Indie-alt trio Rowe has been winning praise for their new single Apple. Selected as the ‘Upload of the Week’ from BBC introducing, the coming of age single was born out of a youthful sentiment. The songwriter admits “When I was little I always believed that if you swallowed an appleseed you would grow into a tree, I thought if I could grow into a tree, maybe I would feel a little more useful.”
Apple is an anthem for womb-owners everywhere. Raised in a society that wants them to believe there our limitations placed on their assigned bodies, so that they can keep them in systematic prison, Rowe is lending their voice to a growing movement ready to destroy these misconceptions. No more waiting, no more talking, the time is now to make a change.
Rowe joins a group of burgeoning songwriters like Girlhouse, who bring wholesome sad girl vibes in an alt-folk package that prefers a clean electric to a glittery acoustic. They leave an opportunity to flesh these songs out live, and the full band flow of Apple is reminiscent to My Morning Jackets early slow jams from At Dawn and It Still Moves, as well as the minimalist heart of Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago.
The song itself is a lyrical gem, revolving that youthful sentiment with elegant prose. However, it’s the songwriters infectious vocal abilities that steal the show. Her signature treble charms above the musical landscape as she masterfully pours emotion into her melodies and hangs notes to match the echoing fades.
The songs middle section, with building toms and syncopated rhythms beneath an echo drenched vocal, recall indie elite all girl band Warpaint. The ethereal cinematic dreamscape progresses through the songs outro movement, as Rowe descends deeper into their dreamworld, following the battle cry of the trumpet as it leads them farther into the musical abyss.
Enjoy Apple now on our Emerging Folk playlist.
London songwriter Ricky Damiano who performs as Mock Deer is an indie folk troubadour, bringing interesting movements with emotive affect to his local folk and fest scene. His new single Human Code shows two sides of the songwriter, an introspective finger picking truth seeker and a soulful strumming romantic. Like David Gray, he knows how to utilize the raspier elements of his voice, dipping into every shade of his melodic palette with an emotional, believable delivery.
His tasteful production brings subtle atmosphere and color as it is all there to lift that sacred relationship between his words and his guitar. He poetically employs backing vocals, wind instruments, and strings to bring Human Code to fruition. Simple and elegant, like one solitaire diamond to ask for your hand.
The alternating finger picking parts recall the classic folk of chord masters like John Prine who knew how to pick their way into our hearts, dripping a wide spectrum of melody from a simple six string, letting their voices lead the listener on an introspective journey through song. Lyrically the songwriter is charming and wholesome, asking the questions, pondering the answers, and dropping wisdom. He recognizes that these painful truths demand a proper pleading, and he delivers in every alternating strummed movement.
“Days get shorter now, and not just because the sun goes down, in the end time takes its toll on you, and always wins.”
An’t it the truth.
Enjoy Human Code, now on our Emerging Folk playlist.
American songwriter Joe Pope recently released a tribute to a late friend, Alicia’s Song. A small town girl who knew how to keep it fun, skipping school and sipping pop, kicking back with the boys and never taking life too seriously. But as it often does the good times caught up and Alicia was gone too soon.
Lyrically, Alicia’s Song has the nostalgic feeling of a John Cougar Mellencamp classic. Like Mellencamp, Pope documents the precious details of our experience, quick fleeting moments too often overlooked. They are the subtle details that shape who we are, give us compassion and connect us to each other.
There’s an early 90s aura to Alicia’s song, as Pope brings a clever conceptual tribute to this 90s girl. The vibe is somewhere between acoustic Guns and Roses and Blind Melon. It’s more about the chords and production and not so much a testament to his voice, which is more relaxed and easy flowing. It’s the new classic feel, the one we’re just getting used to, as the 70s music we grew up with is truly ancient and the 80s and 90s are now 25+ years behind us. Everything that was old is new again, and the 90s will be the next era to make a big comeback.
Alicia’s Song is dipped in a nice helping of Americana, and after all, this story recalls the small town American experience. We’ve all known a few Alicia’s along the way, someone to connect this story to, as images of bygone friends invade our thoughts as we follow Joe’s voice through the story of our lives.
Enjoy Alicia’s Song, now on our Emerging Folk playlist.
Songwriter Mark Ferris and his project For Tuesday teamed up with singer Emorie on the heartfelt new single Grow This Garden. Ferris found his songwriting itch out of an affinity for experimentation with layered short form recording, using modern tools such as synths and guitar pedals to create musical atmospheres and push the boundaries of his home studio. The measured creative practice inspired an appetite for songs, as For Tuesday brings big atmosphere to a simple indie folk foundation.
It’s all about providing a proper tribute to a true community gem, a local do-gooder who devotes his life to making the world in front of him a better place. The song reflects his daily practice of managing his community garden, a selfless act that offers no pay, but uplifts the hearts of its people and provides nourishment to a compromised food desert.
Staying true to his selflessness, Ferris mantains his anonymity, but graces us with his hymnal in the songs outro movement.
In a world that celebrates negativity and hate, its important to lift up real honest folk, to aspire to be something true, to commit to the world in front of you over the trap of the internet. Ferris is a truth seeker, committed to his spirituality, and allowing his musical gifts to enrich his spiritual quest.
Grow This Garden has that sacred feel good folk appeal of artists like Darlingside, who bring the classic feel of folk into a new atmospheric indie era. They do it with interesting songwriting and a fresh take on how melody can move you. You walk away from a Darlingside concert feeling refreshed, and For Tuesday should bring that same aura to his live performance. Emorie adds a nice melodic touch to bring this sentiment full circle, a strong collab from the budding young artists.
Enjoy Grow This Garden now on our Emerging Folk playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 