Cynthia Hamar is a revelation on Light A Fire. The empress wears new clothes, and she’s donning vintage rhinestone trimmed cowgirl threads. Light A Fire has classic Nashville charm with indie appeal. Hamar is presented slightly scratchy, raw, and real. Her voice breaks and rumbles with the spirit of the dusty dives known to this alt-country vibe.
This dirty outlaw country blues connects with the aura of Emmy Lou Harris and Lucinda Williams, dressed with a polished arrangement akin to Norah Jones. The musicianship displays versatility and an attention to their craft and the styles that call the South Home.
There’s a little bit of Memphis, a touch of New Orleans, a taste of the islands, and a whole lot of Nashville. Alternating tempo swings bring a fun twist to swing your hips as you gaze at the star power that is Hamar. She’s got all the magnetism and raw authenticity to captivate an adorning crowd.
Sexy and surreal, Light A Fire warmed us up from start to finish. Hear it now on our Emerging Folk Playlist.
Lucas Fournier is sincere on their new single Lakeside. We were drawn into it’s lyrical charm. With sentimental small town appeal Lakeside unfolds like an apologetic love letter citing humble beginnings and a careless innocent heart. A cinematic mid song introspective break amplifies the significance of this metaphorical lakeside, a symbol of coming of age and a landmark to a treasured youth and a cherished relationship gone wry. “You got your first job washing dishes, while I played my violin. I was easily forgetting, now my ambitions wearing thin. I regret the words I never said.”
An introductory indie folk vibe grows to a theatrical outro as the story of Lakeside is familiarly epic. It’s the story of our lives unraveled within the snapshot of a moment. One of regret lifted by a realization that all you ever wanted was right in front of you from the start, and the search for truth only lead you away from it. A ripe storyteller in the world of indie folk, Lucas Fournier has room to run yet. Lakeside is a solid introductory foundation from which to build his lyrical narrative in works to come.
Hear Lakeside now on our Emerging Folk Playlist
The Australian based indie folk project Sturt Avenue drop a reflective gem with their new single Best Friend. Generated at the onset of the pandemic and recorded remotely, it embodies the loneliness we all felt when bogged down by restrictions. As if we didn’t have enough going on in our lives, Best Friend reminds us of the pandemic within the pandemic. Anyone who struggles with their mental health as well as anyone going through personal hardship had more to work through than the rest of us. The spirit of traditional folk and bluegrass are the perfect template for Sturt Avenue to explore the story that became Best Friend. With urban appeal it recalls acoustic classics by The Grateful Dead. With melancholy roots and an indie folk vibe it should connect with fans of Gregory Alan Isakov and Justin Townes Earle.
Singer Bryn Soden cracks with the hurt of a scorned lover. Their believable performance gives Best Friend weight. Clever lyrical clues are there to keep the story common, as Best Friend shares some history with most of us. A heavy story of heartbreak dealt like you knew where it was headed, but you prolonged the worst of it. “Put it out of your mind, let it fade from your memory…”
A heartache you’ll never forget. Enjoy Best Friend now on our Emerging Folk Playlist.
Deep internet dives revealed the genius that is The Decline of the Flies and the rise of Spiders. Artist and creator Tim Mechling resurrects the concept album. Cinematic and theatrical, the album is meant to be listened to straight through in full auditory immersion. There’s the immediate concept, and the one it will reveal within you. Whether it be the cosmic otherworldly samples within Shadows Eat The Sun or the scary monologue that is The Language of the Lord, you’ll be pulled into a whiplash of daydreams and day-scares as you contemplate the parallels that are exploration and fear.
The author admits that the album is “a horrific freak-folk album about death, sin war, lust, murder, rebirth and all things southern gothic in-between.”
He isn’t lying. There are elements of convention like the charming Sebastian & Kip (fall), but for the most part this collective work stands alone. Mechling is a true creative monster in the vein of Frank Zappa and associated experimental classic projects. “The Decline” is like an auditory novel with songs for context. Collectively every input adds to crafting the imagery and collateral inspiration that makes it special.
The album is meant to be listened to front to back. We’ve include the opening track Death Rattle/Shadows Eat The Sun on our Emerging Folk Playlist.
The Wild Is Calling 