life verse for me in this life stage… so this one resonates more than I care to admit.

CLOVER – “Anymore”
-I am always a fan of a good piano tune, especially if it has just enough space to allow the listener to connect and a killer lead vocal, which this has. I’m not sure why, but in those little pauses I often find myself getting chills. This track does that for me. The chord work here is really satisfying, giving cues for the lyrics to sit atop the chords like birds on a tree branch. This isn’t a love song about falling in love, but rather a song about falling out of love with someone. It’s different than a heartbreak song or a breakup song. This is about the feeling of it being “one big mistake” and wanting to find a way to move on. This is a powerful sentiment. The intonation and overall style reminds me of Maggie Rogers, and frankly, that’s about the highest praise I can give a folksy singer songwriter in 2025.

Image courtesy: Imogen Clark FB