Folkin’ Around #2 – Folktronica

I’m a big fan of the folk genre, and I find it’s one of the most broad styles out there, encompassing many different sub-genres. This time around, I decided to delve into the world of folktronica, which combines folk music with electronic elements. It’s an interesting style, and I hope that this review broadens the mind of folk purists who wouldn’t normally check these type of artists out.

Review by Jane Howkins

Photo by Lee Switzer-Woolf

Lee Switzer-Woolf – Ototoxin

First up we have British singer-songwriter and musician Lee Switzer-Woolf, with his amazing new tune, Ototoxin. It’s a pretty good representation of the genre, as it starts out with some interesting electronic effects, before the folky acoustic guitars kick in. The electronic effects are used sparingly, but they work very well, creating something utterly unique within the modern folk genre. The vocals are a little quiet in the mix, but you can really feel the emotion within them, as Lee passionately sings along to the main melody.

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Anna Ling – Untrimmable Light (Matt Kelly Remix)

Next up we have a very special track from Anna Ling – a singer-songwriter we’ve featured before. However, as the name suggests, Untrimmable Light (Matt Kelly Remix) is a remix by Matt Kelly, mixing the music up a little. It’s not the sort of EDM heavy tune you’d usually expect from something like this though, as the track still retains a folky character throughout. It’s pretty quirky sounding at times, utilising a minimalist style with the sparse instrumentation, as Anna’s soft vocals sing over the top. It’s a little experimental, but well worth a listen!

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Curving Tooth – Thank You

Baltimore group Curving Tooth have created something really unique in latest tune, Thank You. It starts out in a dreamy fashion with some twinkly background effects, before the ethereal vocals arrive. The vocals have a pretty distinctive sound, but they suit the style of music well, drifting along effortlessly through the track. The music suddenly ends towards the end, keeping you longing for more. It’s very different to what you might normally expect from the folk genre, but if you like your experimental music, then you need to give Thank You a go!

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JACOBOOM – lēv

lēv is a track produced by the brilliant JACOBOOM, a singer-songwriter, writer and producer from Stockholm. It’s a really beautiful sounding track, utilising a lovely harp arpeggio that runs throughout most of the tune. However, there’s much more going on here, as JACOBOOM slowly adds different layers to the tune, building it up over time. His vocals are dreamy and wistful, playing on the listener’s heartstrings throughout the track. The backing vocals are particularly gorgeous, adding a hauntingly beautiful quality to the song.

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Mike Bass – Reach for the Sun

Michigan artist Mike Bass mixes a few different folk sub-genres together into one awesome package, creating wonderful songs that will touch the heart of any listener. Reach for the Sun is one such track – it’s incredibly anthemic, seeing Mike use some intriguing synth and string effects to his advantage. As the music progresses, more and more instruments are added (including a lovely brass section), raising the track up to a powerful crescendo of sounds, really getting underneath your skin. Reach for the Sun is certainly an epic piece of music, making you feel everything Mike sings about in the lyrics.

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Bree Rusev – Summer Memories

We’ve featured singer-songwriter Bree Rusev a few times before, and her music just seems to get better and better! Summer Memories is a little different to some of the other songs here, as it’s more of a folk-pop tune, but it’s so good I couldn’t help but share it. It’s got an upbeat tempo, sounding perfect at this time of year, creating something summery that will warm you on those cold nights. Bree’s vocals are as stunning as ever, carrying through the tune with ease, soaring over the chorus. Make sure you give Summer Memories a whirl below!

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Faeland – Give Up What You Know

Faeland are a folk duo, creating acoustic songs with a great deal of emotion. Give Up What You Know has more in common with the nu-folk movement than the folktronica genre, but it’s that beautiful that I couldn’t help but include it here as a bonus song. It starts out pretty slowly, with a simple yet effective fingerpicked acoustic guitar melody, as the pretty vocals kick in. However, the track picks up the pace later on, introducing a rhythm section and a piano, following the main guitar motif perfectly. It’s full of heart, making this a must listen track for all folk fans.

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