These LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks are delicate and warm, coming to you from The Storm Windows, Lee Matthew Platt, Erik Neimeijer, and more!
1. The Storm Windows – Fiona – Live from Tank Recording Studio
The Storm Windows’ Fiona is delicate enough that it feels like it’d blow away with the slightest gust of wind, yet bright and upbeat enough to put a genuine smile on your face and a skip in your step. A gentle acoustic guitar lies on a bed of soft, balanced drumming that keeps things moving and grounded without announcing or drawing attention to itself. With lines like “Sometimes you just can’t fix something that’s broken / Some words are better left unspoken,” The Storm Windows, on Fiona, explore the path of love and connection through all its ups and downs with lyrical precision and tenderness. Listen here!
2. Lee Matthew Platt – Sweet Clementine
From the get-go, Lee Matthew Platt’s sound on Sweet Clementine is honest, creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. With a prominent and clear acoustic guitar layer enveloping Platt’s rich, open vocals, the song stays real; throughout, it feels grounded in his life experience, even though the lyrics don’t necessarily get too specific about contextualising the song. This, in fact, only gives the song more accessibility and relatability, allowing you to identify with the titular Clementine as she longs to see what awaits outside the boundaries of her town. Lee Matthew Platt weaves a tender yet vivid story through this track – check it out here!
3. Erik Neimeijer – Birds Of A Feather
Rounding out Erik Neimeijer’s latest album, Green Eyed Soul, is Birds Of A Feather, an understated, minimal track that doesn’t hesitate to put Neimeijer’s rich and soulful voice front-and-centre. When a song’s arrangement is as minimal as this one’s is, there’s nowhere to hide – and with this stellar vocal performance, there’s no need to. If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine sitting in a shadowy, dimly lit bar that plays the kind of live music that occupies space without calling attention to itself. Before you know it, the song has shifted gears ever so slightly and ramps up the energy with instrumental solos that take everything up to the next level. Give it a listen here!
4. Maria Mihailik – What I Mean
From Maria Mihailik’s eponymous debut album comes What I Mean, a song that beautifully contrasts a delicate, open sound with raw honesty. This juxtaposition is only accentuated by the tremulous yet intense vocals: the kind where every syllable is heavy with intention, and no note, no line, nothing is accidental. Created in collaboration with Cameron Niven, the song focuses on building mood and atmosphere, surrounding you to make you a part of it. Through the song, Mihailik effortlessly establishes that she’s not someone who’s interested in ambiguity or beating around the bush; her directness comes through in every element, from the mood to the lyrics. This is a sobering yet refreshing listen from Maria Mihailik!
5. Sara Gerdine – Time waits for no one
Sara Gerdine’s latest single, Time waits for no one, opens with her rich voice, soon joined by bright strings that linger in the background, allowing her vocals – and their message – to remain in focus. This track is a poignant reminder of the fact that life is short, and there’s “no point in looking back,” as Gerdine puts it; live your life to the fullest today with the knowledge that the passage of time isn’t necessarily a bad thing – just an inevitability that you need to take full advantage of. This is a track that’ll leave you contemplating your life as it stirs you to take action and “dance like no one’s watching, sing like no one’s listening.” Listen here!
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.