Tag: melodic

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Tom Duggan – Outcomes

This song, Outcomes, reminds me a lot of those acoustic guitar-based songs from the 60s and 70s my Dad used to listen to. It would have fit perfectly into the soundtrack of any classic movie from that era. The impressive thing is that it was written by a young artist who is barely getting his feet wet, as he’s only been releasing music since earlier this year. Even though Tom Duggan received training in jazz and classical styles as a saxophone and clarinet player, he learned singing and guitar on his own. Practice makes perfect, so we can only imagine what this British singer/songwriter will be able to accomplish in a couple of years. The sky is the limit.

Tom wrote Outcomes during his time at university and is based on his experiences there. It’s a song about being whoever you want as long as you can accept the consequences of your actions. Acoustic guitar-based songs tend to be repetitive and boring, but I think this tune manages to avoid that problem by noticeably changing the melody during the bridge and then again during the chorus. Overall, it’s a catchy track with a great message, and also a clear indication that we should keep Tom Duggar on our radars.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Gabriel Paris – Kicks In

Gabriel Paris - Kicks In

Gabriel Paris is an Australia-based multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and producer with a few writing credits in his resumé. He has been focusing on his solo career lately, releasing three singles so far, with Kicks In being the latest one. As a songwriter, Gabriel tries to be authentic and write about what he feels compelled to as opposed to what others might want. This results in honest lyrics such as those in this single, which is a deeply personal song about a time when he relied a bit too much on alcohol to cope with his problems.

Musically, Gabriel lists the likes of Vance Joy and Coldplay as influences, and I can certainly note some similarities. His music got all the necessary elements to make it memorable, from raw emotions to nice vocals and pretty melodies, just as with the hauntingly beautiful Kicks In. Check it out below and don’t sleep on this talented artist.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Elina – Remember

I discovered Swedish singer/songwriter Elina Stridh, who goes simply by Elina as her stage name, earlier this year when her song Blue was included in an AI-generated playlist on a streaming platform. I kind of fell in love instantly with her sweet voice. Then, more recently, I got an email from a PR agency informing me of the release of her sophomore EP, titled Remember, and of course I had to check it out. The theme of the album is embracing change and it consists of 6 songs, including Blue, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly its title track. Elina is a remarkable songwriter and before she embarked into a career as a singer as well last year, she used to write pieces for other artists such as Zara Larsson and Neiked, so she knows one thing or two about writing hits.

However, when some of the songs Elina had written and loved weren’t picked up by any artist, she decided to release them herself and I’m really glad she did. With a series of stripped-back, folk-inspired tunes, she is showing us her real self in a vulnerable way. Remember, a song about seeing someone you love hurt and letting them know they will always be worthy of love and affection, is just an example. Elina’s beautiful voice and honest lyrics make the listening experience a really enjoyable one. She’s not breaking any ground with sounds you had never heard before, but when the music is this good, who cares?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Johnny Ashby – In Bloom

You’d be surprised by the amount of people who think Mumford & Sons are an American band just because of the type of music they used to make (at least their first couple of albums). I think the same will happen to British artist Johnny Ashby if he becomes that famous (he should). Based in Los Angeles, this singer/songwriter composes radio-friendly, folk pop anthems with an Americana ting. He recently released a five-track EP called In Bloom, co-written and produced with members of the brand Grizfolk, that is really good. I honestly liked all 5 songs.

I decided to feature the title track just because it’s the only one with an official music video so far. I could have chosen any other song (they’re all that good). When he writes a song, Johnny gives considerable importance to how it would be like live, and In Bloom was no exception. With sparkling guitar riffs (especially during the outro) and such a melodious chrorus, it should be a blast to hear this song live. Hopefully, we’ll get a chance soon.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Grouplove – Deleter

Grouplove - Deleter

Deleter was released early this year but it is so good and fun that I had to find a way to squeeze it here. At the time, it was Grouplove‘s first single since 2016 and expectations were pretty high. I think it’s safe to say that Deleter didn’t disappoint the band’s fans. With hooks all over the place, you’ll find the song’s energy to be highly infectious. It is impossible to remain quiet while this great track is playing.

In case you hadn’t heard about Grouplove before, this band was formed in 2009 in California. They’ve had a number of hits since then, with the most popular one being the outstanding Tongue Tied. They don’t seem to be tormented artists trying to leave a mark in the world. Instead, they seem to be a group of friends enjoying what they do and having fun. That’s precisely what you’ll get from them. Isn’t that perfect for a Friday night?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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The Shrugs – Loud Lights

The Shrugs

Back in 2016, five students from the University of Virginia started this band they named The Shrugs. After supporting some local bands for a while, they recorded an eponymous debut EP in 2018 and this year they followed it up with their debut full-length album, which they titled Junk Days And Radio Zones, an acronym of their own names. The story does not different too much from that of many other bands, but what sets this eclectic quintet apart is, besides the fact that they feature three lead singers, is that all five members collaborate with each other, resulting in a varied mix of styles. If music were like ice cream, The Shrugs would have scoops of punk, garage rock, indie rock and I’d say some sprinklers of jazz as well.

Take for example Loud Lights, the lead single: it would be a typical indie rock track but the the vocals from Abbey Potter give it a jazzy vibe that draws you in and leave you wanting more. A coming-of-age song, lyrically it revolves about becoming adults while longing for the simplicity and innocence of childhood. Who couldn’t relate to that? Check this up and coming band from Charlottesville out and decide for yourself. I’m sure you will enjoy their music.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Me Nd Adam – The More I Grow Up

Me Nd Adam - The More I Grow Up

They say that the best partnerships in history are those involving people with different personalities or point of views because they challenge each other to create something better. You need people who disagree with you and can tell you right away when that amazing idea you got is not as great as you think it is. That is something that Me Nd Adam, a duo based out of Austin, Texas, have in their favor, because when Adam Walker and Vince Winik first met, they didn’t get along at all. Eventually, they learned to embrace their differences and embarked on this alternative music act with influences as diverse as Willie Nelson and Blink-182.

Me Nd Adam has released a bunch of singles already, ahead of the debut album, American Drip Part I, slated for later this year. The latest one is ‘The More I Grow Up‘, which is also my favourite so far. It has everything you might want in a great song: a catchy melody, good lyrics, really nice vocals, and a great mix of an acoustic guitar with synth lines. This was the song I was planning to recommend on Friday, but due to last minute issues at work, I was unable to do so then. Fortunately, it is a great song to listen to any day of the week.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative
  • Folk/Indie

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Young Ritual – Dylan’s Dream

Young Ritual - Dylan's Dream

Dylan Grantham is a singer/songwriter from Michigan who writes and performs music as Young Ritual. Having the likes of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and The National as influences, he composes beautiful indie/folk songs highlighted by honest lyrics, his heartfelt voice and his guitar. The global pandemic in 2020 gave him an opportunity to stay creative, releasing a stripped-down EP, Spare Room, earlier this year and even more songs after that. Dylan’s Dream was the first single from that EP.

Written, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Grantham from his home studio, Dylan’s Dream is a captivating song about a fever dream where people act on their worst impulses, leading to a dystopian society. Its title is a callback to an older Bob Dylan song called, Bob Dylan’s Dream. Both tracks are similar in style, but if I had to choose only one of them, I think I would prefer Young Ritual‘s one. I’m not saying you’ll agree with me, but you should at least give it a chance, which you can do on the mixtapes below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Forest Blakk – If You Love Her

I think one of the hardest things for a songwriter to do is to write beautiful romantic songs that aren’t cheesy. Seriously, how many are there that don’t say things like “I’ll die for you” or “I can’t live without you”? Not that many. Luckily, that list is slightly bigger now with the addition of this new song from Canadian singer/songwriter Forest Blakk: If You Love Her. It is a nice song with great vocals and a good melody, but what really sets it apart, I think, are its lyrics.

I discovered Forest Blakk two years ago when Apple Music recommended its song Tread Lightly to me. He describes his style as urban folk, mixing the tranquility of folk music with the chaotic rhythm of a city. He’s been releasing his songs to streaming platforms just since 2018 but at a steady pace, so he got a good number of singles out already. Check them out when you feel thirsty for new music.

For the time being, listen to this beautiful song here.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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LEK – World Cup

One important quality all artist must have is perseverance. There are countless stories of writers, painters and musicians, among others, who found success only after they were rejected multiple times. If you believe in yourself, just keep trying. That is something that today’s artist, LEK, got in his favour: he doesn’t take no as an answer.

Born in New York and based in New Jersey, this multi-intrumentalist artist has led quite an interesting life. From leaving medical school to follow an Indian guru in California, to backpacking for months in Southeast Asia, India and South America, including teaching himself how to read and write Thai, he has done it all. Now, Lek is focusing on his music, having released 3 full albums in 2020 alone already, each one of them covering different genres: from psychedelic rock to acoustic folk going through Thai rock covers.

Now, I’m not a big fan of psychedelic music, and when LEK reached out to me to see if I would be interested in featuring one his earlier songs from that genre, I declined letting him know that. Then, when he was about to release his latest album, Surya, which leans more towards the indie/folk side, he reached out again to gauge my interest, which led me to discover World Cup. It got a nice melody with beautiful guitars and soothing vocals, but what really sets it apart are its lyrics. Had you heard before a folk song mentioning Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? This is your chance!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie