Lotta St Joan is a Berlin, Germany-based folk artist who has just hit my radar through the release of her second album. A collection for these uncertain times, it’s called Song for the Undecided.

By Graeme Smith

Already making waves on the Berlin folk scene, I feel like Lotta St Joan’s album is going to win her fans around the globe. The themes covered in Song for the Undecided are strikingly relevant and universal in a world that is lost in a contradiction of being highly connected in some ways and increasingly disconnected in the ways that matter.

In her longing for connection, she succeeds, and her second album is eleven tracks that speak directly to the listener. Delicate and stripped-back moments like album openers Closer and Always give plenty of space for her soft vocals and captivating words while more orchestrated moments like Once or Waltz let the music speak for itself. Its compositions touch us emotionally, whether it’s the introspective melancholy of Between You and I, Big Sad Man or the piano-led Until You Need Me, or the powerful defiance of Oh, Woman.

Lotta St Joan has something of a timeless sound, with unmistakably classic folk elements that you’ll hear in the likes of Joni Mitchell and her modern torch bearers such as Angel Olson and Billie Marten. Yet it feels like she’s bringing something new to the genre too, unafraid to bring in elements of pop where it’s appropriate and ever so often throwing caution to the wind with some exhilarating production.

Singer songwriter folk is a genre that will always stay relevant yet it does appear to be experiencing a bit of a revival over in Berlin. That’s thanks in no small measure to Lotta St Joan, an artist that deserves more international attention for sure. You can definitely count me as a fan.

Song for the Undecided was created with the help of Hans Gnendinger and producer Cameron James Laing. It’s available to buy as a digital download, on 12″ vinyl, or on CD via Lotta St John’s Bandcamp page. You can check it out below.