Aurgasm

vocal harmony // close harmony // country-folk

The Living Sisters might be releasing their debut album Love To Live, next month, but they certainly aren’t new to the scene. LA-based singer-songwriters Inara George (The Bird And The Bee), Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond) and Eleni Mandell have been performing for years with their own respective projects. Mandell first proposed the idea of a harmony group to Stark in 2005, and George jumped on board the following year. Since then, the trio has been working on The Living Sisters in rare stolen moments when all three were available, and the result is well worth the wait. Love To Live is a gorgeous collection of songs with nods to classic country harmony groups and a healthy splash of gospel, soul and folk for good measure. Throughout the album their crystalline voices take the spotlight; the trio’s heartfelt and pure harmonies give an intimacy to each song, and the end result is lovely and effortless. Take a listen to “Double Knots,” a sweet doo wop-inspired track, to tide yourself over until Love To Live becomes available in March.

Pure, unfiltered loveliness.
The Living Sisters – Double Knots
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singer-songwriter // folk pop

Sydney Wayser possesses an ear for melody and talent for songwriting that results in a collection of intimate and playful tunes. The half-French, half-American songwriter grew up in Los Angeles with frequent trips to Paris (and is now based in New York). This worldly charm is heard throughout her music, whether it’s the Southern-inspired “Banjo Bayou” or the dreamy allure of “Bells”. Though the majority of her sophomore album, The Colorful, was recorded on children’s toys and piano, there is nothing childish about it. Wayser’s alluring vocals and her unique instrumentals combine to rapturous effect. The Colorful wanders between light-hearted fun and poignant melody with ease.

Charming instrumentals and smoky vocals.
Sydney Wayser – Bells
Sydney Wayser – Banjo Bayou
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folk-pop // acoustic

Israeli-born New York-based Rosi Golan‘s debut album The Drifter & The Gypsy (2008) is 11 vibrant and neatly-crafted folk songs. Mostly accompanied by acoustic guitars as well as drums, bass, piano, banjo and mandolin, the album sways between folky tunes and mellow ballads. “Follow The Arrow” (not featured on the album) is probably the most uplifting, up-tempo and contagiously melodic track from Rosi’s repertoire. Another highlight (taken from the album this time) is the clever folk-driven “I Don’t Wanna Wait”, delivering catchy chorus with such a charming simplicity. The Drifter & The Gypsy will appeal to these who enjoy the tiny bit whimsical sounds of such artists as Ingrid Michaelson as well as the lovely songwriting of Lucy Schwartz.

Bright and light-hearted melodies.
Rosi Golan – Follow The Arrow
Rosi Golan – I Don’t Wanna Wait
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Appalachian // Folk // Shanty

Time leads me to belonging’s grace. The drifting mountains, sifting hills, forests enclave, gravel pounds. Walking til’ my feat falls flat, I rest under trees why leaves camouflage me. Already west when my quest is back home.. in a faint, beckoning assuage. Reminiscent of Ma who always cared too much, with her love undying now a comforting memory, as footsteps in my soul on a path to soar. Black-eyed Susans and their friends breaking earth around me. Do they sing when they see the sun? A shout, a gasp, or a sigh for eternity? What do they believe? The strum of petals forgiving sin; steady growth like beard and wind; bark that bites, angels who romp, and heartbeat knock, tick-tock, of a flock. Do they or the birds above see me? Window’s fog is revealing fingerprinted faces, and a Portland, Maine man, David Lamb, has Rhode Islands across lakes of succumbing fate to find The Devil Dancing.

Soft shoes and skull shakers.
Brown Bird – Bottom of the Bottle
Brown Bird – Severed Soul
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singer-songwriter // indie folk // holiday

After hearing Canadian songwriter Meaghan Smith’s sweet and carefree songs it shouldn’t come as a surprise that she grew up in a house of music, with her piano-teacher mother, bassist father and three talented sisters. Her affinity for the sounds of the “˜20s, “˜30s and “˜40s features heavily in her music as well. While the jazz-influenced indie folk of Meaghan Smith embraces instrumentation from older eras, the Canadian songwriter gives it her own contemporary twist (Meaghan herself dubs it “modern vintage”). Regardless of what you’d like to call it, her unique take on the holiday classic, “Silver Bells” and her original winter song, “It Snowed” is just what you need to get you in the holiday mood!

Traditional holiday songs go “modern vintage”.
Meaghan Smith – It Snowed
Meaghan Smith – Silver Bells
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