Three exciting new folk pop tracks to get your week off to a good start

Zach Collester – “October”
-I can’t exactly explain why, but something about this song feels like the late 2000-0s. It’s got this hint of emo that reminds me of a lot of songs that were popular in that era. Beyond that, though, there’s this chill understated element to the vocal that works well with the mood of the track. The lyrical message is about how October “hangs in the air,” and as we move rapidly toward September I have to say that I can definitely relate to the sentiment. The overall percussive beat and chill groove reminds me of that time period, but it definitely has a fresh style that’s worth exploring in the 2020s as well.

Ava June – “Hundred Bucks”
-If you were going to listen to this song casually in the background, I would challenge you to stop and listen carefully. It’s about going to see a band you don’t really like just to be with a friend (with an unrequited love situation), but it costs a hundred dollars. “Tonight kind of sucks because we’re just friends and I’m short a hundred bucks.” What a concept! This is definitely a great song with a charming sentiment. There’s an understated clarinet part in the background that gives it just the right kind of delicate in a Dodie Clark sort of way. If you’re into the Dodie and Tessa Violet style of pop music, you’ll love this one.

Isaac Stalling – “Dusty”
-I don’t think there really is a genre for this song, and I’m absolutely here for it. Of course there’s a folksy sentiment in the composition pacing, but sonically it has elements of Americana, distorted alt rock vibes, and a whole other sound that I struggle to describe… but it’s sort of like emotionally moving folk with some dark edges. Anyways, let’s not get bogged down in that, because this is a fascinating tune. The steel guitar (or is that a slide on a regular electric?) is an ominous and effective instrument that takes center stage here. The sound reminds me of the melancholy that I haven’t felt since Dylan LeBlanc. Stalling writes with a style that feels just the right amount of heavy, angsty, and frustrated. One more quick comp I’ll throw out there is a guy named Evan Bartels that I featured a few years back. This one is worth sitting down and listening carefully; it’s a whole mood.