Three new folk pop tracks that will have you easing back into your chair with total chill vibes

Jane Symmes – “Hollow”
-There’s something inherently cathartic about this song. It is calming right from the start, with an acoustic guitar that captures the listener’s attention right away. The vocal is perfect in the mid range, allowing the listener to connect with the meaning of the lyrics. There’s an invitation at the heart of the song, “won’t you come and feel what I’m feeling?” It’s a song that feels like it has a spiritual subtext that, if you catch it, is really soulfully enriching. I appreciate the art of both the instrumentation as well as the songwriting here. This one is a folk pop treat.

J. Moriarity – “Waste My Mind”
-There’s probably a technical term for the style of strumming in the opening of this track, but I’m not sure what to call it. Yet it sets such a bouncy, delightful energy for the rest of the track. The horns are a nice, unexpected highlight here. The vocal fills out the track. The lyrical message about spending time with someone that you “let” waste your time and your mind feels genuine and engaging. It strikes me that this could be about a person or… um… let’s just say a “substance” or other “commitment” of sorts. I appreciate the layered group vocals, particularly how they command the attention of the listener.

Isla Byrne – “Save Me When It Hurts”
-If I only had one word to describe this track, I’d say “bright.” Since I make the rules for how many words I get, I’m going to write a lot more than that. It’s bright… bouncy… enjoyable… comfortable… and definitely has this familiar accessibility. It’s like listening to an old friend share a secret. I generally try to come up with my own interpretation of lyrics, but I was stuck on this one so I peeked at the PR copy and learned that the song is about her twin who struggles with chronic illness. Once I read that, the song became even more wonderful and magical. There’s so much love at the heart of the track and now that I better understand the direction of that love, I am even more enamored with the inherent optimism and hope in the musical content. This is a gem; give it a spin.