“Honeysuckle” is a dark folk masterpiece in balance from Austin-based Margaret Chavez (Marcus Striplin). The track opens with hypnotic guitar arpeggiations that draw you in like waving wildflowers drawing honeybees. Then come the lyrics, which paint vignettes of tragedy that seem initially at odds with the cheerful guitar melody. As the song progresses, the track unfolds into a retrospective of loss and love. Each verse relays another heavy anecdote of someone the narrator has loved and lost in some form. The stories that hit the hardest are underscored with dark, warbly synths that make you feel as though you are being teleported into the world of memory. The lyrics are so heartbreaking, it would be easy for the song to sink into sadness as deep as Striplin’s beautiful baritone voice; however, the buoyant guitar lines keep the song in the realm of bittersweet. It will be exciting to see what else Margaret Chavez has in store on their sophomore album “Into an Atmosphere," due to release July 31, 2020, via We Know Better Records.

“Martingale” is a darkly sweet new song from Aussie indie songwriter Jo Schornikow’s debut LP, Secret Weapon. During the time the album was written, Schornikow moved from New York City to Nashville and had two children with her husband, Matthew Houck of Phosphorescent (a band with whom she also tours). Grappling with her new identity, grounded now in motherhood, Schornikow wrote Secret Weapon as a rumination on the complexities and intricacies of being a parent. On “Martingale,” she does so with quiet tenacity—addressing large subjects, like love and persistence, through hazy vocal melodies and a soft, sparse arrangement. A reflection on the production, Schornikow recorded the album with a friend in a modest home studio in Melbourne. The subtle build throughout the song, led by keys and guitar, culminates in a beautifully reflective chorus of backing vocals that gives new intention to the track as a whole. At exactly two minutes long, “Martingale” is an ephemeral powerhouse on an album full of gorgeously bare songs.

With “How To Love You Today,” you're guided through the initial feeling of being completely in love and trying to figure out how to translate something so beautiful into words. Son of Cloud’s much-anticipated album is right around the corner, and the first single doesn't disappoint. Indie-folk singer, producer and songwriter Jonathan Seale's moniker is a nickname given to him by the Yukpa indigenous tribe of Venezuela, close to where he grew up. In "How To Love You Today," Seale pulls us in with swipe-you-off-your-feet lyrics and the kind of wholehearted vibe of a well-worked folk melody. The artist has been working on his album while producing for several other artists over the last ten years. Son of Cloud’s self-titled debut comes out on 4/12.

Putting down roots in a new town and a newly expanded sound, Jordan Reynolds, the Atlanta-based frontwoman of Rose Hotel, steps out with a full band and a hint of nostalgia on her shimmering new single "10 K." The first release from her upcoming debut record, I Will Only Come When It’s A Yes, "10 K" is a departure from the project’s lo-fi folk beginning—marking Reynolds' arrival at a more fleshed out, supported sound. Over a collage of bright, roomy guitars and crashing percussion, she details the bittersweet ache of the passage of time. “Nearly old enough but too young to understand / time isn’t slowing down and I see wrinkles in my hands” she croons with a contemplative, unsettled ache reminiscent of the folk greats of times gone by. Reynolds has a knack for unraveling her thoughts through bruising storytelling, finding clarity in her razor-sharp observations about love, loss and uncertainty. Keep an eye out for Rose Hotel’s forthcoming debut LP, due May 31.

Josh Karpeh, the creative mind behind Cautious Clay, can pretty much do it all. He’s a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and amazing performer, and he does each one of these things with sheer talent—timing the beats of his R&B style to perfectly match the message that his raw lyrics deliver. "SIDEWINDER," the first track off his newest EP, Table of Context, highlights the very skills that Karpeh has become so well known for in his art. The lyrics, which explore the idea of choosing sides and seeing the truth, are compelling and remain sincere to a contemporary soul style. As it floats along unabashedly, "SIDEWINDER" is perfectly balanced in how emotionally charged it is. We are ready for more of Karpeh's beautifully crafted work, no frills or excess, just funky beats that deliver a punch.

With the namesake of a tarot card that represents insight, honestly and simple solutions, Daughter of Swords is the new and aptly named solo project of Alexandra Sauser-Monnig. One of the golden, otherworldly voices of folk-trio Mountain Man, Sauser-Monnig has long possessed a keen ability for creating rich, poetic narratives that root themselves in the beauty of everyday experiences. Her first release under the new moniker, "Gem" is a precious summer-soaked keepsake, a treasure found amongst sweet green grasses. Produced in tandem with Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso, the track is playfully composed and quietly danceable. A gently puttering drum track and a bright, jangling guitar sway and shimmy as Sauser-Monnig dreams up the kind of beaming, wondrous world that falling in love gives us a window into. A meditation on the peace and vibrancy of loves both old and new, "Gem" is the setting of an intention and a declaration of optimism, a finger held up to the wind. We’re anxiously awaiting the rumored summer release of the full-length Daughter of Swords record, soon headed toward a golden hour near you.

“We were strangers for all of those years / now we’re strangers of a different kind my dear” croons singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist A.O. Gerber on her new single, "Strangers." Though the love that Gerber sings of turns out to be star crossed, the tune itself feels more cosmically aligned. Layered vocals that waft in harmony above sparkling, roomy instrumentation make this a daydreamy, easy listen and though the tune’s laid back composition easily lends itself into the canon of Gerber’s Los Angeles locale, "Strangers" does much more than groove. Gerber’s lyricism prods at the ache of distance and heartbreak, as she tries to untangle the questions that she’s found herself wrapped up in. Unwilling to be defeated by the uncertainty, Gerber remains to the chase and challenge of love, singing “here’s to making the same mistakes again / and again / and again,” as guitars warble over a warm, humming soundscape. A.O. Gerber is hard at work on her upcoming record co-produced by herself and Madeline Kenney and we're looking forward to more of her vibe-y folk rock.

Alycia Lang is well-known throughout the Bay Area music scene due to the several bands she’s been a part of and her multi-instrumental talent. Now, she’s making a name for herself as a solo artist—recognized for her unique blend of indie, folk and jazz. Lang’s latest single, "Projector" is a classic example of her adaptable style. Throughout the song, Lang captures listeners with her vocals which mingle delicate notes with dramatic power. The lyrics themselves add to this melodic energy—the story she tells is one of letting go of the labels that others may place on you. That slow but fierce energy builds and presents a statement, a message. "Projector" is just a taste of what’s to come on Lang's much-anticipated EP, MakeShift. The EP was inspired by her personal battles and particularly, her family’s encounter with the wildfires that left many residents of California on constant edge. Look out for MakeShift coming in late Spring.

Charlie Cunningham has created yet another spell-binding track with his latest single “Sink In.” The British singer-songwriter has combined elements of Spanish-style guitar playing and smoky synths with his emotive, hypnotic voice, creating a simple yet captivating piece of music. As Cunningham sings about life and the state of the world being “divided”, the acoustic melody submerges you into a sonic cloud full of stripped down and sedated instrumentation. Luckily, he doesn't leave you in this sunken place for long. As the synths take a lighter, ethereal turn, a glimmer of hope sparks even though “the tears in your eyes are justified.”

A tune about the open road and a yearning heart, "Montana," the latest release from Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Eliza Elliott, is a distillation of equal parts sunshine and heartbreak. A tumbling, rhythmic guitar keeps time while Elliott measures the distance between herself and an unfinished love with the states that lie between them. Soulful, grounded and sweet, Elliott has the kind of voice that you can’t say no to. Her lyricism is narrative and intuitive as she lays her heart on the line with searing honesty. She examines the confusion and duality of unrequited love, confessing “How I wish you didn’t move to move to Colorado / no wait I wish I didn’t keep you in my phone.” This tangible uncertainty doesn’t come across as a weight, but rather as a reminder of the importance of perspective as Elliott finds a sense of lightness and joy in the face of an undetermined future.

LOS LEO is an Australian pop artist with a love of bands like U2 and Coldplay. Drawing inspiration from these bands' sounds, his work feels novel and bold, sounding vaguely familiar but clearly standing out from contemporary pop.

His recent release "False Start" is a fresh new pop track with an energetic outset and a malleable motif. The singer from Adelaide takes a quicker approach from the start of this tune than past tracks, which pays off in distinguishing the emotion behind the subject matter. Singing, "It wasn't a break up / We false started / We were too young for true love/ Way too guarded," LOS LEO cooly introduces the notion of a love that began too soon for its own good. With dreamy and layered vocals challenging the resonant instrumental with euphonic combinations, this song makes for an energizing and inspiring listen.