Three folk pop tracks that will brighten your weekend

Alex Siegel – “My True Friend”
-If you’re looking for a subtle, easy going bit of folk songwriting, definitely cozy up next to this track from Alex Siegel. The opening lines are good, but honestly for me it’s the layered vocal on the second section that really feels amazing. The harmonies of those layered vocals are so delightful they make the song for me. If you’ve ever had a friend that you can not see for a while, then when you do it’s like you never left… then this song will resonate with you. There’s something delightfully accessible about the song’s construction and overall energy. It feels comfortable in the best way and the sway on the chorus (especially the second half of the track) is quintessential folk pop.

Cole Swensen – “Learning To”
-This is a song about finding yourself. Sometimes I reflect on the era of “finding myself” as somehow being in my 20s… but in reality, I think I re-find myself over and over again. Seasons of life bring so many opportunities to learn again. This song has a delightful folk pop energy from the instrumentation (we hear that cello, Judy!) to the characteristic vocal. It all blends together for something deeply satisfying. Even the subtle guitar break at the 1:55 mark does a nice job of staging the next section of the track. The layered vocal harmonies on certain, pointed lines, makes the song feel mature and textured. I’ve been a fan of Swensen for a few years now and, as hard as it is for me to believe, he’s actually getting better. This is a great tune.

Ruby Winter – “Locations”
-When I say that a song is “genre-defying,” I mean that as an absolute compliment. People like bloggers like to easily categorize music… but art is art. It is what it is. Ruby Winter’s songwriting is outstanding. There’s something about this song that combines folksy romantic storytelling alongside something that feels almost twee in its sonic blending in the opening. So… let’s just make a compromise here and call it folk pop. Winter’s vocal cuts through really well, providing a clarity that’s easy to follow. The vocal harmony brings a texture that reminds me of early career Nickel Creek vocals. The whole composition comes together for a sound that feels like it matures through the track itself; it’s about the innocent way in which we enter into a relationship, then by the end there are layers of complexity (good and bad) that have completely redefined us. How can this just… end? Great question. This is a song with layers in the writing, the vocals, and the instrumentation. Give it a spin and be impressed.

Image courtesy: Ruby Winter IG