Prints of Monaco shines on their new single What You Left There. Kicking off with a slick sweet guitar riff and intoxicating tempo, the music gives way to the artists soft patient voice. A atmospheric pedal steel roams underneath, bringing a subtle dreamy texture to this measured design.
The soft vocal and sad boy appeal recalls vintage vibes from Elliot Smith but treated with an indie sensibility known to artists like Sufjan Stevens and Darlingside. There’s also a hint of classic country behind this indie folk mirage. The subtle production of pedal steel, trumpet, and harmonies give the new single minimalist charm. Every contribution really adds a wanted element that enhances the release.
Altogether a strong arrangement, the highlight of the new single are thoughtful variations and strum alterations within the guitar pattern. It’s the kind of part that draws curious listeners to pick up the instrument, as expressive picking and tonal embellishments elevate the melodic chord design. The artist reveals virtuoso folk potential unheard on past releases. Prints of Monaco has been on our radar for a while and What You Left There is his strongest release yet. Only his 5th single release, it shows an evolution to his style and sonic design that best suits his indie folk leanings.
Enjoy What You Left There now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
Get lost in the blissful piano and vocal performance that is something never said, the new single from songwriter Dom Malin. The ivories are intoxicating, softly caressed by the artist, Accompanied by his equally tempered voice, the artist approaches cautiously in tandem with the songs lyrical content. The lead protagonist in they song wants to be patient with you, give you a chance to make the decision for yourself. He is sensitive, thoughtful, and bit of a starving romantic. Eager to love but wanting to be wanted, he’s finding out that sometimes you can’t have both. The frustration and desperation is delivered emphatically by the artist in the peak vocal section. This sweet momental burst of energy recalls vocal classic performances by masters who knew to save the drama for the climax of the song.
In some regards Dom Malin could draw similarities to bare piano performances by Charlie Puth, but an indie sensibility. The chord progression is vaguely familiar, but with just the right amount of variation to keep it unique. The could bring Dom mainstream appeal, as the new single should please indie heads and pop music fans alike. Besides, we can all relate with a hopeless love story, the first lesson in romance. No one can really shake off the one that got away, and something never said is the perfect soundtrack to imagine how it might have gone differently, if only you had the words to make it right.
Enjoy something never said now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
Vassilis crafts a dense arrangement on the new single All We Have Is Now. An indie soul with classic sensibility, we hear similarities to shapeshifters like Father John Misty, Badly Drawn Boy, and Beirut. Like them, Vassilis employs his own unique orchestral rock arrangement to accentuate his songwriting. There’s hints of Roy Orbison and Phil Spector, in both the melodic embellishments and the expression in the arrangement. This big rock sound would take a large band to do proper. Experienced in full would be captivating, and produce an immersive sound best experienced LIVE. Vassilis captures it nicely on this energetic studio performance.
All We Have Is Now is catchy. The variation in the chorus sucks you in with dreamy affect. There’s a touch of stylistic theater known to Bowie, as the closing call and response vocal section could just as easily be a show stopper on Broadway.
Produced and mixed by the artist himself, Vassilis is truly a recording artist, creating vast musical worlds with his own signature touch. At the core of the new single is how the artist blends sounds of guitar, piano, flute and ukulele above a grooving drum performance. Paired with his writing style, it’s fair to say that Vassilis has found his sound.
Enjoy All We Have Is Now here on our Emerging Folk Playlist.
Copperstone brings vintage folk vibes on the touching My Old Friend. A tribute to one of the members recently deceased friends, there’s a proper nostalgic underlayer. A classic tale of loyalty and companionship, the song is as much a celebration of their history as it is a homage for a close friend. Packaged in a gorgeous melodic folk package, it’s the ideal song to reminisce to. With the beautiful instrumental closing section, you’re given a chance to recollect on the memories the song conjures. Provided with vibrant colorful melodies, it conjures all the good times, and pushes down the bad.
For most of the song, the minimalistic design of an acoustic and an electric lead jive behind the haunting main vocal. In the songs second half, the acoustic guitar vamps the main riff while alternating guitar tones solo. Just at that moment that you think the arrangement is solved, an excited, brilliantly played piano whisks you through the fade out. The piano recalls vibrant performances by Bruce Hornsby and how he worked his way around the ivories.
Stylistically, Copperstone could draw similarities to songwriters like Neil Young and John Prine. They fit in to that broad scope of singer songwriters who are more a derivative to rock than classic folk. With a coffeehouse arrangement, it accentuates the essence of the song with bare instrumentation.
Enjoy My Old Friend now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
The Wild Is Calling 