Folk music encompasses a wide range of styles and traditions. Generally, this form is composed of songs with lyrics that tell stories from cultures around the world.
Folk has seen a resurgence as an artistic movement with experimental artists who explore various genres. These bands often push the envelope and have made significant impact on the world of folk music.
Bon Iver
American folk music is one of the most influential genres of music and it continues to reflect our culture. This type of music is created without a record label, giving musicians freedom to create their own sounds and craft original songs.
Bon Iver has been at the forefront of modern folk music with their soulful orchestrated sounds. Their hushed vocals, quivering falsettos and intricate instrumentals come together to form captivating songs that showcase unique elements.
What sets them apart from their peers in this genre is their distinct sound that stands out from everything else available in music. Theirs is truly a unique voice that stands out from everything else out there.
Their success can be attributed to their music; they’ve sold over two million albums worldwide and earned numerous accolades along the way.
They have even captured the attention of hip hop icon Kanye West, who has collaborated with them multiple times.
Their debut album For Emma, Forever Ago was an impressive work of art that won fans over with its poetic beauty and sparse composition. Recorded in a remote cabin in Wisconsin, it remains widely regarded as one of the greatest indie folk albums of all time.
After his debut release, Vernon continued to explore his sound and incorporate more electronic elements. On his next album, 22 A Million, Vernon took this experimentation even further – with stunning results.
Lianne La Havas
Five years have passed since Lianne La Havas’ debut album Blood, and now she returns with an eclectic mix of self-produced tracks that are both captivating and popular. This record offers an honest take on love and relationships that has never been done before.
La Havas opens her record with an exquisite cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes,” which she transforms into her own ballad with captivating underwater guitars and driving basslines. She takes a song she originally sang during jam sessions with friends and adds personal touches and an intense sense of intimacy rarely experienced in modern music.
She uses this song as an opportunity to introduce herself and let her voice take center stage. Her voice has an ethereal quality reminiscent of Prince, while her lyrics are sensual and vulnerable.
Another characteristic of her music is the wide range of influences it draws from, from blues and jazz to Brazilian music. The harmonies and melodies she sings express human emotion honestly and aren’t afraid to confront difficult subjects.
Her songs aren’t just about love; they’re also about finding peace in a troubled world. She explores the intricacies of human existence through interweaving personal stories. The result is an incredibly satisfying listen, and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
Rosalia
Rosalia has created a unique space as an artist by blending various genres to create music that feels both contemporary and timeless. It’s been quite the challenge, but so far the balance seems to have worked out well for her.
After graduating from Catalonia College of Music in 2017, she signed with Universal and saw her debut album Los Angeles become an instant hit. It generated international attention and her sophomore release El Mal Querer was nominated for several awards.
The flamenco singer began experimenting with her style, fusing elements of reggaeton, bachata and bolero into her music. She quickly gained notoriety among top musicians like J Balvin and Ozuna.
She has truly exceeded herself with her new record, MOTOMAMI. A concept album, it explores the end of a relationship and her struggles with fame through danceable tracks that range from joy to sorrow.
Motomami was described by the singer as her most personal project to date. Drawing upon experiences gained over three years since her last album, she combined them with new production skillset to create an eclectic sound that draws inspiration from classic rock acts like James Blake and Bjork. By mixing reggaeton, bachata, flamenco and bolero with hip hop beats, electronic textures and piano melodies she creates an intricate blend that pays homage to James Blake and Bjork from years gone by.
Iceberg Ferg
Iceberg Ferg, currently based in Berlin, are one of the few contemporary folk music bands I would consider giving a chance. Their sound is more akin to Yo la Tengo meets Cocorosie than any traditional folk band I’ve heard and while they don’t possess an outstanding songwriting team, their songs are well written and carefully crafted.
They use the ukulele as their main instrument, giving their music a lighthearted quality that I really appreciate. Additionally, they incorporate brass instruments, musical saw, and other instruments for an array of tones throughout each song.
Their lyrics contain complex ideas and this makes for a more varied sound than one might expect from a folk band. This is an impressive record that deserves some consideration among fans of folk music.
The Iceberg Theory is their newest collaboration with Blah Records’ CLBRKS and Scottish producer Vagrant Real Estate, featuring distinct flow and vibrant imagery with lush soul samples and icy gothic textures. Created remotely over the year between London and Aberdeen, this album leaves me eager to see what else they have in store for us.
They are a young but talented band with the potential to become an influential mainstream act. Unfortunately, they haven’t received enough exposure yet; I believe they have great chances at reaching this goal.
Animal Collective
Animal Collective began as a loose-knit group of friends from Baltimore County, Maryland who met while playing together as teenagers. Their love for psychedelic music and experiments in the recording studio soon bonded them together and formed an artistic collective.
They began as Automine, but soon adopted a distinct identity. Their debut album, Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished was released under this moniker and was followed by several live performances across Europe.
After taking a short hiatus, the four members of this band reunited in New York to further refine their sound and take their act to new heights. David Portner, Noah Lennox, Josh Dibb and Brian Weitz chose the name “Animal Collective” as an umbrella term that encompassed everything they did – creating something truly unique.
With this name, they were free to express their creativity freely, creating an eclectic discography that propelled them into the spotlight of underground music in a way few bands could. It took them some time to find their footing but once they did, they released seven full-lengths in seven years which brought in an entirely new audience eager to discover the band’s eccentricities and creativity.
Their 2009 album Merriweather Post Pavilion was a critical and commercial hit, solidifying Animal Collective as one of modern music’s most distinctive acts. Combining melodic songwriting impulses, electronic production elements, and just enough signature weirdness to maintain their exploratory spirit, the record set the bar for future albums which pushed boundaries while staying true to their creative vision.
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom is one of the brightest stars on the modern indie-folk scene. She’s renowned for her virtuosic harp playing and captivating singing voice that sounds like Kate Bush with an edge.
Her musical influences range from classical harp training to mountain music and jazz. Her early albums are rooted in progressive rock, while later ones tend towards pop and orchestral sounds.
Newsom not only plays the harp, but she also plays drums and guitar. But more than that, she’s an accomplished singer-songwriter as well. Since 2004, Newsom has released three critically acclaimed albums; her most recent being Divers (2015).
Many of her songs bypass traditional melodies in favor of childlike vocal lines that create complex characters in fantasy worlds or Beast Fable tales. Her lyrical work is just as challenging, often featuring themes related to nature and spirituality.
Her music possesses an innocence and childlike wonder that’s evident throughout. Her lyrics elicit the kind of twee, poppy music popular in some corners of indie rock culture.
Her virtuosic harp is not just a distraction; it’s an integral part of her musical identity. Combining classical and folk arpeggios with African syncopation creates an impressive display of technical proficiency.
She’s become a controversial artist in indie rock, inspiring both intense admiration or fierce opposition. She’s even been labeled “cloudcuckoo land,” an insult which she strongly dislikes.