Three beautiful new Indie Folk songs that will catch your breath and win your attention

Heather Bond – “Get Out of Bed”
-For some folks, the act of getting out of bed doesn’t really seem like the most challenging part of the day. But for some, with debilitating attacks of depression or anxiety, some of what seems like the most basic aspects of life can seem like the most difficult things in the world. This song is an encouragement through that. I admire the sincerity and detail in this recording. Even if you can’t relate to this song personally, perhaps you know someone who struggles with these types of challenges in their life. My favorite lyric is the soaring, “there’s no need to explain anything to anyone.” Amen to that. This is a song all about tenderness, warmth, and connection. If everything’s too hard… just… get out of bed. What an incredible piece of songwriting.

Anna Tivel – “Saint of Scrap Metal”
-Anna Tivel is one of the artists that I compare other emerging artists to, so it always feels a bit surreal to receive submissions from her new music. As usual, this song has a literary heart that makes me take my time and lean in. It’s almost poetry with instruments behind it, demanding that the listener engage with the spirit of each character and mood presented. The rhythm and tempo on this one (feels like 6/8?) introduces a sway while the clinking sounds in the background (the banging of scrap metal, I surmise) gives it a percussive and almost industrial energy. The mix of beautiful melodic elements with disjointed experimental elements makes it feel more like a piece of audio art more than a simple folk song. The lyrical concept of the “cradle of dreams” in this song feels like something we could sit around and debate in a college course; maybe musicology students will some day.

Emily Coulson – “Me and My Universe”
-There’s a soft spoken sincerity to Emily Coulson’s vocal that captures my attention with every listen. I appreciate that this song is in no rush, urging the listener to lean in and listen close. If you’re a fan of acoustic songwriters with a folk center and a storyteller’s careful pacing, definitely consider this track. Coulson’s vocal doesn’t project or shout; there’s no hollering here. This is delicate and almost prayerful in the way that it describes what it’s like being “never alone.” There’s a spiritual sentiment about being constantly around life. What starts off feeling like a soft and gentle folk tune ends up being an existential contemplative piece about how we all fit together in the universe. It’s a wonderful, thoughtful, and truly present piece of writing. Don’t just listen, you should feel this one.