Three new indie folk artists that you’ll want to follow as they rise up the charts

Daniel Del Russo – “Holding Onto Hope”
-This is a delightful, charming piece of songwriting. The acoustic guitar holds a wonderful energy that is both welcoming and feels like you should sit back and just listen. Something about the thumping rhythmic structure that propels the song along, while simultaneously comforting the listener. The string work creates interesting textures to keep the listener smiling. The chord change on the chorus feels satisfying, creating that bit of uniqueness for the song to stand out. If you’ve ever been holding out hope to be with someone, while simultaneously feeling “off kilter” trying to wait… well, then, this song is for you. It’s a relatable little folk tune that I hope you’ll share with your friends.

Jessica Dives – “The Wind Phone”
-There’s something about that little high pitched inflection on “called” in the first line that caught my attention right away. With jazzy singers like Laufey and Olivia Dean flying up the charts in the 21st century, I’d say Jessica Dives deserves to be on some of those lists as well. There’s a honeyed style to Dives’ vocal tone that is absolutely outstanding. The sparing composition style on this track really makes it remarkable as well; in a world with layers and layers of production, it’s nice to hear a pure vocal and some mood-setting strings. This is such a breath of fresh air in the contemporary music landscape, I think if it gets some supporters (that’s you!), it could really catch traction and fly up the charts. This is what timelessness sounds like.

Allison Leah – “I didn’t know I was growing up”
-I spend a lot of time personally thinking about those college years. They were beyond formative for me; there was so much that had to happen from leaving, to becoming, then launching out on my own. This is ultimately a song about leaving, about looking back on a life stage that was so thoroughly defined by a relationship that has changed forever. It’s wonderfully evocative and soothing in equal measure. Allison Leah’s vocal is accessible, comforting, and engaging. The layers of development that are evident in each verse shows someone who has lived this experience. This is more than just a folk tune; this is autobiography in art, and there’s a great deal of truth telling here. Many listeners in the indie folk and indie pop world are going to latch onto Leah’s incredible work. Find her, follow her, and embrace this captivating song.

Image courtesy: Jessica Dives IG