The otherworldly voice of Vintz Desert conjures metaphysical interpretations. This is the voice of angels. That instinctual impervious croon that set apart icons like Jeff Buckley and Tracy Chapman.
On his new single Enemy, Vintz splits singing duties with the smoky Laura Lucas. The combination is intoxicating, as the two vibrant singers compliment eachothers strongest features. On the opening section Vintz sings alone, as a picked guitar responds to his vocal cues. The dynamic features of the guitar brings a lively, authentic feel. Beautifully played, it’s as if Vintz is sitting next to you. The sacred aura of the opening section recalls works by Mustafa and Bon Iver.
In the song’s second section, Vintz introduces Lucas, and upon her arriving a new tonal musical palette. As the voices start to interweve, the vibe recalls works by Damien Rice and Sharon Van Etten. This mid song transition turns Enemy cinematic. Anthemic toms add to the drama, as Enemy builds to an uplifting close. From pouring his pain to suggesting a sense of hope, it’s true to the songs attention. About the songs meaning, Vintz shares that “It tells a story about wanting to wait on loving someone until you are the best version of yourself that you can be.” For the dejected lover, at first the sentiment is hard to accept, but in the end if it was meant to be, these trials will make you stronger. A wise tale from an exciting emerging storyteller.
Enjoy Enemy now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
Seattle based songwriter Connor Desai has a lot to say. The industrial PA native has experienced the tribulations of USA’s polarizing coasts and communities. She’s absorbed different dichotomy’s of diversity and integration. She’s also experienced the wavering tides of the music industry. She knows it moves fast. After paying her dues for so long, she won flash attention for her cover of Friend of the Devil, when it was featured as the closing song for the popular Sci-fi hit The One. It’s not the first time she’s made a quick splash, having had previous works selected for wide promotional distribution by Sony. Her new single, Some Time Ago, is a retrospective recollection of loves fleeting cost. It recalls the innocence of puppy love, the tribulations of small town formalities, the traditions that haunt an awakened generation.
It admits this puppy love went sour. There’s a tint of regret to this Coal Miner’s lullaby. She knows she’s played into its bodily pleasures. The lyrics suggest a couple bad boys might have brought her down. “Now that he’s cursing you you’re in a fight , You’re cursing out that old hungry girl from last night , Surrendering skin as if you didn’t know, That was Some Time ago.”
It’s not just the lover, but the whole breadth of experience that enables Desai to deliver this genuine. Some of it can be attributed to the trials of a music career, the plight of an artist chasing that industry gold. Desai has the real world credo to keep it honest. She can draw similarities to those initial offerings from Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile, before fame intercepted their small town appeal. She counts Joni Mitchell as an influence, and her vibe rings with Laurel Canyon charm and soft touch. Desai’s careful voice lands every note lightly upon your ears, her timbre rich in assurance and warmth. There’s a hint of southern twang to this Pennsylvania Princess, an inclination towards ancestral folk and working people’s music. Some Time Ago is simple, charming, and elegant. A Math teacher by trade, she’s factored the sunk cost, it’s water under the bridge. Might as well keep going, it’s in the journey that we find love.
Enjoy Some Time Ago now on our Emerging Folk Playlist.
Multi-instrumentalist boci returns with Time Weaver. Following up the impressive design of The Garden, the innovative artist confirms a penchant for dynamic arrangements. An exceptional violinist, she reimagines it’s utility in pop. She could draw comparisons to Andrew Bird in how she employs this classic instrument, but boci brings something more. There’s an inclination towards chill-pop and psychedelia thats’ both catchy and dreamy.
Her virtuoso level talent lifts her creative songwriting, proficient vocals, and fantastic instrumentation. Her sweet vocal affect is the first cue to draw you into Time Weaver. As it progresses, you’re immersed in the intricate evolving arrangement. Percussive crisp layers lightly dipped in reverb ring with character and the sonic appeal of acts like Fleet Foxes and Local Natives.
boci also employs uncommon tempo pickups swiftly. Though they are not the standard in pop she delivers them smoothly, retaining Time Weaver’s approachable presence. A bright experimental offering, there’s enough familiarity and pop to give boci wide appeal. She could satisfy both elite critical hipsters and more passive light listeners. In essence boci is NPR gold, World Cafe ready with her combination of innovation and captivating songwriting. The second single offering in anticipation of a full release due out this Summer, boci is worth the buzz.
Enjoy Time Weaver now on our Emerging Folk playlist.
Prolific Middlesbrough based songwriter Scott Lloyd returns with Waterlands. The expansive 11 song release shows Lloyd’s eclectic iterations. Always evolving while staying within his trademark sound, nothing sounds alike but everything fits together nicely. There are flashes of indie pop, but Lloyd’s acoustic is always at the foundation of this design. It can be expressive, as on Skylarks. It can be flowing, like on In The Water, or the Neil Young esque California. Lloyd also shows a classic pop folk vibe, in the spirt of Simon and Garfunkel, like on Old Scrapbook.
11 strong releases that all hit different. It’s the kind of release where everybody’s got a different favorite track. Scott presents a masterclass on his musical stylings. A hopeless romantic, in touch with the perplexities of our trivial existence, wanting something more out of life.
There is one tune, that specifically grabs us. Lyrically, it refers to our foundings and how we came to the name The Wild Is Calling. On Miss You Dearly, Lloyd gets painfully honest about the plight of being an artist in the music industry today. “I feel for all those bands out there, the young and proud without a care, but when the strain and stress of success is forced upon them it’s the need to impress, it cuts you deeply down inside, when they aim to high…”. A song for the wild ones, for us Miss You Dearly hits all the right notes. Lloyd is energized. He’s sure of this tale and how he’s delivering it. A relatable gem for anyone who’s ever been in a band and chased stardom. True to form Lloyd offers it like a romantic tragedy. It recalls classic cuts by The Smiths and Billy Joel, tweaking that swinging 50s vibe with a modern hip aesthetic.
Enjoy all of Waterlands, get started with Miss You Dearly now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
The Wild Is Calling 