Gentle, warm, and intricate, these LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks are the perfect way to start the new year; featuring Gianfranco GFN, Michellar, Twofold Cipher, and more!
1. Gianfranco GFN – Sing the Song
Opening Gianfranco GFN’s album Giomanè is Sing the Song, a rich, intricate play of musical textures and sounds. It goes beyond defining itself by genre, effortlessly and fluidly moving between and blending the sounds of jazz, soul, rock, and R&B. It’s light and airy, moving along with practised ease in the way it’s delivered. Putting you in a chill, almost trance-like mood, it blends instrumentals and driving percussion lines with flourish. It’s the kind of song that’s self-assured and confident – it doesn’t need overwhelming elements to draw you in, and it knows it. Give it a listen here!
2. Michellar – Its Another Year
Michellar’s Its Another Year is a tender reminder of the year gone by, and the one that’s to come. It’s gentle, driven by soft acoustic guitar and percussion, and Michellar’s vocals lie on top of these, shimmering and calm, almost like a lullaby. The song reflects slowly on the passage of time and the hopes and dreams that are revived with hope at the start of every year, despite it all; it’s encouraging, nudging you to go out there and make each day count. It feels like a warm hug, the kind that makes you truly believe that your dreams can touch the stars. Listen here!
3. Twofold Cipher – Horizons
Horizons is warm, honest, and simple – it relies on good vibes, exceptional arrangement, and its restraint to get the job done, and they pull it off flawlessly. Built on a foundation of reggae-inspired instrumentals, the song is produced with precision, never allowing this to overwhelm its vocals and message. It immediately conjures a relaxed feeling and images of warm beaches, while also reflecting on the beauty of our present and the responsibilities we have to pass it on well. The melody is catchy, and its take-it-easy mood lingers in you long after the song ends. Check it out here!
4. M3G – Rooks
Hauntingly beautiful, and a song that truly deserves the title of ‘ethereal’, Rooks is a reflection on the end of a suffocating relationship. From its opening moments of gentle strumming followed by M3G’s delicate vocals – reminiscent of AURORA’s style, while still retaining an identity of their own – the song lifts you up with grace, allowing you to float in its cloud-like lightness throughout. Lyrically, it moves with vulnerability between catharsis and self-discovery, but does so with subtlety: it never feels overwhelming, but like a deep sigh, quietly letting go of all the burden. Songs like Rooks are never easy to make, and M3G makes no pretence of effortlessness – it’s weight will settle deep in you, ensuring you feel it no matter what.
5. Stephen Royal – Pray
Pray is warm and inviting, the kind of song that offers you the space to just be with your thoughts. It never tries to take your breath away, never tries to bowl you over: instead, it blooms with soft piano and percussion that keep the track moving forward, interlaced with Stephen Royal’s expansive vocals. As Royal takes you on a journey of faith, he builds up to a powerful message of belief and heartfelt devotion. From subtle choir-like vocals to the piano intro and outro, every element is carefully constructed to pull you into the headspace of this faith; listen here!
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