Three brand new indie folk tunes to help you settle into a great weekend

Daniel Asher – “never again”
-You’ll notice right from the beginning of this song that Daniel Asher is a vocalist on another level. The whole atmospheric energy feels like contemporary worship music… and when you listen to the lyrics, you’ll hear that it’s actually in that vein. As someone who grew up loving some of the more spiritual tracks from Relient K, I can say I personally connect with this track. In the middle of writing this review, I stopped to share the link with a few friends who I know will connect with the it as well. The spirited lyrics are about the feeling of being rescued by a Redeemer. For people who don’t like worship music that feels super churchy, this track might be for you. The emphasis is on personal transformation via the redeeming work of the Savior rather than a preachy message. It’s definitely one that stood out to me in a good way.

Morning Verses – “Many Loves”
-If you’re a fan of acoustic guitar work, definitely check out this track from Morning Verses. There’s a cathartic acoustic element that eases the listener in, then the balanced vocal does a nice job of sharing expressive lines. There’s a central apologetic tone about “Many Loves” that didn’t work out. It’s such a charming concept about how someone may love you and show it differently than you are ready to feel or understand. The older I get, the more I can relate to this sentiment. Honestly, I could sit down in a coffeeshop and talk for hours about all of the insights I feel from this track. I also have a pretty decent list of people I should apologize to, also. I love that the song hits on an immediate “sweet folk” level, but then there’s this deeper soulful aspect that’s wonderful as well. This is not your average hand clappy folk music, but it’s really a wonderful and captivating experience.

Jaidyn Hurst – “Stranger to Me”
-This is an acoustic folk song that feels pretty straightforward initially, but once you get to the chorus it really opens up into a folk pop anthem that works really well. I can’t help but think of pop folksy country artists in the vein of Sheryl Crow when I listen to a track like this. Hurst writes with a tone of openness and sincerity, talking about a breakup that maybe shouldn’t have happened. It’s the retrospective, reflective tone about not only what could have been, but what maybe could still be. I like how the song focuses on the fact that relationships are in constant flux; it’s not like the decision has to be final. The optimism in the voice, the great chord choices, and the overall vibrancy of the melodic choices make this one an instant feel-good and emotionally rich reflective song, even with the anthemic sonic styling.