Introducing a pair of wonderful new FOLK POP songs you’ll want to play on repeat

Savanna Leigh and Bertie Newman – “what’s not mine”
-The acoustic guitar on this song does a nice job of providing the base, but it’s really the delicate vocals that work to convey the song’s main message. I appreciate the way the two aspects, both the instrumentation and the vocals, weave themselves together for something truly special. The vocal harmonies remind me of many other folk duos we’ve featured in the past, but it’s nice to know this tradition is still alive. Both vocalists are able to express equal levels of vulnerability and connection, which makes the two together stronger than each separately. It’s ultimately a song about unrequited love (or, at least, a love that has run its course). It’s amazing how music like this can connect with my spirit in the present, while also transporting me back in time to a life stage where I felt so many of these emotions in a deep and visceral way. This is an outstanding performance from two promising new artists.

Cole Swensen – “just human”
-So Cole Swensen is an emerging talent that I had a chance to interview last year and feature many times since. His songwriting has this magical energy to it that seems to transcend time and space. He gained popularity with his time on America’s Got Talent. We’re now in his “after the show” stage and I’m happy to report that his writing is just as good as its ever been. This track features the tenderness that made thousands fall for his sound on the show. There’s a vulnerability in the lyrical style here that is consistent with the acoustic guitar work and layered vocals. To be able to combine lyrics about “holding pieces” from a broken relationship with such delicate compositional detail… it just gives the song incredible continuity. I really appreciate this type of folk songwriting and Swensen’s vocal goes to great lengths to convey the gentleness at the heart of the track. “Sometimes you love them and you lose them…” Amen to that, my friend.