Three energetic folk singer songwriters for fans of Hozier and Noah Kahan

Eric Kane – “right by my side”
-There’s a magnetic energy to this track that spoke to me right at first listen. Something about the vocal quality feels like you’ve been listening to Kane for years, even if this is your first time clicking play. The upbeat style feels like walking on coals, bringing heat and momentum to each step. The lines about feeling soulful intertwining is about a relationship that goes beyond the temporal, beyond the immediately physical. I appreciate the balance of existential desire with this burning, passionate style of romantic connection. If you’ve ever fallen deeply and passionately in love, this song will definitely resonate. From an instrumental and musical perspective, I love the blending of the strings (especially the banjo as it cuts through) for a raucous folk sound that echoes the exuberance of the songwriting. This is a great tune!

Fison – “Daughter of a Good Man”
-There’s an understated style to the effect on the vocal here that I absolutely adore. The electric guitars feel really good here, allowing the listener to lean in and connect with the vocal and lyrical work. The whole vibe of the track feels like it takes the best of contemporary folk rock and blends it with some of the production elements of indie alt rock. The end result is a song that feels just the right amount off the beaten path, but with this wrinkle of curiosity. I’m not a lyrical expert, but I think this is about a father who did all the right outward things but was functionally absent. That’s a really heavy and meaningful theme to develop, which may elicit some quite powerful emotional responses. I appreciate how the melancholy aspect of the vocal is complimented by the spirited energy; he could have been there, but he wasn’t. It’s not a lament so much as it is an expression of the pain. This is one to sit with, for sure.

Zach Seabaugh – “Eastern Time”
-If you’re looking for a track that brings together great storytelling with electric-guitar fueled folk rock, definitely click play on this one. The lyrical focus is about someone across the country who occupies a big part of his heart. The melodic structure is outstanding on this song… I’m talking “should be top 40” quality of writing here. The performance is also wonderful. This is the kind of song that I really wish could make it to the top of the charts; I genuinely think this track could play alongside Hozier, Teddy Swims, Noah Kahan, and many others these days. Everything from the guitars to the piano to the lyrical charm all work together for an expressive, relatable track. It’s not clear if he’s trying to get away from this person or get back to this person, but either way it’s a story of distance and figuring out the complexity of a broken relationship. For me, the genre-bending style with the charming melody makes this one resonate. I hope to get a hat tip when it breaks the top 40.