singer-songwriter posts

Farryl Purkiss

Sunday, March 30th, 2008 by Kyle

singer-songwriter // acoustic pop

Butterfly’s wings lift measures as Farryl’s voice strengthens chords bound to your heartstrings. From an open book on the north shore of KZN, South Africa, he sings his life in pages charted by notes and emotional highlights. Like a good friend in a local pub, watching a few beers disappear with, he’s there, standing by a mic, helping slay those grumpy distractions away. Where faint sounds of surf whisper through quiet nights, and feelings billow like smoke from campfire lights, there is cast his first chapter’s reminisce.

Simple, inviting songs, waiving to your ears.
Farryl Purkiss – Better Days
Farryl Purkiss – Times Like These
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Kat Flint

Saturday, February 23rd, 2008 by Julija

folk // singer-songwriter

With her little piano-folk melodies, gently played acoustic guitars and well thought out lyrics, Scottish songstress Kat Flint embodies the essential aspects of contemporary folk music. The lyrical notes, vibrant freshness and catchy multi-layered vocal lines of “Go Stripes Faster” instantly captured my heart, while addictive hand-claps and kazoo-playing of “Anticlimax” showcase the quirkier side of her songwriting skills. Stylistically comparable to numerous folk-oriented artists, Kat brings emotion and a distinctive quality to every song she crafts.

A promising talent to the newly flourishing British folk scene.
Kat Flint – Go Faster Stripes
Kat Flint – Anticlimax
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Dawn Landes

Monday, November 19th, 2007 by Julija

bluegrass // folk

Expanding understanding of American roots music, in a place described as a cross between a garage and studio in Texas, Dawn Landes and The We Sorta Tried Bluegrass Band recorded a cover of Peter Bjorn and John’s “Young Folks”. As a result, the whole bunch rendered the pop classic into a bluegrass gem of switching male-female vocal parts, accompanied by acoustic stringed instrumentation. New York-based gifted interpreter, sound engineer and songwriter Dawn Landes possesses a natural ability for bridging raw folk and alt country, and the beguiling intimacy and spontaneity of her songs is comparable to such artists as Beth Orton and Cat Power.

Giving new life to old-time traditions.
Dawn Landes – Young Folks
Dawn Landes – Twilight
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Daphné

Friday, October 26th, 2007 by Julija

french pop // intimate songwriting

Featured on Aurgasm three years ago, The Lovers transfered a catchy rumba riff into their delightful lounge track “Crick Crack”. In 2007, exploring her entrancing style, French chanteuse Daphné adopts the same riff to her delicate arrangements of “Musicamor”. Beautifully comprised of Daphné’s airy voice and Gonzales’ piano playing, “Un Homme Sous Influence” reveals such a personal sense of poetry. Daphné manages to take her listeners on a voyage of subtle emotions and sentiments, and was compared to a fairy by the French press.

Enchanting voice weaves into well-crafted compositions.
Daphné – Musicamor
Daphné – Un Homme Sous Influence
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Vincent Delerm

Thursday, October 18th, 2007 by Julija

chanson française // singer-songwriter

Vincent Delerm revives French chanson tradition by incorporating certain retro elements with his eccentric tendencies and the feeling of melancholy. Catchy, jaunty piano driven “Il Fait Si Beau” is vibrant with enthusiasm, while “Natation Synchronisée” charms with its whimsical string arrangements, Vincent’s calm, relaxed voice. Pianist, composer and singer, Vincent possesses a good sense of humour, and his elegant songwriting style keeps the chanson compelling and modern.

Surprising blend of youthfulness and nostalgia.
Vincent Delerm – Il Fait Si Beau
Vincent Delerm – Natation Synchronisée
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Cary Brothers

Wednesday, October 10th, 2007 by Michelle

singer-songwriter // indie folk // soundtrack maven

Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, chances are you’ve heard at least two of his songs. “Blue Eyes” and “Ride” were both featured on the soundtracks for “Garden State” and “The Last Kiss,” respectively. Don’t let that deter you. Cary has the incredible ability to home in on a variety of emotions, whether it’s heartache or defiance or a little of both. Each feeling is magnified, and while listening it’s as if at any moment you’ll burst into a million pieces.

If you had your own soundtrack, he’d be on it too.
Cary Brothers – Honestly
Cary Brothers – If You Were Here (Thompson Twins cover)
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Yael Naim

Sunday, October 7th, 2007 by Julija

pop folk // soft r&b

When Paris-born, Israeli-raised Yael Naim met David Donatien, a West Indian drummer, the two sat down to share their rich musical experiences. Combining Yael’s classical education and love of pop and jazz, this collaboration lead into recording 13 beautifully arranged compositions, mostly sung in Hebrew, with instrumentation of piano, guitar, cello, bass and percussion. While the mood ranges from melancholic to sweeter and hopeful notes, she carries intimate feeling throughout her songs.

Never-fading optimism that leaves you smiling and humming along.
Yael Naim – New Soul
Yael Naim – Pachad

UPDATE 01/16/2008: “New Soul” is featured in Apple’s ad for the Macbook Air (thx, zelnox!)
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Gwyneth Herbert

Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 by Andrew Ladd

jazz // folk // acoustic

At the Fringe venue where I work most summers, the name Gwyneth Herbert has always lurked deep in the music program, and this year I finally decided to check her out. This is what I wrote about the show at the time:

She is stop-you-in-your-tracks, shoot-you-in-the-face fantastic. Her lyrics are tight, her voice elegant, her manner onstage masterful; and it was all backed up by some really superb guitar by Al Cherry.

These tracks are from her latest LP, Between Me And The Wardrobe, which has just been picked up by Blue Note UK. They’re full of beautifully sparse instrumentation over which her vocals get to really gleam and shine. Do yourself a favour and buy the album.

Quiet and beguiling.
Gwyneth Herbert – Lay You Down
Gwyneth Herbert – Sweet Thing
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Emily Loizeau

Saturday, September 22nd, 2007 by Julija

chanson française // singer-songwriter

Influenced by such French chanson classics as Serge Gainsbourg, the melancholic vein of American music idols, such as Tom Waits and Bob Dylan, and inventive Andrew Bird’s compositions, Emily Loizeau carefully crafts her tuneful melodies. Charming with her sincere joyfulness and wit, piano-playing singer and composer, Emily brings so much warmth and quirky freshness to nouvelle scène française. The playfulness of her debut album L’Autre Bout Du Monde (2006), its catchy choruses and certain cabaret pop moments, is infinitely enjoyable.

Whimsical piano fueled songwriting.
Emily Loizeau – Je Ne Sais Pas Choisir
Emily Loizeau – Boby Chéri
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Ferraby Lionheart

Wednesday, September 5th, 2007 by Michelle

singer-songwriter // indie folk // bedroom rock

Ferraby, an LA-born, Nashville-raised, Los Angeles-returnee, recorded his self-titled EP in his bedroom, and the intimacy of that fact is echoed in all of its tracks. Each one is brimming with honesty, optimism and a touch of vulnerability. His tenuous voice and the folky-upbeat tone of his songs is an addictive and comforting combination. Even though he recorded his newly released LP Catch The Brass Ring, in a large studio, none of this intimacy is lost. According to Ferraby’s biography, “He wants people to care about the planet. He wants people to care about other people.” Lion-hearted, indeed.

Music that makes you ache and smile, all at once.
Ferraby Lionheart – Call Me the Sea
Ferraby Lionheart – Small Planet

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