The singer-songwriter genre has really taken off over the last decade or so, with many of the artists within the modern charts having elements of the style within their music. I’ve covered the folk genre a few times before, but I felt it was time to take a closer look at the singer-songwriter scene, as there are some amazing acts out there at the moment. If you like what you read here, don’t forget to take a listen to the playlist at the bottom too!
Review by Jane Howkins
Photo by Brooke Moriber
Brooke Moriber – Half A Heart
Brooke Moriber’s track Half A Heart is a perfect example of the singer-songwriter scene. It’s a slow folk-pop tune that starts out in a simplistic manner, featuring just a gorgeous electric guitar arpeggio, underpinning Brooke’s vocals in a lovely way. A steady drum beat is added into the mix later on, but the focal point remains on Brooke’s stunning vocals, delivering a great deal of soul on the chorus. The main chord sequence chosen is beautiful, making this track a must listen from me!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
A-Zal- Lonely Town (Piano Version)
Artist A-Zal moved to New York City and started performing on the subway, showing great tenacity. Lonely Town (Piano Version) is a song written about his journey, and you can really feel the impassioned emotion within the lyrics. As you might expect from the title, it’s largely a piano-based track, although a gorgeous string section can be heard faintly in the background. A-Zal’s vocals are immense here, going through a fantastic range – I’m certain that all his efforts will pay off!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
Eddie Cohn – Who or What I Was Before
One of the things that really made Eddie Cohn’s music stand out was the fact that every track seems to be different, as he dabbles in a number of genres. Who or What I Was Before is probably best described as a rock song, although it also has moments of indie and and pop. The track has a proper driving melody, bursting out of the seams with energy as the huge drums and guitars collide in perfect fashion. Eddie’s vocals suit the style of music well too, injecting a dose of attitude into the mix.
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, Instagram
Dan Pye – Billboard (Acoustic)
As you may have guessed from the title, Billboard (Acoustic) is another acoustic guitar track by musician Dan Pye. The guitar sounds pretty simplistic at first, but the notes that Dan makes here are lovely to behold, also adding a rhythmic quality into the mix. His vocals have a wonderful tone, crooning along to the music in a way that makes you believe everything he’s singing about in the lyrics. Towards the end, a string section arrives, adding more variety into this pretty piece of music.
Social media: Facebook, Spotify, Instagram
Gareth Dunlop – Church
Gareth Dunlop may be a name that some of you know already, as he’s performed in York several times over the years. Church is his new single, and it’s one of the best tracks we’ve heard by him so far! It’s also quite a poppy song, with a throbbing piano melody that runs throughout the tune, never really letting up. The backing vocals are one of the stand out features here, sounding almost like a choir of beautiful voices, fitting the title of the track well. And Gareth’s vocals are wonderful as ever, performing with great clarity here.
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
Stian Borgen – The Painter
Oslo Native Stian Borgen has recently released the first track from his debut album, The Painter. For someone so new to the music scene, it’s an absolutely blinding track, adding a traditional folk quality into the singer-songwriter vibes. There’s also an organ that makes a nice appearance in the background, performing in lovely style against the banjo and acoustic guitars. Stian’s vocals are perfectly suited to the style of music he makes, singing the lyrics in a joyous way that will draw you in straight away. Make sure you check out the album too!
Social media: Spotify
The Jinny Joes – Will You Try?
The Jinny Joes are a free spirited folk trio from Montreal, making a form of folk music that is reminiscent of the 60s/70s scene. Will You Try? sounds delightful from the start, seeing a slew of lovely acoustic guitar melodies play across each other, combining with the strong vocals to make something extra special. The chorus takes on a slightly more melancholic bent, seguing in from the verses in a magical way. Overall, it’s a lovely piece of work, and one of my favourites on this list!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Spotify, Soundcloud, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
Suzumeno Tears – Akita Daikokumai
Suzumeno Tears are a very interesting act, combining the Japanese and Baltic folk music into one amazing package. As such, Akita Daikokumai is possibly the most unique track on this list, combining both styles together in a wondrous way. The music is fairly fast, using a fingerpicked acoustic guitar melody that runs throughout most of the tune, underneath the lush vocal harmonies. It won’t be for everyone, but those that like their singer-songwriter music a little different from the norm should get a kick out of this track!
Social media: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok
Roots – playlist by York Calling | Spotify