Albert af Ekenstam just premiered his beautiful first track 'The Devil Bird' off the forthcoming album Ashes due October 14th. CLASH wrote of the track, "Matching the exquisite detail of Bon Iver to the sonic wash of Explosions In The Sky, his work is powerful, emotionally trenchant. Hugely affecting, the way each cut gently unfurls has a real sense of grace, a true sense of patience."

Albert is a brave and straightforward singer-songwriter. His melodies and lyrics are like uncensored and infinitely beautiful letters – without euphemisms and false chords they let you know what’s on his mind. At the same time, they’re universal – if you’ve loved and lost you can relate to them completely. Listen to "The Devil Bird" below.

From ​Daniel Amedee's EP, Life, due August 19th, "The Only God Is You" is a delicate folk song that embraces the positivity of looking inward and being happy with one's self. Listen below and read the full EP review here.

Big Hoax is an Alternative Americana/World band with members' roots stretching all over Maryland. It consists of Luke Alexander (lead vocals/guitar), Stephen Filer (strings/vocals), Peter Krutschnitt (drums/percussion), and David Lester (Bass). A band that has seen nothing but continuous growth since their start as a guitar-cello duo in February 2013 Big Hoax has performed alongside artists such as Mark Schatz of Nickel Creek, Little Feat, Delta Rae, Cabinet, The Steel Wheels, and The Streets of Laredo among others. In the 2015 Tiny Desk Concert Contest, Big Hoax was featured as an honorable mention for their live performance of their song "Over and Over" out of over 8,000 band submissions nationally. 

Big Hoax will release their first full-length album, Mirror Image, on June 24th. The fourteen track collection, all penned by Alexander, merges various genres - from folk to pop to middle eastern - for an eclectic, satisfying listen. One of the project's tracks, "Dreaming" is (as its name implies) a gorgeous, celestial waltz heavily influenced by Baroque elements that is truly transportive. Give a listen below and head to their website for more information.

Zack and Sam DuPont are a Burlington, VT based sibling indie-folk-Americana duo. Since the start of the band in March of 2013, the brothers have toured heavily throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, South and Midwest in a fully independent pursuit to get their songs to as many ears as possible. Their travels have opened doors to festival appearances at SXSW & Grand Point North in addition to performances in support of some of their musical heroes including Sturgill Simpson, Chris Eldridge & Julian Lage, and Jerry Douglas to name a few.

On June 3rd, the brothers released their latest album, A Riddle For You, which was recorded completely live. The eleven song project was fueled by "A deep trust in a collaboration between ourselves, our producer Michael Chorney and all of the musicians involved. These are the brains and spirits that elevated the songs to new heights and opened up the doors to a new direction of creativity and expression within our sound."

Give a listen to one of the tracks, the gentle and ruminative "Seven Days" here. 

For more information visit their official website.

Armed with an acoustic guitar, along with Juno Award-winning musicians Justin Abedin (electric guitar) and Sean O' Connor (whistle, flute and a couple of saxophones), David Leask set out to capture a group of songs, raw, live and in the moment. Almost all of the songs - a mix of country/americana & Celtic soul - were recorded live off the floor in one take at the historic Clarke Memorial Hall in Port Credit, Ontario. These songs now comprise David's fifth full-length release, The Clarke Hall Sessions.

Crackling with spontaneity and creative energy, this eclectic collection includes seven previously unreleased songs, four reinterpretations of fan favourites and a Celtic flavoured cover of Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic" which you can listen to below. For more information visit his official website.

​“Experience builds character, says singer-songwriter Clark Paterson.” You have to do shit to truly write great songs.”
 
Clark Paterson has done shit. From the family farm to the Chicago School of Folk Music; from the high-dollar world of Windy City real estate to seeing the world from a backpack; from a string of dingy honky tonks to a home in Nashville, Clark brings worlds of experience to his 35 years on the planet––and to his third and latest record, The Final Tradition. Recorded in Nashville by indie producer Eric McConnell (Todd Snider, Loretta Lynn, Will Kimbrough), The Final Tradition is no sunny travelogue. Clark’s songs have real narrative force and reflect the darkness and raw energy typically found in vintage country and punk––call it Grindhouse Country.
 
Assisting Clark and Eric are some of the Nashville indie scene’s grittiest players, including steel guitarist Paul Niehaus (Lambchop, Calexico), drummer John McTigue (Raul Malo, Brazilbilly), and Tim Carroll (Elizabeth Cook, Todd Snider). An experienced bunch, they know how to scream out of the gate, such as on “Kansas Saturday Night,” or lay low on “My Hands Know The Touch." One of the album's standout tracks, "Sweet Baby" is a vividly told traditional country story song filled with pedal steel and clever lyrics delivered by Paterson's forthright vocals.
Give it a listen below.
 
Of the record, Clark says,  “I think the record has a sense of story and purpose that most current records don't,” he says. “I play guitar and focus on writing music that appeals to me and is not being done on the radio. I love old country because it’s earnest and has an edge and there is a narrative that is largely missing from modern music. I love the darkness and the fact that it’s polarizing. And I love 70s punk rock like Iggy and The Stooges, The Ramones, and The Clash. It has balls and a message and always felt honest….”

Small Square, Paul Chastain (of Velvet Crush) and John L. Richardson (of Gin Blossoms), recently released their self-titled debut album on January 15th. The eleven-song project was recorded in a one-hundred-year-old barn in rural Wisconsin, an inner city apartment in Osaka, Japan and several points in-between and is an ear-pleasing slice of pure pop. One of the highlights of the album is the sensitive and moving "After the Tears" which features Adam Ollendorff (Will Hoge, Kacey Musgraves) on lap steel. The sweeping, Beatle-esque tune focuses on hope and persevering in a relationship, rather than opting to shut down - which is often much easier to do. 




​"And take a little time before you close another door 
And tell me that you can remember what you’re fighting for 
If you take a little time and slowly try again to feel 
It won’t be long before you know this is for real" 

To listen to the track and learn more about Small Square, visit their official website and Bandcamp page.

Born in Upstate NY, singer-songwriter Angie Bruyere spent her childhood running through the backwoods and roaming the train tracks, living the simple life that inspires many a lyric and melody. Settling in Southern California at a young age, Bruyere began a modeling career that took her on a journey around the world. Pen and paper in hand, she began writing poetry and playing her guitar, combining her two passions which led her to where she is today.

In 2014 Angie released West of The Night featuring singles "Mason Jar" and "Goodbyes."  Soon after the album's release, Fender highlighted her as Artist of The Month and brought her in to re-record both singles in their Fender Sessions Live Jams.

Recently, Angie and her band, The Deserters, released their new single, "Country Radio." Produced by Jeff Hutchins, the edgy alt-country, rockabilly track is from her upcoming EP, Blood Like Wine. A tale of lust and longing for a country singer she has supposedly only heard on the radio, Angie's vocal delivery - raw, sultry and with a hint of danger - leaves you wondering if there is more truth than imagination to the story. 
​
Angie has played at Joshua Tree's famous Pappy and Harriet's as well as other iconic venues in Southern California such as the Troubadour, The Roxy, and The Mint. In addition, she has toured extensively through the United States, as well as, Italy and England. For more information visit her official website.

Singer-songwriter Thomas Hine recently released his latest album, Some Notion or Novelty on March 28th. The thirteen song project, which currently sits at #14 on the Euro Americana Chart for May 2016, is a cohesive collection of songs (all penned by Hine) steeped in Americana and Folk. Standout tracks include album opener "Before The Sun Rises," the melodically tranquil "Just Like Juan Ortiz" and deeply reflective "My Nature." It's one you'll want to seek out and give a listen.

Listen on Spotify: https://play.spotify.com/album/4Tjq624wBcfiRFkRL7eQiT?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open

LA-based singer/songwriter Joy Oladokun combines roots rock, with folk songwriting and a soulful, honest voice. Writing and playing the guitar from the age of 10, Joy has always used music as a way to make sense of the struggles and celebrate the triumph of life. Recently she released her debut album, Carry. Oladokun states 'Every song stemmed from a lesson I learned, or a lesson I'm still learning. I write to process and to heal, and I sing to help others do the same. I think this past year has taught me that my voice is one of the few gifts I have, and I can use it to spread a lot of love and lift people up. That's the heart behind the album, and that's my motivation as a person too.’ 
The emotionally charged "Shelter" is the first single taken from the album. The incredibly moving song is about loving, and wanting love, from someone, but being patient and letting that person (who has been hurt), come to you on their own time. Oladokun conveys the lyrics with truth, generosity, and love and has said of the track, "Shelter is a song I wrote about learning how to receive love, and fighting to give it without reservation or condition." As it should be.

For more information visit her official website.