Hailing from Portland, Oregon Clara Baker's music expresses a strong sense of being in touch with nature and herself. Her newest single "Doubt" is her first release since her 2015 LP and is the lead single off of her second album Things to Burn produced by Shane Leonard (Field Report). Within "Doubt" is the sound of a troubadour, one that sings songs around campfires as people listen in, eager to hear how the storyteller has woven a tale into a melody. As a folk artist, Baker has mastered the lyricism required to tell good stories above a rich musical landscape. "My mama brought me up with on faith / my daddy brought me up with facts / I go to pray at the altar of the certainty I lack." There is a sacredness to "Doubt" in it's hushed tones and stringed instruments that prays tribute to it being anchored in the religious. As Baker reflects on what she taught from her upbringing she is learning not to run away or despise the doubt that comes along with faith and but rather see both as valid and worthwhile. Things to Burn is out March 8.

SXSW favorite Aisha Badru released a haunting and intriguing new single early this month that caught our attention. "Fossil Fuels" is significant for many reasons, from Aisha's captivating voice to its lyrical content, this song hits all the right notes. Lines like  "Flowers cannot bloom without precipitation/ And lovers will not last without reciprocation" and "I kept you warm 'til I was ashes" are so well-crafted while also introspective. These lyrics are only made better with the moody dubstep-like music that accompanies them making this song both vulnerable and intense all at the same time. Dynamically "Fossil Fuels" becomes larger as it goes along, bringing us more into it as it strongly unfolds. You'll ponder what Aisha has to say but you'll also just love how it sounds when she says it. If this is any indication of what Aisha has in store for her album Pendulum out next month, there's much to be excited for.

UK singer-songwriter Fenne Lily let out her latest single "Car Park" in preparation for her highly anticipated debut album release later this week. In true Fenne Lily fashion, "Car Park" is the vulnerable and confessional letter that you never send but write just for the sake of materializing your thoughts. “Car Park” keeps us locked in with its consistency. The song doesn't get bigger or smaller, but rather just relays to us the revelations and truths that come with the turbulence of being human. ("I hope to find a reason for my fear of feelings leaving at the start/ It makes my sleeping harder.") Fenne Lily shared that in this particular song, she is claiming responsibility of her own emotions. Like a steady stream, this song flows with rhythm and grace even while brushing up against the heavy and cold themes of insecurity, self-worth and taking responsibility for your actions.

Evoking similarities of today's indie-pop greats like CHVRCHES and purity ring, LANNDS' new single is "Legends" is the kind of song that puts a new artist on your radar. Rania Woodard and her producer Brian Squillace make up the Florida-based project, LANNDS, which dives into the electronic world while not departing too far from indie-folk inflections. "Legends" paints the picture of two people who are the heroes of their own stories. It might make you think of your favorite world-is-ending movies, the Divergent or The Hunger Games kind where unlikely saviors rise from the crowd and change things for the better. Whether it's the love that these two share with their soft kisses or their willingness to simply go beyond the limits of society, Rania makes these characters easy to root for.

Michigan trio Major Murphy delivered their latest single with a slow, Sunday morning ease. Riddled with nostalgic vibes and a sunny disposition, "One Day" is a song that's not hard to love. While easy on the ears, "One Day" talks about the hardship of being separated from your lover. While the distance is separating these two for a day, it doesn't mean the romance has to die. "Baby, it’s just a single day, yeah/ Feelin' so far away, yeah/ Believe me/ You, all that I wanna see yeah/ Every part of me, yeah." With the sounds of The Kooks meeting Father John Misty's "Real Love Baby," this song's simple instrumentation matches perfectly with it's dreamy vocals and sweet lyrics. Somehow, without being cheesy, Major Murphy found a way to craft a song that can put you in your feels without letting you get too upset about it.

MARMALAKES, an Austin-based rock-pop duo that infuses folky influences are “really nice guys” (Sonicbids). And their music is really nice, too. “New Sweden," a single off of their full-length debut album Please Don’t Stop, is just a taste of what’s to come. Childhood friends Chase Weinacht (guitarist/writer) and Josh Halpern (drummer/producer) are able to capture the youthful energy of that time and make those nostalgic feelings warm, welcoming and close. And their local ties to Austin make those emotions even more palpable. “New Sweden” sounds like a homecoming of sorts, even though they’re poised to journey far and wide. Keep an eye out for Please Don’t Stop, out May 11 via Austin Town Records.

We like Benjamin Lazar Davis. Quite simply, he makes good music. "Right Direction," the next release off of his debut solo album, is another introspective piece. Written from the point of view of a friend that has "trouble finding a life-long passion" and "desires to work hard but doesn't have an outlet for all that pent up energy," David and Kimbra Johnson create a narrative that's honest and vulnerable. If you've ever felt lost in where you're going, what you're doing, or in what the future will hold, this piece is a reminder that we all go through these moments of uncertainty. And again, Davis reminds us that all will be okay. 

Boasting a sound that harkens back to classic American songwriters, Minnesota-based Andy Cook arrives with a 22 minute, echo-drenched, desert rock odyssey entitled, Modern Man. His jangly accompaniment and chilly baritone make an appealing listen off the bat, and the compelling nature of his music deepens as he begins to lyrically scratch the hard-won truths of our hyper-digital age. While the twang is certainly turned up to 10, Cook grounds his compositions with a keen sense of dark and direct lyrics, conjuring up Timber Timbre, Real Estate and even Kurt Vile at times. It is expansive and idiosyncratic, heady and earthy, all at once. The perfect pick-me-up for the unofficial day-tripping desert hipster.

The second single, “Torches”  from Half Waif’s upcoming release, Lavender, bares the fiery angst we are forced to face when feeling the searing energy found in the world. “‘Torches' opens with the terror of a world that burns, tempered by the cool reminder of an undying coast somewhere nearby,” Nandi Rose Plunkett says of the song. The song was written days after the 2016 election, while driving through Texas on a stretch of highway, and it is not surprising that the underlying fear of how society will be affected by an entire country’s decision manifested itself through a blaring synth-pop track. “Torches” glows with spirit, using triumphant melodies that could be found in majestic quest games, reminding us that even though “the landscape burns,” there is crisp balance that can be found everywhere.

British trio Our Girl recently released a self-titled single that scores points in spunk, quality and relevance. In a world addressing the "Me Too" and "Time's Up" movements, this song seems to be the simple reminder to all women: "Don't be so kind" if it means sacrificing your own comfortability. In a plea for honesty and openness, ("I'm fine, are you okay?/ You promised to tell me how you were") "Our Girl" seems to be written for those of us who would rather not vocalize how we actually feel. While making it sound easy, Our Girl mixes both big rock and roll vibes and a tough theme to make a song that voices frustration. Nevertheless, it ends in a somber and gentle way, making us remember that sometimes these conversations occur in the quiet moments, away from the campaigns and the headlines, with the comfort of a friend who will listen.

"Absent" is the kind of song you'd hope to find in your favorite indie movie. This single by Fox Academy came out last month in preparation for their new album. The band consists of Michael Todd Berland and Christian Novelli and they released an album just last April called Saint Molly that you can find wherever music is sold. "Absent" sits in a beautiful place that is both absent-minded and fully self-aware all at the same time. And while it's full of juxtaposed thoughts ("Possibly live again/ Mad at the wind again.") and ("I'm not here/I'm not there") somehow it makes complete sense, in a way only a song can convey. Opening with gentle guitar picking and layered vocals, the warm texture of the song is felt from the very beginning and carries through the rest of it. While I can't pinpoint exactly where "Absent" takes you to, I do know it's a place you'll want to stay and rest a while.