Folk Alliance International Offered Comfort in Troubled Times
January’s Folk Alliance International festival served as a place to restore and recharge for folk music lovers, offering solace and inspiration.
folk pop
Alice Costelloe Confronts the Past with Elegant Art Pop
Alice Costelloe’s debut album is refined, elegant art pop, in which her crystalline voice floats over a rich palette of electronic instrumentation with grace.
Sotto Voce’s Lo-Fi Pop Is Filled with Melodic Twists
Ryan Gabos’ lo-fi bedroom pop project, Sotto Voce, scales new heights with The Sound of Trying.
How the Beatles Hindered American Folk Music
For many American musicians at the time, the Beatles and the British Invasion of 1964 detrimentally slowed the creative evolution of American folk music.
Madi Diaz Leans Into the Anguish on ‘Fatal Optimist’
On her confessional new album Fatal Optimist, Madi Diaz lays everything bare and achieves a certain wisdom through the heartbreak.
Dar Williams Commits to the ‘Hummingbird Highway’
Folk artist Dar Williams has long leaned on songwriting to cast off and expose her blood and beauty to the world. She discusses this and more with PopMatters.
Molly Tuttle Dives Headfirst Into Entertaining Country Pop
Molly Tuttle, hot off a significant Grammy nomination, pivots her sound into a lovely country pop new direction and tells PopMatters all about it.
Cassandra Jenkins Creates a Striking New Ambient LP
Cassandra Jenkins’ new LP conveys moods and calming vibes, along with the creative imagination of its creator and her fellow musicians. It’s a beautiful piece of work.
A New Box Set Deconstructs Nick Drake’s Dazzling Debut
Nick Drake’s luminous 1969 debut gets a box set that chronicles its creation and accentuates the late musician’s unique, timeless brilliance.
Lisa Harres Brings Poetic Vision to Debut Album
Lisa Harres’ debut strikes the right balance between skeletal piano-led ballads and baroque embellishments. It’s spellbinding with elusive beauty and staggering depth.
Molly Tuttle Goes Solo with Delightful New Record
Molly Tuttle’s So Long Little Miss Sunshine finds her stretching out her sound, though her songwriting and guitar skills continue to be on full display.
Jade Bird Crafts Brilliant Art From Emotional Experiences
Jade Bird’s lyrics are simultaneously intimate and intense, insightful and poetic. She passionately delivers the material, and her insights come off as poetic revelations.