On this edition of LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks tracks pull on the chords of vulnerability with acoustic melodies that move from calm brightness to vulnerable depths and back agan. This list features Andy Oliver, Art Schop, Sam Lewis and more!
1. Andy Oliver and Rupert Hill - Dying Glow
‘Dying Glow’ by Andy Oliver and Rupert Hill takes on calm, dulset tones that seem to reveal honest emotions with stark clarity. The song layersr lightness and vulnerability with a serene, yet slightly dim sense of optimism. That narrator(s) see their fullness, with what feels wholesome yet sharp clarity.
“...You’re not alone even in the dying glow…”. Our narrator(s) seem to find solace in themselves and each other as hope continues to grow dimmer. A feeling that becomes progressively more apparent as the song goes on. The track tries to hold space for quiet optimism, hope that feels swept away by the weight of everything else.
Listen here:
2. Art Schop - Katharina
‘Katharina’ by Art Schop is a slow-paced, mysterious song that feels moody and wistful. The narrator seems smitten by this allusive figure of ‘Katharina’, for what they show our narrator and what they same to know innately. “...Katharina shows you stars…”, “...understands the secret music of the Lord…”. This allusive figure the narrator seems to reverie and paint with dark melancholy seems to hold a heavy sway.
There’s a sense of surrender in the song, that keeps pace with the song’s slow-moving melodies, almost weighted down by them. The song feels like an ode to a dynamic figure in flow. Someone who wholly surrenders to the rhythms they find around them and is celebrated for it.
Listen here:
3. Danielle Dennis - Where To Begin
‘Where To Begin’ by Danielle Dennis ponders on the uncertainty that comes with considering a fresh start. Dark, melancholic acoustic guitar melodies set the tone, while the narrator explores their darkest thoughts in what feels like the deepest recesses of their mind.
The song sound itself in what feels like the darkness of vulnerability.
“...Can I outlive all these moments of wondering where to begin?...”. This line ponders the central reflection on the track, while the other lines seem to wrap around out. At its climax, percussion shocks the soundscape with pulses that you simply feel at your core. These that feel unexpected and unpredictable but welcome braid into the slow-paced rhythm.
Listen here:
4. Mick J Clark - My Friend Evonne
‘My Friend Evonne’ by Mick J Clark is a bright, groovy track that captures bright, optimistic love that finds itself settled. The narrator is wholly smitten with Evonne, which is evident in the lyrics and the bright, elevated soundscape. They’re taken with her and all her contradictions. “...I’m all over the place when I see her face,...she’s the one I could never replace…”.
This bright ode to Evonne is wrapped in bright yet gentle affection. It feels whole, edged with an almost casual air that seems to make this love seem as easy as breathing. Evonne is special to the narrator, and this song is proof of that.
Listen here:
5. Sam Lewis - Juan Garcia
‘Juan Garcia’ by Sam Lewis is a winding song that takes us on a journey through the sights and sounds of the things the narrator has experienced. The narrator hopes to show us a truth through sight and sound, with lines describing the familiar before pulling us towards what’s between the lines.
“...I’ve learnt more than I needed to know…not everyone’s gonna reap what they’re going to sow…”. The narrator laments this sense of lost potential in all they know, to the point where the empathise while seemingly wishing they “...could be back there in the inbetween…”. A familiar emotion.
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