Two of my songwriting heroes, Will Johnson and Justin Peter Kinkel-Schuster, have a new album out under the moniker Marie/Lepanto. Probably one should avoid combining the words super and group when talking about these type of projects, but hey there’s no way of denying it either. It’s rather superb indeed to see a couple of music wizards joining forces to create a stunning new album together. I’m not entirely sure is this just a less significant side project for them, but even if it is, it certainly doesn’t feel like that for the listener, because the songwriting is powerful and sublime throughout the record. The album is not that close to Water Liars or Centro-Matic and instead more like a gentle collision of their latest solo albums where Will’s passionate delivery adds some spark and edge to Justin Peter’s indie folk beauty. Their different voices work beautifully together and the album turns out to be a small treasure. Tenkiller came out on 26th of January on Big Legal Mess.

Marie/Lepanto Website

Simon Linsteadt is a folk songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from California. I’ve been vaguely familiar with his work for a few years, but haven’t really properly introduced my heart to his songs. I think I need to up my game on that front, because he just put out a new record called February and I’ve been more than a little bit obsessed with the beautiful opening song Pickleweed. Such an enchanting song that echoes the warm sounds of early 70s folk songs. Simply irresistible.

Simon Linsteadt Website

Damn how I love the moment when someone new comes along and it instantly feels like I’ve found a friend whose songs I will carry with me wherever I go. The kind of over-excitement that stops time and all other plans are put to side for a long while, because all I want to do is to listen everything I can find. This sort of thing happened today when Aaron Lee Tasjan posted on his feed that Harrison Whitford has a new album that is damn good and folks should listen to it. So I did and before I had finished the first song I had pretty much fallen for it. This happened about an hour ago, so it’s too early to write anything that makes any kind of sense (of course it’s very questionable have I ever written anything that makes sense). However, I’ve listened to the record a couple of times and watched a video or two and everything strikes a chord deep within me.

I don’t know a whole lot about Harrison Whitford, but what I’ve learned is that he is a songwriter from Nashville and he has played with the great Phoebe Bridgers whose stunning album was one of the highlights of 2017. If I’m not mistaken it’s Phoebe Bridgers that you also hear singing and playing on this album. Anyway, I try to return to this on another day when I maybe have formed more structured opinions than “awww I love everything about this”. Meanwhile here’s a song or two from the new Harrison Whitford album Afraid of Everything. And big thanks to Aaron Lee Tasjan for spreading the word. One of my favourites ways to discover new music is to read recommendations from artist that matter to me. So artists, keep on doing that and guide your fans to new horizons. I for one can promise that I check them out pretty much every time.

Album cut Both My Friends live at Sofar Nashville.

Album opener Take a Walk on Spotify. You’ll find the whole album there as well. I hope it will also end up on Bandcamp later on, but couldn’t find it yet.

Harrison Whitford at Facebook

Sunny War is a folk/blues singer-songwriter from California. She has learned her trade by busking the streets of Venice Beach and I’ve actually spend an hour or two watching the videos of her exceptional street performances. She is a phenomenal talent and hopefully also people outside of Venice Beach will begin to see that when her new album With The Sun comes out on the 2nd of February. The lead track of the album is If It Wasn’t Broken and I’ve been seriously addicted to it. This broken-hearted song is actually quite comforting and reassuring. The love you shared was indeed worth the world and more, but if it didn’t work out in the end then so be it. You can only blame yourself if you didn’t try and if you feel that badly hurt, most likely you’ve also felt something magical and beautiful before it and there’s no reason why you couldn’t feel that again. Here’s the official music video for If It Wasn’t Broken. After falling for it, search Sunny War on Youtube and you’ll find plenty of other equally captivating videos.

Sunny War Website