introverttoday's indie folk picks lean unhurried and warm: a sobriety comeback record, a cinematic reckoning with old relationship patterns, a patient folk pop bop, and a fifty year old song finally getting its moment. four tracks that take their time and trust the songwriting to do the work.
you had a feeling - quoin
The verdict
“quoin turns five years of sobriety and silence into a sun-warmed folk-pop comeback”
you had a feeling has this warm, sun-bleached 1960s folk-pop glow with just enough garage grit to keep it from feeling too soft. it's a song about self-realisation, and there's a real looseness to it which i love. a bit like it was recorded in a rush of inspiration rather than laboured over for years. t.w. walsh's mastering job gives it a warmth you don't hear much anymore. the vocals and distant organ are my faves, and the whole thing ends up being so beautifully unforced. and the hook? it's a banger.
quoin is the musical name of ryan sullivan, a portland, oregon based songwriter and animator who wrote and recorded this after a five year hiatus and five years of sobriety. he calls quoin a foundational cornerstone, which tracks, this feels like someone building back from something solid rather than starting from scratch. he previously toured as half of psych-folk duo 2% majesty. it's a brilliant single.
thank u for making this quoin 🧱
invisible heart - dustin ransom
The verdict
“dustin ransom digs into years of failed relationships and comes out with one of our favourite pop rock singles this year”
invisible heart is anchored by a soaring, cinematic chorus that earns every bit of its build up. and there's a lovely little easter egg in the hi-hat work, a direct nod to stewart copeland's playing on peter gabriel's red rain. the production has that expansive, modern alternative rock that pulls all my heart strings, and it's genuinely one of the more emotionally resonant recordings i've heard this year. it also doesn't reach for easy answers, which makes it all the more compelling.
dustin ransom is a nashville based artist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who's spent years working at the intersection of soul, spirit and human connection, both solo and as a sideman for artists including richard marx, amy grant and jars of clay. invisible heart previews his forthcoming album brothers, his first full length in seven years, written during one of the hardest periods of his life. it's a brilliant single, more of this please.
thank u for making this dustin ransom 💔
some days - firefly search party
The verdict
“firefly search party make patience sound like the best folk pop stunner”
some days doesn't rush anything, it's the kind of folk pop that sounds exactly like its title. easy and a little sun-warmed, in the best possible way. the arrangement came together slowly, with each bandmate working out their part separately before it all got pieced together, and you can hear that patience in how naturally everything sits. it's got a quirky, slightly off-kilter charm running through it too. it's wonderfully melodic without ever trying too hard to be. i love the vocal performances in this, definitely filled with character. and the moody middle eight before the rapped final verse? it's great.
firefly search party are a madison based duo who describe themselves as a quirky couple of humans making honest music with friends, and some days is basically that mission statement set to a tune. the song leans into a metaphor about waves rolling in and choosing whether to catch one or just rest, which feels like decent life advice too. it's a lovely, low key listen. get it on your summer playlists, you won't regret it.
thank u for making this firefly search party 🌊
please comfort me – the sonic travelers
The verdict
“the sonic travelers prove a fifty year old song can still soar in sound completely necessary”
please comfort me is an unhurried americana ballad that trusts melody and lyrical honesty over anything flashy, and it works because the songwriting underneath is genuinely strong. written from the perspective of someone who's lost their footing, it's not about rescue, it's about someone simply choosing to walk beside you, which is a powerful distinction. the cinematic music video adds another layer without ever feeling unnecessary. it's a really moving listen. and the chorus? it soars.
the sonic travelers is the songwriting partnership of george aiello and john ingram, whose collaboration actually dates back to the late 1970s, when please comfort me was first written. they finally recorded it properly nearly fifty years later, which says something about how much they believe in letting a song become what it wants to be. the project moves comfortably between country, folk-rock and classic rock without ever chasing trends. i hope they continue to release more, because this one's great,
thank u for making this the sonic travelers 🤝