Oliver Hazard – “Honey I’m Hardly” -Those of you who have been following my writing on music for any length of time know I’m a sucker for a good harmony band. Well, check out this track from Oliver Hazard and you’ll hear a fantastic indie folk sound. The harmonies are beautiful, the melody feels just right, and the lyrics are relatable. It’s got all the makings of a hit folk pop song and I really hope it gets the play it deserves. Fans of bands like The Head and the Heart should definitely check out the great work of Oliver Hazard on this exceptionally delightful new indie folk song. I like it ..read more

Jonah Kagan – “God Needs the Devil” -If you’ve been around ETTG for any length of time, you know we’re suckers for songs that have a religious or spiritual theme. We also dig rootsy folk music, so imagine my surprise when I found this excellent song from Jonah Kagan. The style feels like a combination of Tyler Childers and a pop artist like Benson Boone. The blend is absolutely fantastic. The metaphor of an addiction to a person has some fascinating connotations. “I need you like God needs the devil. Some day soon this dust gonna settle.” Whew. This is spine-tingling WILD and worth a listen ..read more

Sophia Lanuza – “Ben Rector” -This is a bit meta for us to be featuring this song because Ben Rector was actually one of our site’s earliest interviews! To have people comparing their music to… and now writing songs about him is actually quite exciting for us. The song has a very Ben Rector style to it with the 80s and early 90s pop energy. The atmospheric blending on the production works really well. The vocal is absolutely OUTSTANDING. If you are a fan of Rector’s music, there’s a lot to like about this song and this artist. In fact, I like it so much that I’m putting it on my song of the ye ..read more

Caleb Hearn – “Klonopin” -It’s not every day that I run across that stops me in my tracks. From first listen I knew there was something different about this artist. The acoustic energy in the opening turns into a captivating genre-bending sound. The key lyric, “I need you like water” absolutely soars here. The production is next level on this fascinating track. In some ways, it almost feels like a worship song in the structure and style. That said, there’s a romantic, soulful, yet philosophical focus to the song that makes it feel outstanding. It’s well worth your time to give it a listen. Da ..read more

Beth Torrance – “Tiny Flowers” The ’90’s acoustic on this one is reminiscent of some of our favorite singer songwriters. The way Torrance plays is absolutely captivating, with every strum striking tiny deathblows to our heart. Vocally, her delivery is incredible, emotive, and rare. Yet, her talent for crafting lyrics is surpassed by very few of her contemporaries and is what sets her apart. Her ability to weave a story reminds us of Elliot Smith and captures the artist’s ability to stun in a short two and a half minute sonic frame. With all this said, we find it difficult to adequately describ ..read more

Rose Brokenshire – “Type Two” We love the smoky lounge sway on this one. Rose Brokenshire has been one of our favorite musical discoveries the past few months and continues only to get better. “Type Two” has a different feel to it and is a pace slower, almost hypnotic, then some of her other releases. We comment a lot on how much we love her vocal delivery, but we could honestly listen to her croon for days. It is a relaxing and disarming delivery we find extremely rare. Perhaps what we love most, is the artist’s authenticity and earnest songwriting. We cannot recommend her enough for those of ..read more

Corella – “I Didn’t Know Your Name” -There’s an 80s vibe to the synth work on this track that took me back in time on first listen. The more I’ve played it, though, I can feel a genuine energy to it. It’s definitely a bit different from the typical pop we feature, but the soaring vocal on the chorus is worth the price of admission alone. The overall vibe is celebratory and engaging. It reminds me of an old 30 Seconds to Mars track that captivated me for like six months straight. This track has those same chops and desirability factors. Spin it! French Cassettes – “Megabus” -I don’t like when ..read more

Nan MacMillan – “Seams” -I’ve probably made this comparison before, but every time I listen to Nan MacMillan’s voice I think of one of my favorite artists, Andrea von Kampen. I adore the soft, acoustic style of this song. The folksy guitar works well as a basis for the exceptional vocal work. The unhurried style of the song feels peaceful and endearing. The imagery seems to be natural, with a bird seeking flight. Put together, it’s a subtle and sweet bit of folk singer songwriter magic. Old Sea Brigade – “Polygraph” -I’m not sure how many times I’ve written about Old Sea Brigade, but they’re ..read more

Anna Tivel – “Desperation” -We’ve been featuring Anna Tivel’s music for years. Her songwriting always has a precision that takes me several listens to fully catch the meaning. There’s a poetic phrasing that really pops on this track “Desperation.” The lyric soars on the chorus, “all you ever had is desperation.” The message recounts a pain-inducing person. The funky beat offers something different, an almost alt rock sensibility from the usual folksy troubadour. It makes for a truly unique “folk pop” sound that will stand out as something new for Tivel’s loyal following and something catchy fo ..read more

Lily Kershaw – “Poem Song” -The calm piano work on this song is enough to pull in even the hardest hearted listener… but then the lyrics and Kershaw’s gorgeous voice just make the song even more special. This is a remarkable performance. The lyrics highlight a wide range of experiences and emotions that are sure to be relatable to many listeners. To me, what makes the song so meaningful is the way that Kershaw uses powerful vocals while singing these expressive, accessible ideas. I adore this one. Charm of Finches – “If You Know Me” -It’s impossible for me to listen to this song without think ..read more