This edition of LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks brings to you reflective rock balladry, wide-open Western Americana, and more. The list features artists Neil Valmonte, Ben Brooks, Johnny Ranck, Cassy Judy, and Tom Kuhr.
Neil Valmonte - The Road I Didn’t Plan On
A reminder that the best stories are rarely the ones we plan, ‘The Road I Didn’t Plan On’ by Neil Valmonte is a reflective rock ballad about the gap between the life we map out and the one that actually unfolds. The Westport, Connecticut-based Filipino-American songwriter and producer opens the track on a young man of 23 who believes he has his future all figured out, until his job falls apart in a single day. From there, the song works through letting go of the people who walked away and finding gratitude for the detours that ended up shaping us. Written, arranged, and recorded in Neil’s own home studio, the track carries a personal, lived-in warmth, and its central image of the map versus the road is one that will stay with you long after the song ends.
Ben Brooks - NO LIGHT
Sitting with grief rather than rushing past it, ‘NO LIGHT’ by Ben Brooks is the kind of song you put on late at night, when you need something that understands you rather than something that tries to cheer you up. The track leans into the weight of loss with patience and restraint, giving every moment the room it needs to land. There’s a quiet bravery in the way Ben lets the darkness of the title linger instead of forcing a neat resolution, and that honesty is exactly what makes the song so affecting. It’s a heavy listen, but a deeply human one, and it leaves you feeling a little less alone in your own hardest moments.
Johnny Ranck - Baby, Come Back
Opening his self-titled debut EP with a smile, ‘Baby, Come Back’ by Johnny Ranck is the kind of track you would want playing on a sunny drive through open country. Raised in Utah and shaped by long summers working on his father’s cattle ranch in Wyoming’s Bridger Valley, Johnny brings that wide-open Western spirit into every note. Honky-tonk piano and a melodic fiddle drive the song’s lighthearted, easygoing feel, rooting it firmly in classic country with touches of Americana and acoustic folk. It’s warm, wholesome, and completely unpretentious, and it sets the tone perfectly for an EP full of nostalgia, love, and quiet resolve.
Cassy Judy - Orchestra of Death
Coming from one of the most distinctive voices on Sydney’s queer performance scene, ‘Orchestra of Death’ by Cassy Judy is another bold entry in a catalog that refuses to sit still in one place. Cassy has built her name blending pop, folk, country, and rock with sharp humor and theatrical flair, and her songwriting draws directly from the honest moments of her own life. She has a real gift for taking on heavy subjects with a wink, and the dramatic title alone tells you she isn’t afraid to go big. With a folk-inspired bush band album, Southerly Buster, on the way, this single is the perfect reason to step into her world.
Tom Kuhr - Come Along Little Brother
Wrapping up this edition on a tender note, ‘Come Along Little Brother’ by Tom Kuhr carries the feel of a story passed down from one generation to the next. The title alone speaks to family, guidance, and the bond between brothers, and Tom delivers it with a sincerity that feels lived-in rather than performed. It’s the kind of song that invites you to slow down and really listen, simple on the surface but carrying a lot more weight underneath. Fresh out today, it’s a fitting way to close out a list full of honest, heartfelt songwriting.
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