Well... July's been a bit of a wash out.
In terms of weather, that is. Luckily, the rainy days have only served to gift us with more time to cozy up inside and fall in love with an abundance of incredible new tracks. From powerful lyrics, to heavy riff outros, this month's highlights span the widest array of genres yet. There truly is something for everyone here, what more could you ask for?!
Well, maybe a bit more sunshine. Here's looking at you August.
High Hopes (Blue For You) - SABRINA G
SABRINA G is an indie-pop artist, whose talent recently found her on Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Longlist 2022. She quickly caught the attention of BBC Radio 6 Producer Mark Higgins, who described her as "musically turning grey skies blue."
The infectious melodies in High Hopes (Blue For You) live rent free in our heads with the amount of times we've been playing it over at Folklore HQ. Expertly produced, the track showcases SABRINA G's potential as a bona fide popstar, and we're so excited for her next single to drop.
Stranger - The Leaning
The Leaning is a Brighton-based ensemble, led by Sam Jordan and Ez Stone, whose music reverberates effortlessly between psych-noise and surf pop. Drawing inspiration from the grand legacy of modern romantic songwriters, their retro-infused sound holds an electrifying edge, that only becomes more alluring when you see them live.
Stranger is their second release of 2023, and an absolute power-house of a track. The single transfixed us from the very first seconds of its cinematic opening, and as ever, Sam Jordan's haunting vibrato marries beautifully with the intensity of the record. We're already firm fans of The Leaning, and the hypnotising vibes of Stranger only cement that further.
A Song For - i.am.afiya
i.am.afiya is a singer-songwriter from South London and self-taught instrumentalist. Her music defies boundaries, as she artfully draws inspiration from a diverse range of genres. The Line of Best Fit fittingly dubbed her sound as 'indie-emo-soul,' a reflection of her emotive lyrics and the melancholic chords that linger in her music.
A Song For is a soul-filling, sensitive ode to the profound impact that music has in our lives. This heartfelt single really does feel like an uplifting hug, gently nudging us forward even during the darkest of times. Afiya's warm vocals take centre stage, weaving itself seamlessly into the serene instrumentation, leading us all along for this soothing ride.
"A song for me
When it feels like I can't escape
The grips of reality
A song to be free
A song when I need to regain, what's left inside of me
A song for me"
Waiting For My Man - Sweet Giant
The London-based, indie-rock outfit, Sweet Giant, made a serious impression on us when we caught them live at The Lexington earlier this month. With a blend of fresh and innovative sounds, they pay homage to the nostalgia of alternative rock's roots with screaming guitar solos, soaring dynamics and effortlessly cool vocals.
Waiting For My Man is their second single of the year, following on from the success of their 2022 EP Til You're Blue, and what a single it is. Distortion, heavy riffs, pounding drums and psychedelic swirls a plenty- rock music is alive and well with Sweet Giant steering the ship. Electric and intoxicating, we can't wait to hear what they have in store next.
Sunny - Cali Santo
Cali Santo is the captivating solo project of UK singer-songwriter Ben Bishop. With the project’s name loosely translating to ‘Holy California’ (an homage to the music and idyllic aura of America’s west coast during the 60’s and 70’s) Bishop’s deeply introspective songwriting is boldly delivered through a visceral interpretation of a world and time in which he will never exist.
Having blown us away once again at our July showcase at The Folklore Rooms, we were delighted to be treated to this new release just days later. His first single in 3 years, Sunny marks Cali Santo's welcome return from hibernation with a forthcoming EP and a golden sound that we're dying to hear more of.
Our Spotify playlists are updated every month with our favourite new sounds, so make sure you tune in frequently- you’re guaranteed to find one of your new favourite artists along the way.
If you'd like to submit your own songs for inclusion in our playlists, please send your Spotify links over to submissions@folkloresessions.co.uk
We can't wait to hear your music!
Please be aware that we receive a lot of submissions and we are a small team, we will listen to your music but may not be able to reply to every submission.
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