Kansas City

I recently came across a band that is a talented group of artists who call themselves, The New Basement Tapes. This unique band is a collaboration of artists including:  Jim James, Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford, Taylor Goldsmith, and Rhiannon Giddens. The group formed in 2014, which was also the year they released their album called, Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes. 

The unique story behind this group revolves around Bob Dylan and the dozens of  hidden “basement tape” songs he had written in the late 1960’s. In the basement of a small house is where Dylan collaborated alongside other artists to create a plethora of hidden lyrics. The album, Lost On The River: The New Basement Tapes, is a process that has been going on for 47 years and was finally released within the last year. This album is a huge celebration of never before heard Bob Dylan masterpieces that were never released to the public. The New Basement Tapes have created something magical that was built from a legendary artist who brings so much talent to the music world. He was generous enough to share his hidden lyrics with the five artists that make up The New Basement Tapes. 

The song Kansas City is one of my favourite songs on the album. This song is a dishevelled love story about a broken heart and having to “pay for what you break”. Marcus Mumford from Mumford and Sons is the lead vocalist for this song and is also backed up by a wide variety of artists and instrumentals. This is such a captivating song that takes you to a deep place of thought and can bring out many different emotions when you follow along with the lyrics. 

For Emma, Forever Ago

Justin Vernon is the artist behind the indie band Bon Iver. He is one of those singers who I usually listen to on a daily basis. The calming tone of his voice has the ability to put anyone in a completely relaxed state. Vernon has a vocal range like none other and is known for the extremely high pitches he reaches in most of his songs. Bon Iver is a group that I can rely on to take me to another planet and to help clear my mind of all negative thoughts. 

Take a listen to any one of his songs and I guarantee it will put you in a calming state of mind. Some people say it is sad or depressing but I believe that it is calming and good for the soul. It is the type of music for yoga, rainy days, bed time, reading, studying, long winter walks and many more moments such as the ones listed. This video is a very unique interpretation of the song For Emma from the album, For Emma, Forever Ago.

In an article that I recently read about the video, Vernon said that, "this album is meant to be played in front of small crowds..." and that is exactly what this video shows. The video is of Bon Iver in Montmartre, Paris, France. The harmonies in this video show the incredible talents of this band. The specific locations they choose to perform provides amazing acoustics that amplify their harmonies. Imagine walking down the street in Paris and hearing the sound of this walking towards you....

Why Am I Writing?

Why did I decide to write my blog about indie music you ask? The answer happens to be that it is my favourite genre of music for many reasons. Indie folk music is a genre that I can turn to for many moments and experiences in my life. Whether I am sitting down trying to study, heading out for a long walk, trying to fall into a deep sleep, or practicing some yoga, this genre of music matches up perfectly to many moments in my life. There are also many moments in my life where I can turn back to and remember an exact experience or time in my life which relates to a specific song. Music has always been a passion of mine and is something that I am constantly searching out to find new artists and songs.

This blog is dedicated to providing new music suggestions of indie folk artists as well as unique songs that I will be researching on a weekly basis. Sharing these treasures with you will bring me joy in the process of getting more people appreciating this genre. Though I do appreciate many other genres of music, the genre of indie folk genre is a perfect topic to write about due to the passion I have for this type of music. Another reason I am passionate about writing this blog is because my primary hobby happens to be attending concerts. City and Colour, Ray Lamontagne, Mumford and Sons, Half Moon Run and David Grey are some of the concerts I have recently attended, just to name a few. I have had many live experiences listening to this genre of music and am excited about sharing new artists with anyone who is willing to listen.