This LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks list brings you ‘kitschy’ and ‘cozy’ with jazzy festive tracks, nostalgic folk rock, and more! Featuring artists- Oli Ng, Judith Owen, Sean Mychaels, Amurrayz, and Andy Smythe.
.1.Oli Ng - Steadfast
If you’re the kind of person who goes to music to elevate your mood when you're down, and are looking for a new such track, look no further than Steadfast. An uplifting, reassuring song, the artist taps into the right notes using a blend of a semi-acoustic feel with atmospheric synths that give it more body. The verses are a minimalistic balance of the acoustic guitar and vocals, which flow into the pre-chorus, where the lyrics assure “it’ll be alright,” which ascends into the euphoric blend of instruments in the chorus, along with the backing vocals. A song that might put a smile on your face, this track is definitely worth trying out!
2.Judith Owen, The J.O. Big Band- No Better Time
With the holiday season coming up, festive playlists are being made, and ‘No Better Time’ would definitely be one of the top picks in the Jazz x Christmas playlists. The song is a great blend of timeless instrumentation and elegant vocals, where the rhythm and instrumentation swings and sways with the singer, whose vocals are as smooth and pillowy as snowfall on a Christmas Eve morning. The double bass and hihat keep the song grounded, allowing the brass section, pianos, and vocals to glide through the music and improvise or go off time. The harmonies and frills also add to the song’s charm, leaving one wanting more.
3.Sean Mychaels- Storm Between the Lightning
A song that would evoke nostalgic memories of a coming-of-age film from the 90s or early 2000s, Storm Between the Lightning’ is an eclectic blend of pop and rock. The track uses an arrangement of layered synths, rhythm guitars and leads that echoes the lead singer’s mellow and breezy vocals, drifting together as one uplifting track. The singer’s smooth vocals lead into the interlude, where the lead guitar kicks in with a solid solo and enhances the feel-good vibe with the slick textures. If ‘90s nostalgia is your vibe, then this is a song to not miss!
4.Amurrayz- This Time of the Year
Another one for the festive season is Amurrayz’s ‘This Time of the Year’. It borders between folk and Irish trad, along with jazz sprinkled in here and there. The electric violin and saxophone bedazzle the song with their flourishes and hooks, interspersed with the vocals, whose backing harmonies only enhance the vibe that the song is going for. The instrumentation overall brings in a warmth that works to harmoniously balance out each other while also bringing in the trad and jazz elements succinctly, while the lyrics are about the end-of-year celebration and a bit of family holiday cheer. Which means… Another song to add to that Christmas indie playlist!
5.Andy Smythe- Emergency
‘Emergency’ isn’t as its name suggests, even though the lyrics are asking you to ‘call 999’ as it has a fun, breezy Beatles kind of vibe with its happy melodies, major chords and cheeky guitar accompaniment. The lyrics are more about chasing love, and the endearing part about the song is how the drums seem to speed up at the word ‘emergency’, almost as if to hurry the rest of the instrumentation to chase the ‘escaping love’. The vocals are what would remind you the most about the Beatles because of the vocalist’s timbre similarity, but overall, the band stands out on its own with its approach of instrumentation and composition. Definitely a song for the nostalgia list!
Follow the playlist for all new artist updates!
If you would like to submit your music for playlist or review consideration, please submit here.