Folk music represents an inclusive embrace in times of global upheaval. And with new musicians carrying on its traditions, folk seems to be evolving with changing times.
Joanna Newsom epitomizes this modern approach to folk with her exquisite harp-plucking and childishly playful vocals.
Animal Collective
Animal Collective, an eccentric indie rock band known for creating music that draws from an expansive, varied sonic palette, has quickly become one of the most influential groups of their era. At their best, Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz) transcend genres while pushing creative boundaries through freeform improvisation and free exploration.
But their methods remain mysterious even to those closest to them. At its most mysterious, Strawberry Jam and 2009’s Merriweather Post Pavilion seem to exist in an endless state of entrainment; from My Girls’ raga-like fibrillations to Summertime Clothes’ kazoo army march, each song unfolds according to some obscure logic.
Animal Collective have become more restrained and focused over time. They have toned down some of their more experimental excesses in favor of adopting an accessible yet creatively challenging pop aesthetic, expanding their sonic palette to include Gilberto Gil’s sunny sheen and English folk elements while still applying their signature psych-pop collages to various collaborations.
In 2019, they rented a house in Leipers Fork, Tennessee and set up a makeshift studio. Each member brought their own equipment before saying farewell to children and spouses so the magic could unfold. Painting With was born of that session: an eclectic mix of sonic experiments and pop songs reflecting an increase in freedom and experimentation among its members. Since then they’ve released four similar albums; yet each time outing of this band has changed them in new ways.
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom has earned herself a place as one of the great folk icons with her unique blend of indie and traditional folk music, her mesmerizing vocals, Celtic harp playing, and complex lyrics often including multiple-layered metaphors and double meaning wordplay. Even with such complex lyrics that may be difficult to interpret at times, her music remains accessible despite this complexity; her sound combines indie folk and traditional folk elements seamlessly; while Newsom is revered as one of its major influencers since over 10 years; her fairy tale-esque songs sound mesmerizing while her harp playing is captivating, making every note count in each compositional process a masterclass!
Newsom was raised in Nevada City, California where her mother taught piano and guitar lessons. Through these lessons she studied various forms of harp music – West African, Celtic and bluegrass among them – as well as attending folk music camps when she was young. Soon thereafter she began to write her own songs; eventually releasing an EP entitled the Walnut Whales which quickly found favor with independent musicians.
Newsom’s debut album, Ys, received critical acclaim upon its release. Although predominantly folk, Newsom utilizes it as a vehicle to explore the limits of a genre which may sometimes feel restrictive and rigid. Her songs on Ys are rich and detailed; musical movements move slowly yet never tiresomely; with songs including references to poems, paintings and historical figures; her album provides an exploration of life itself.
Ys is one of the most influential folk albums ever created and should be on any music lover’s listening list. Though complex in structure, it remains accessible if one takes time and effort to untangle its many references.
Rosalia
Rosalia, also known as a Spanish Beyonce,” offers a breath of fresh air in an age when pop stars’ music often lacks diversity. A mezzo-soprano with an iconic voice often described as both Janet Jackson- and Carmen Amaya-like, she first gained recognition with her second album El Mal Querer (roughly translated as “bad love”) which features chapters inspired by a 13th century manuscript detailing an abusive lover seeking revenge through song. Each track comes complete with dance sequences inspired by flamenco and hip-hop styles.
As folk music’s influence grows, pioneering innovators are finding creative ways to push its limits. Artists such as Banjolectric and Kelly Hunt pay authentic tribute to musical traditions while others blend traditional genres with contemporary production styles. Given global unrest, folk music seems the perfect complement.
While some might dismiss hip-hop and country as forms of folk music, both genres have long been influenced by traditional roots. Some of the first successful folk artists of recent times were rappers and country singers who took inspiration from traditional folk such as Billie Ellish and Carrie Newcomer.
Rosalia has enjoyed an extraordinary rise this year, working alongside top artists like J Balvin. Her video for “Con Altura” quickly went to the top of YouTube charts – outstripping Billie Ellish’s “Bad Bunny” and Ariana Grande’s “thank you, next” respectively in both views and streams – while her debut album won best Latin album of 2019. Rosalia has been described by The New York Times as an unabashed “gusty rule-breaker,” making her one of the strongest voices in music today’s industry.
Iceberg Ferg
Iceberg Ferg, like so many musicians worldwide, draws his influence from multiple cultures to craft an original take on folk music. His acoustic guitar-driven songs evoke nostalgic childhood memories while his unique style draws from bluegrass and jazz influences as well.
Joanna Newsom is another contemporary folk musician who uses her harp to take listeners into her imagined dreamscapes. Her haunting ethereal vocals and minimalist instrumentation transport listeners into an otherworldly experience, while her lyrics feature vivid metaphors such as abortion, Christianity and marriage in her song “Sprout and the Bean”.
Folk artists enjoy great creative freedom in their music-making process and its evolution is never-ending. Even as some ancient forms fade away, others are being reinterpreted and combined with contemporary styles for preservation of tradition culture. This process is known as natural metabolism.
Some modern folk artists have taken an exciting new direction by incorporating experimentalism and psychedelia into their music, adding fresh perspectives to this genre. It’s great that folk has long been used as a form of creative expression; now these new artists are taking it even further.
Others have taken more unconventional approaches to bring back into fashion the genre of folk. Odetta Holmes famously sang of revolutionary socialist dreams in 1940 which can still resonate today’s turbulent climate; Rosalia mesmerizes audiences with flamenco’s sparse design and captivating vocals; Arka’n Asrafokor and Nechochwen play African folk metal which doesn’t resemble its conventional sound at all!
Leyla McCalla
Leyla McCalla brings to her music an intoxicating sense of place and deep appreciation of eloquent simplicity. A Haitian-American and former member of Carolina Chocolate Drops (an African-American string band band), McCalla is known for playing cello, banjo and singing lyrics that explore postcolonial pan-African themes.
Hughes draws upon various musical traditions, from old-time Cajun and bluegrass to Haitian folk songs in her recent recordings. She was recognized by multiple media outlets as having produced one of the year’s best albums with 2022’s Breaking the Thermometer featuring both poetry by Hughes as well as Haitian folk songs – making for one of their best albums that year.
McCalla and her co-artists Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah and Allison Russell’s critically-acclaimed collaborative album Songs of Our Native Daughters was released by Smithsonian Folkways in 2019. Drawing inspiration from past sources to craft an alternative slave narrative that challenged outdated views about America’s history of slavery, racism, misogyny and misogyny from an authentic modern Black female perspective.
Sun Without the Heat continues this trajectory by adding in more French and Haitian Creole language and material, along with more stylistic diversity. As a result, she creates an album which imaginatively maps out her vision of Afro-Caribbean diaspora, calling upon bodily, social and emotional wisdom as well as providing a gentle critique against Anglocentricism.
Though her writing can have an abstract quality at times, McCalla demonstrates her talent and dedication to telling meaningful tales. Although still beginning her career journey, her releases so far show steady progress towards developing an adult voice and vision.