Three outstanding new Indie Folk tracks that you’ll want for the top of your playlist

Livingmore – “Sweet Louise” (Dawn Hummer cover)
-I’ve been writing about folk music for a decade and a half now, and honestly Livingmore could hang with the absolute best of the best folk duos we’ve featured (this includes the Civil Wars, Mandolin Orange, etc.). This is a delightful track that, honestly, had it not been labeled as such I would not have realized was a cover. The harmonies win the day for me on this one, beautifully accessible and almost makes you want to sing along… but then you realize it’s so good, you don’t want to mess it up so you just swoon while listening. I have to say the “good times, friends and family” line reminds me of my own “around the piano” upbringing. I don’t know if we as a society will ever get back to that era, but I love the juicy nostalgia of both the composition and lyrics here. This is a joyous trip down memory lane.

Daniel Del Russo – “Am I Fine”
-There’s a calm, engaging energy to this track that captured my attention right away. The easiest comparison here for me is probably someone like City and Colour. That said, Daniel Del Russo’s softspoken vocal style is about capturing the intimacy of the song, the delicious delicate style invites the listener to stop everything and focus in. The line about not knowing if something is divine leading to the titular lyrical question… “am I fine?” I love the rumination here. It’s introspective and meaning-making. This is high art as far as I’m concerned. The instrumentation feels traditional and charming, yet it brings for these contemporary production elements to create a meaningful modern sound with parallel contemporaneous existential questions. This is definitely “I’m going to need to listen a few more times” on this one… and honestly, even after several listens you’ll still find yourself connecting with a new detail. This is a really rich piece of art.

Wild Mountain Time – “On this white day”
-I sit here in northeast Ohio writing as it literally snows outside. I could not be in a more picturesque situation to listen to and feel this song. The delicate lead vocal here is perfect for expressing the sentiments of a calm snow. There’s a unique acoustic element here that leads to the shifting time signatures. To be honest, it feels as much like a poetry reading (with a lovely voice) and accompaniment as it does a “song.” I mean that as a sincere compliment, by the way. There’s something about the gentle, sparce arrangement here that works perfectly for the message of the song. It’s about sitting by the window (or the fire, or both) and looking out into the snow. It can be a storm; it can damage; it can destroy; but it can also be beautiful. In a world that feels like it’s spinning out of control more often than not, it’s really nice to be reminded of this simple appreciation for the pure white snow.

Image courtesy: Livingmore IG