From the countryside to beaches and quiet bars, these LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks take you on a journey along diverse soundscapes – featuring Wattmore, Brian Mullins, Caitlin Mae, and more!
1. Wattmore – Canadian Whiskey
Filled with country flourishes, Canadian Whiskey is a delightfully upbeat track, soaked in cheeky irreverence. It pokes around, asking questions about monopolisation and culture (“Canadian whiskey, Mexican tequila, we’ll just get our vodka from Ukraine… drinking men don’t need the USA / We know who our friends are, and we’re drinking to support ‘em”), and does it all with a charm you can’t help but smile at. Wattmore breaks genre boundaries effortlessly, creating a sound that’s deeply rooted in typical country, but still a product of its time – now. They don’t take themselves or the track too seriously, and it does wonders to keep it bouncing along – give it a listen!
2. Brian Mullins – Cowtown Road
Taking the country theme forward, Brian Mullins’ Cowtown Road begins with twangy guitar, setting the stage for what promises to be an ode to “simpler days.” Focusing on the simple beauty of childhood – the innocence, finding yourself, the joy in simple things – its lyrics are simple, like Mullins is speaking from his heart right to you. It’s not a complicated track, making it that much easier to connect to and visualise the vivid imagery he brings out. It’s an ode to the town that’s seen all of you, for better or for worse, produced with restraint and immersed in bittersweet nostalgia.
3. Caitlin Mae – Your Truck
On Your Truck, Caitlin Mae takes us to another part of the countryside – a lush, heartbroken one. Lyrics like “I couldn’t be what you needed / I’m too busy being jaded” perfectly capture the biting sarcasm of self-criticism after the end of a relationship. Mae’s rich and rounded voice cocoons you as it creates a sharp contrast between its softness and the heat of the lyrics. A good part Your Truck’s allure lies in its production – soaring and dipping at just the right moments – as well as in its refusal to wrap its ends up neatly – that isn’t how life works, is it?
4. Ali Lamb – Lemonade
Filled to the brim with sunshine, Lemonade is a bright, vibrant track that you can clearly imagine listening to on a beach, under clear, vividly blue skies. On the track, Ali Lamb carries freedom, sincerity, and unadulterated feel-good energy; it’s the perfect balance of twinkling pop and folk simplicity. It’s refreshing in its restraint – a very light percussion sits behind acoustic guitar, both interwoven with Ali Lamb’s voice to create a result that floats with its lightness. It finds joy in the little things, in soaking up every moment: it’s the kind of song that reminds you that life can pass you by in a hurry if you let it, so you should take a moment to slow down and appreciate what’s around you.
5. Crooner Ed – I Wish I Knew
I Wish I Knew is vulnerable, fragile, and an open letter to anyone who’s ever felt helpless in love. What immediately stands out on the track is the barebones production, allowing Ed’s vocals to remain prominent throughout, giving the whole thing an almost live-in-a-quiet-bar quality with its simplicity. It doesn’t need much to achieve emotional honesty – in fact, its restrained production helps the message land that much harder. It articulates all the feelings you could never quite put a finger on when you’re sitting in silence, thinking about why you’re feeling this powerless in approaching someone you love – listen here.
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