LITM Singer-Songwriter Picks brings heartfelt themes and moving melodies from artists Strange and the Familiars, Bart Thiede, OH ROSA, Kele Fleming, and Chapelton.
Strange and the Familiars - Pretty Red Dress (Live)
Originally created by Stephanie Strange many years ago, Pretty Red Dress (Live) has now been brought to life by her band, Strange and the Familiars. The jazz-infused instrumentation lilts and swings with a playful yet poised charm. Groovy hi-hats, subdued guitar motifs, luminous piano notes, and smooth trumpet tunes glide and interlace with just enough dynamism and stillness that makes the soundscape feel spacious as well as rich. Stephanie’s emotive vocals peppered with wispy harmonies take the spotlight, speaking directly to your soul. The song’s beauty lies in its low-key, palpably felt, intimate atmosphere—the melodies envelop you and soft beats shuffle on your skin, as though you are physically in the room with the band, in a cozy live gig. Listen here!
Bart Thiede - Dust
Musical director, choral conductor, organist, singer, and composer-arranger, Bart Thiede presents a moving, masterful soundscape in Dust. The cinematic and mystical atmosphere of this song captivates your mind. The folksy allure of the soundscape is elevated with Celtic and Slavic infusions, making it a one-of-a-kind, transportive listen. Glowing, mellifluous notes open the song to a dreamy start. Bart Thiede’s voice guides you through this otherworldly sonic landscape. Bright energetic guitars, mounting vocal layers and melodic waves of whistles and bodhrán converge into a rousing sound and story that is as profound as it is powerful. Dust is a testament to Bart Thiede’s extraordinary and compelling artistic vision. Listen here!
OH ROSA - Mary (I Am Here but I Am Gone)
OH ROSA craft an evocative sound in their release, Mary (I Am Here but I Am Gone). Exploring the feeling of growing old together in a relationship, the song also delves into the slow erasure of memories that time demands as it passes. Through the soundscape’s folksy country blend, the artist creates this warm yet bittersweet atmosphere that strikes at and soothes your soul. Bright harmonica, reflective acoustic strums, and comforting piano chords waltz in tandem, creating a smooth and steady backdrop for the vocals. Rosie Benson’s mesmeric voice, delicate yet heavy with emotion, soars and falls with masterful elegance. Mary (I Am Here but I Am Gone) is as charming as it is contemplative, a sound that lends a memorable listening experience. Listen here!
Kele Fleming - Microdoses
British Columbia-based indie singer-songwriter Kele Fleming infuses the energy of rock n roll with the tenderness of traditional folk in her affecting soundscapes. Microdoses, the latest release, injects you with an empowering sense of optimism, wonder, and inspiration, both through its resonant lyricism and uplifting soundscape. The instrumentation instantly satiates, its radiant acoustic strums, glowing melodies, steady drumming and warm ambience envelops your heart with softness. Kele’s distinct, soaring vocals towers over the soundscape, gliding seamlessly through the peaks and troughs of moving melodies. Oscillating between a soothing fragility and rousing power, Kele’s vocal performance feels compelling. Microdoses brings a much-needed, pressing message to the listeners—to feel and express wonder and love for this world. Listen here!
Chapelton - Oh Lover
Chapelton is singer-songwriter Mike Macdermid’s solo project, bringing heartfelt themes, powerful vocals, and unforgettable melodies. With millions of streams and a string of charting hits, Mike’s artistry continues to evolve in impressive ways with each release. Oh Lover, a recent release, features the stunning vocals of talented artist Charlotte Churchman. This achingly beautiful ballad presents bluesy guitars, country-esque warmth, and rousing gospel-like elements, all tied together cohesively into an absorbing instrumentation. The steady pulse of drums and the reverberating motifs of electric guitar resonate with the heart, as the vocal duet commands your senses. Both Charlotte and Chapelton lend a masterful vocal performance, their voices, poised, precise and powerful, soak the music with arresting emotion, truly capturing the essence of troubling, passionate love. Listen here!
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