These LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks will take you through different folk styles and cosy moods with featured artists - Finlay Birch, Darren Flynn, Koentakhinte, Clay DuBose, and Sarah Wendlandt.
1. Finlay Birch – Weight Will Unwind
Scottish singer-songwriter Finlay Birch crafts a soothing mix of trad and alternative folk in his latest track ‘Weight Will Unwind’. With a distinctly earthy palette, the soundscape features minimal digital polish, maintaining the rustic tones of the guitar and keeping strums and slight churns in the mix, alongside the long, singular chimes of the piano bass notes as the singer sets the scene. The soft timbres, cozy harmonies, and cushiony instruments, along with a few glistening digital sparkles here and there, give the track the perfect textures. It feels like the kind of song you’ll encounter playing at a bar on a late evening with an intimate gathering of keen listeners. Listen here:
2. Darren Flynn – Pinebox
In a similar vein, Dublin-based artist Darren Flynn crafts a folk-inspired track sung and composed in old bard fashion, with signature rustic vocals, scat singing, and old Renaissance-style instrumentation. The song’s tone is foreboding, almost like a warning, with lines like “put you in a pinebox and post you home”, and the vocals fully commit by going all out with a drastic change of tone, pacing, and even volume as he steers the song towards a specific mood or setting. Towards the end, the track—led by the vocals—picks up pace and grit, suddenly amping the intensity as each note fills the air with a sandiness and grit before bringing it to a soft halt.
3. Koentakhinte – Quiet Colors
If you’re looking for soothing vocals, bright soundscapes, and an uplifting vibe, Koentakhinte’s latest track, ‘Quiet Colors,’ has got you covered. The song feels like a safe space, having a leisurely pace and a catchy beat with its atmospheric instrumentation, setting a cozy soundscape with lots of breathing space and a clean mix. The song features powerful vocals, very reminiscent of artists such as Ed Sheeran and One Direction, with lines such as “tracing my heartbeat between all the signs” as the guitar envelops the track with warm, summery strum patterns. Catch the track here:
4. Clay DuBose – When Heroes Say Goodbye
Texas-based artist Clay DuBose has just released ‘When Heroes Say Goodbye’, an uplifting yet bittersweet track with a classic rock feel along with hints of alternative spirit. The instrumentation is a charming mix of hazy and grungy, as the vocals set a mature, cheerful tone while underneath, a nice mix of drums, bass, and guitars synergize, creating the overall mood and flow of the track. The composition includes a memorable vocal-guitar duo at points in the song and added harmonies that give the piece a nice personal touch. Overall, the track is positive, fun, and mature at the same time, with music that’ll fit nearly any vibe!
5. Sarah Wendlandt – Oh June
Another cozy folk-inspired track on the list is Sarah Wendlandt and Franzi Berg’s ‘Oh June’. The arrangement feels like an intimate gathering of people engaging in conversation, slowly drifting into a tune building from a few banjo notes, a guitar, and subtle booms of the bass underneath as the vocals take over. The song features mesmeric harmonies, giving the imagery of singing fairies as soft drifts of wind envelop the soundscape, with lyrics singing “trouble after trouble her instinct grows”. The song hones in on the harmonies in the bridge, adding more layers and lifting the soundscape into ethereal territory, giving the song a more floaty lift before it comes back to the ground with a gentle halt.
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.