Tag Archives: alternative folk

LISTEN: After Love and Loss, Amanda Keeley Finds ‘Better Days’

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Acceptance is a vital part of moving on at the end of a relationship. That means coming to terms with everything that relationship was or wasn’t, and everything that it did — or did not — have the potential to be.

Amanda Keeley hits us with that realization with her new single, “Better Days.” The resilient tune paints expired love through an objective lens — an important part of the recovery process.

“The words came to me at a time where I needed help processing the loss and letting go of a longtime relationship,” Keeley said. “I’m grateful for this song finding its way through me as it helped immensely with closure and moving forward from a place of love.”

Keeley’s smoky vocals call to mind the soulful delivery of contemporaries like Sara Bareilles and Brandi Carlile, while the spellbinding, rhythmic folk-rock instrumental of “Better Days” conjures shades of Fleetwood Mac. The song’s steadfast tempo marches us along, akin to the days and weeks which provide clarity following a breakup.

“As a songwriter, I interpret many life experiences through songs. In this case, I found myself with certain lines floating through my mind like, ‘thought we were more than this, let us go, let it die, all the flowers have dried and just dust in the wind,'” Keeley said. “It really felt like the perfect way to clearly communicate how I was feeling. The grief I was experiencing was pretty intense; the ‘flowers’ felt like a representation of the need for a funeral of sorts to really grieve this loss, and once the flowers ‘dried and just dust in the wind,’ this was me coming to terms with it being over and letting go.”

“Better Days” is part of Keeley’s forthcoming album, which will dive further into the topics of loving, losing, and learning to love again.

“(The album) will be a compilation of songs telling stories of love; finding ourselves, our place in this world, and the one’s we’re meant to be with,” Keeley said. Also, stories of loss; heartbreak, letting go, and finally healing.”

LISTEN: On ‘Where Are You Now,’ Matthew Ryan Jacobs Captures Life’s Bittersweet Journey

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Life doesn’t always wait until we’re ready to make changes.

Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario-based songwriter Matthew Ryan Jacobs has experienced plenty of growth over the past few years, and he captures its essence on “Where Are You Now.” This bluesy waltz is passed through a gritty alt-rock filter, as Jacobs helps us reflect on the pivotal moments that comprise life’s bittersweet journey.

“’Where Are you Now’ is mostly about making changes in your life, whether you want to or not,” Jacobs said. “A lot of my writing over the last few years has had a lot to do with getting older or growth; and the struggle of leaving certain things or people in your past. It’s not intended to be a negative narrative, just honest. Even if you know you’re making the right — or at least, better — decision, you still second guess yourself along the way.”

“At least I do.”

Produced by Ben Kempel, Jacobs describes “Where Are You Now” as a song that “just kind of happened” — much like the reality that inspired its narrative.

“I didn’t overthink anything in the process. It felt right, so we went with it,” Jacobs said. “I had a pretty clear vision for the production, and Ben did a great job as usual making it happen.“

LISTEN: With ‘Questions I Can’t Ask,’ falllift Finds Closure

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Sometimes, the only closure we’ll receive is that which we give ourselves.

North Carolina-based duo falllift explores the topic on their new single, “Questions I Can’t Ask.” The pair — songwriters Micah Cottingham and William Steven Hall — worked in tandem to craft the narrative, which addresses the words left unsaid after love has run its course.

‘”Questions I Can’t Ask’ is a song about closure where there was none,” they explained. “It’s about letting go and wishing someone peace, even when the same grace wasn’t given. This song is full of the things we would say to these people, the questions we would ask, if given the chance.

Listeners can expect a gorgeous, sweeping alt-folk arrangement; one whose impact hits us with a crescendo of both sound and emotion as the track progresses. Produced by Nick Bullock and mastered by GRAMMY Award-winner Kim Rosen, “Questions I Can’t Ask” features the talents of Clark Singleton (bass), Aaron Shafer-Haiss (drums), and Emanuel Wynter (violin).

“We chose Nick to produce the singles we’ve released this year, and we couldn’t be happier,” the duo said. “He took our ideas and transformed them into world-class tunes, while maintaining the artistic integrity we presented. Clark nailed the bass and Aaron added an effortless touch on the drums. Emanuel did what only he could do on the violin, and Kim taught us about mastering with her GRAMMY-winning touch.”

You may be hearing “Questions I Can’t Ask” around much more very soon. The song was picked up for sync placement on the long-running hit ABC series, Grey’s Anatomy.

Not only has falllift found success with this release — they’ve found great artistic and personal fulfillment.

“Although it can be difficult for some to address prior relationships, we felt it was important for us to give ourselves that space.”

WATCH: On ‘Philadelphia,’ William Harries Graham Shares Joyful Reflections

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Photo credit: Col Elmore

We can appreciate our youth for what it was, while realizing that there is happiness to be found in the present.

That is the theme of William Harries Graham’s new single, “Philadelphia.” The third single from Graham’s forthcoming album, Annie’s House (due out Oct. 25), the spacious folk ballad is hallmarked by hushed, reflective vocals and a wistful, yet steadfast acoustic arrangement.

“‘Philadelphia’ really is a song about looking back at the life you had when you were young and could do anything, but not missing it,” Graham said. “There is something nostalgic about that youth, but this song is about finding joy in every stage of life.”

The music video — directed by Ruby Lavin and WITH — conjures faded memories of summers gone by, as various adventures across the great American landscape are presented through a grainy lens. These scenes are weaved between Graham by himself, strumming and singing in a lawn chair. The Austin-based troubadour’s relaxed demeanor communicates a sense of peace for all that was, is, and will be.

“When people hear this album, I want them to walk away from it with some reflection on their own lives and experiences.” Graham said. “The music that I personally connect with is always music where I see some part of myself in it. I hope you see yourself in Annie’s House.”

LISTEN: Ben Carr Laments Repeated Lessons on ‘Same Mistakes’

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Having trouble getting out of your own way? You’ll relate to this…

Ben Carr released “Same Mistakes” over the holiday weekend. The Irish-born, Nashville-based songwriter blends his soulful Celtic croon with a spacious, up-tempo folk soundscape to call out our shared human tendency to repeat hard lessons.

“The song is somewhat of a lament, detailing a frustration of making similar mistakes over and over, and not learning from past downfalls,” Carr said. “At the same time, the song carries an energetic bop that will hopefully keep people entertained wherever they listen.

Carr has a busy summer up ahead; in addition to an EP release in June, he’s set to return to Donegal, Ireland for a run of summer shows. Follow him for the details, and check out “Same Mistakes” below!

LISTEN: Mackenzie Shrieve, Jane Bruce Re-Imagine ‘Didn’t I Tell Ya’

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Sometimes, a track is so nice, the artist has to release it twice.

Brooklyn-based folk artist Mackenzie Shrieve released her album, In the While, in 2021. One of the songs, “Didn’t I Tell Ya,” captivated Shrieve’s audience so much that she teamed up with fellow folk singer Jane Bruce to give it new life.

“When I saw Jane perform for the first time, I was immediately enamored by her songwriting and vocal performance,” Shrieve said. “She is one of my favorite folk singers of all time. I knew that I wanted to re-release this song and I knew whatever Jane decided to do with it would be breathtaking – and I was right!”

“Didn’t I Tell Ya” was written as a “bittersweet reflection on the intricacies of a past relationship.” The song features a gentle fingerpicked guitar progression and a spacious, minimalist soundscape which allows its nostalgic narrative to shine. Shrieve’s earnest, Dylan-esque storytelling has won the hearts of her contemporaries, including Bruce.

“Mackenzie is an incredible writer and one of the hardest-working artists I know,” Bruce said. “I heard ‘Didn’t I Tell Ya’ for the first time while we were on the same bill at Arlene’s Grocery, and it stopped me in my tracks. It’s a perfect song! Simple, true, specific, and yet completely relatable. We’ve been fans of one another since then, and I was over the moon when she asked me to feature on one of her tunes. When I found out it was this one, my heart swelled.”

WATCH: The Steel Wheels Learn We Can’t Always Be the ‘Hero’

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Photo credit: Mike Lee

What a powerful realization, to understand that we can’t always rescue the ones we love.

The Steel Wheels examine the limited power mere mortals possess on “Hero,” their new single from the forthcoming album, Sideways (Feb. 9). The single was inspired by frontman Trent Wagler trying to help one of his children through a mental health crisis, and the ensuing realization that we can’t always be the hero in everyone’s story.

“‘Hero’ was written to describe the way we all cast ourselves in the leading role of our story, while also touching on some of the particular pitfalls of a white, straight, cis-gendered man trying to ‘help’ or ‘fix’ situations where I just need to be in a supporting role,” shares Wagler. “I wrote this song in the midst of trying to help my child in a serious mental health crisis, needing to be OK with it being their story, and really taking a back seat to try to listen and understand exactly what they were needing in the moment, rather than what I needed to tell them about the situation they were in.” 

“Hero” is accompanied by a music video featuring the band in a contemplative dance routine opposite Wagler’s daughter and several of her friends, all of whom are enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University’s dance and choreography program. At first, the two “troupes” perform separately, as if to illustrate the disconnect between the “fixer” and individual in crisis. In the end, however, the two sides come together, demonstrating the shared understanding that comes from listening to the needs of another.

“You Are Loved”: Cass Noelle Releases Devastatingly Beautiful Single, ‘Someone to Help You’

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Cass Noelle is a songwriter who has known overwhelming love and devastating loss. The Pennsylvania-based “chickfolk” troubadour communicates her experiences by channeling an array of influences; from revered artists like Brandi Carlile, Joni Mitchell, The Cranberries, and Jewel; to architects of “beautifully sad” compositions, like The Civil Wars and Over the Rhine.

“Beautifully sad” is an accurate description of her debut single, “Someone to Help You.” Written about her husband’s passing from a drug overdose in the summer of 2022, Cass notes that “writing this song and getting it out there has been the most therapeutic part of my healing journey.”

“This is a song of desperation. It’s a pouring out of raw emotion that I know many can relate to,” she states. “Watching someone you love turn into an unrecognizable version of themselves is pure pain. It’s wrought with psychological torment and a constant agony over setting boundaries, while trying to facilitate every kind of help.”

Produced by Bobby Siegfried of Studio B Creative, “Someone to Help You” features emotive, powerhouse vocals on top of gently finger-picked guitars. Siegfried added a layer of studio magic with foundational keyboard layers, which carry the weight of a full string arrangement to bring forth the song’s raw emotion.

A music video was directed by Richie Ares of theLionhearted, and was accompanied by a page of resources for those struggling with addiction or suicidal ideation on Cass Noelle’s website.

“We all carry our trauma differently, and addiction is a symptom of deeper issues. If you’re struggling with addiction, you are not alone. You are loved and worthy of healing. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. I urge you to take steps to break the cycle of shame and self-destruction,” Cass said. “If you love an addict, you’re in good company. If you’ve set healthy boundaries, you should be proud of yourself. If you’ve lost an addict, my heart hurts for you.”

“You are loved.”

LISTEN: On ‘Hide the Key,’ Andi Jane Closes the Door on Toxic Love

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We’ve all had that relationship — or situationship — that reaches the point of doing more harm than good to us, our partner, and anyone else around. In the end, stopping the pain means stopping it in its tracks altogether.

And, as Nashville-based songwriter Andi Jane suggests on her new single, sometimes simply closing the door just isn’t enough.

Carrying a sense of timeless, country-flavored balladry, “Hide the Key” is an emotionally gripping account of a love best left behind. Andi Jane’s every soulful word cuts through the ether, as she hits the listener with the somber realization of “it’s over.”

“‘Hide the Key’ is about the point when you realize you can’t keep the door open — to that person, or that habit, or whatever you keep going back to — without drawing it out and causing more pain,” she said. “It’s about realizing when it’s time to hold the memories dear, but shut the door, lock it, and hide the key.”

The artfully minimalist soundscape of “Hide the Key” exists in contrast to the events that led up to its creation, representative of the stark realization we all face when we choose to walk away.

“This song needed to be so simple. I had come from a chaotic, toxic, back-and-forth relationship that was so messy and complicated and painful. I had the realization one day that it was really so simple,” she said. “To end the pain was easy; I just had to cut all ties, and hide the key. It didn’t mean I didn’t still appreciate the story, the memories, and even still have love for the person, but I had to lock it up in order to move on.”

LISTEN: AGE of the BEAR Wows Us (Again) with ‘Waterfell’

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We’ve known the incredibly talented Anthony Cubbage since our shared time in Pennsylvania, during the days of a little upstart music blog called Lehigh Valley Underground.

Life has since taken us to different locations. As you may know, we rebranded and arrived in Nashville in 2018, while Cubbage relocated to a burgeoning original music scene in upstate New York a couple years back. Through it all, one thing that has remained consistent is Cubbage’s ability to write and release compelling, emotive songs. No matter the genre, he always seems to strike gold.

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