Four tracks we found on the submission platform Groover that we’d like to share

Tiny Cities – “Body Cast”
-There’s a chill folk energy to this track that made it jump off the page right away. The easy going sway pulls the listener in for a relaxing style. Once the layered vocal enters the track, it feels accessible and engaging. The overall vibe fits with the 21st century folk style, allowing the listener to melt into the recording and the sound. There’s something about the charm of the main melodic lick that feels satisfying every time it rolls through the sound.

Emma Rose – “Salt House”
-There’s a cathartic energy to this track that made it stand out right away. The easy going vocal style is endearing and inviting. It feels like sitting down with a friend to enjoy a cup of coffee. Rose writes with a style that feels comfortable yet still requires that the listener lean in to connect. It’s difficult to come up with an easy comp for this sound because it feels quite familiar, yet the ready comparisons of artists like early Taylor Swift just don’t seem quite right. The comparison that I’ll make for tried and true fans of ETTG is the artist Jordan Whitmore. Give this one a spin and feel that careful connection at the heart of the lyrics… and thank me later.

Alex Bergan – “This Ain’t Everything”
-When I first heard this song, I immediately thought of the comparison with David Ramirez. Imagine my surprise when Bergan sent me a message explaining that he’s friends with Ramirez! What a small world! There must be something in the water there. Nevertheless, let’s talk about this track on its own merits. It has a careful, understated folk energy that gives just a perfect amount of moodiness. The lyrics have a wonderful, expressive, and detailed element to them that brings the story to life. Cliches like “running out of road” and “landing on your feet” are rolled into a cohesive narrative about how life, or at least the limited strictures we’re taught to follow, are not the sum total of human existence. Like the Ramirez comp, Bergan writes thoughtfully about the aspects of life that remind us that there’s a spiritual layer to our existence. Sit back and take this one in slowly.

Crawford Mack – “Back from the Brink”
-There’s a dynamic folk energy to this track that I really admire. The overall style here has mysterious elements that give it a strong energy. I appreciate the way the electric guitars provide backing energy, while also create the visceral tension that propels the song forward. The expressive vocal is impressive, a definite calling card for Mack’s style. If you’re looking for a style of folk music that incorporates indie rock and more experimental recent genres, definitely give this a spin. I’m going to go out on a limb with the comparison here and mentioned an artist named Alexander Wolfe, who I absolutely loved a few years ago. If you liked my coverage of Wolfe’s track “Mock Turtle’s Lament,” you will enjoy this track “Back from the Brink” by Crawford Mack.