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Gal Musette - Oliver

This song immediately intrigued me as it starts with nothing but a simple beat and a long note. It establishes a wonderful rhythmical drive before introducing us to the song and it unfolds beautifully from there. Gal Musettes dreamy vocals float through the sound scape and pull you into the head of someone trying to find their place in a world where the person they love doesn’t see them. She sings to Oliver “I know you don’t hear me/ I know that I’ve lost you/You’re off in the distance”. The story builds further with the voice of Rufus Wainwright, one of Musettes biggest inspirations who sings backup vocals on the track. It’s an absolutely stunning song that subverts your expectations in all the best ways. If you enjoy this song I recommend listening to the artists debut album “Backwards Lullaby” - it’s really stunning.

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Angus Powell - Holding up the Heavy

This is the first single of Powell’s EP “H U T H” and if the rest of the songs are as awesome as this one I’m gonna be listening to that a lot. It’s the kind of song that can help you get through a tough time where you need to feel understood and uplifted at the same time. The chorus is incredibly catchy and had me singing along immediately, the lyrics are beautifully resilient “if there’s any hope left let’s dig it up”. Angus Powell’s vocals are a gentle force carried by a driving arrangement that feels really spacious without losing that personal feeling of connection to the listener. I really love the dynamic of the song, it grows beautifully from the more quiet parts into the groovy chorus with layered vocals and a powerful hook, “Are we holding up the heavy?”.

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Xander Cameron - South Stage Broadway

Roaring applause is what opens up Xander Camerons EP “South Stage Broadway” and roaring applause is exactly what this beautiful collection of songs deserves. It takes us on a wonderful journey starting with the story of a tortured artist chasing fame and ending with a love letter to Lake Tahoe. All the songs build on Camerons authentic vocal performance, that pulls you into the stories told between the lines. It’s an EP that reminds us that good songs don’t need much to move you. My personal favourite is “Chances” that won me over with its warm acoustic guitar and lyrics: “It's a fall from grace, when I end up falling in love”. It’s probably the heaviest song on the EP and falls beautifully into the lighter closing song “She Lives in lake Tahoe”.

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts livestreams.

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Jonathan Lobo - Calm Before the Storm

There is a lot of breakup songs out there, some come from a place of anger, others from a place of hurt, some even from a place of liberation. The ones that hit me the hardest are the ones that come from a place of love though, and that’s the kind of song “Calm Before the Storm” is. Dubai-based singer-songwriter Jonathan Lobo paints an image of a relationship that is falling apart with vivid descriptions “The photos on the wall, they don't say much at all,I see how you're hurting inside”. As good as the past has been, as real as the love was, it’s time for one last goodbye. The synth sounds that carry the song create a consistent foundation for the delicately sung vocals, that allow whispers and don’t need flourishes to make every word hit hard. “Calm Before the Storm” moves with a gentle force towards the inevitable, like a moment frozen in time - every second is captivating.

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LÓN - Earthquake

When I first heard “Earthquake” by LÓN I was immediately drawn in by its haunting atmosphere. A gentle acoustic guitar moves underneath stunning harmonies immediately establishing a very unique sound. Valdimar Guðmundsson (the lead singer) takes the stage with a nuanced vocal performance that tells a story of the start of new love and the uncertainties that come with it. The lyrics take us on a journey through hopes for a future, doubts, and beautiful sincerity that concludes in the realization that the only thing that is certain is the moment shared in the present. “I only know that I will warm your feet tonight, and if we’re lucky this might even last a while”. For me, “Earthquake” comes close to being the perfect folk song: stunning lyrics, an honest feeling, harmonies that give you goosebumps, and those real nice drums that lay in the background and drive the song forward. Bonus points for an awesome story behind the song - there actually was an earthquake during the recording session, that gave the song its name.

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George Holliday - Feel The Enemy

And part three of stunning raw songs with great lyrics: “Feel the Enemy” by George Holliday. This song gave me goosebumps upon the first listen, and it made me cry (in a good way) upon the third listen. The song is incredibly well produced with a warm piano giving us a ballad feel and George Holliday’s stellar vocals keeping the central stage as the arrangement grows. It’s one of those songs that sounds minimalistic but has a ton going on if you truly listen. But what makes it brilliant is the combination of the power it brings musically with the vulnerable story that unfolds in the lyrics. “The Enemy” in the song is that voice in our head that tells us we can’t do things or that we aren’t good enough “with emotions and ambitions only I should have the say, but this devil on my shoulder doesn’t make me feel that way”. The song acknowledges the weight of those insecurities in a deeply personal way and cuts really deep if you dare to listen closely. I personally felt both seen and less alone after listening, but also inspired, it’s just… a freaking great piece of music.

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts livestreams.

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Jarrah F. Smith - Chasing amazement

I remember listening to “Chasing Amazement” for the first time and immediately getting pulled out of my stressful day into a space of affirmation and comfort. It’s one of those songs that transports you and plays directly on your heartstrings. The beautiful guitars remind me of Ben Howard and the laid-back feel allows the listener to fall into this song effortlessly. Jarrah F. Smith shows great emotional depth in the lyrics that come from a place of realization and soul searching. One line that hit me is “Fear is just a friend I misunderstood”. This song is a reminder of how beautiful the world is when we chose to see it, it’s a gentle push to open our eyes. “Chasing Amazement” has been part of the soundtrack of my life in the last couple of weeks and it’s brought me back to the present every time I needed it.

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Jayd - Down Day

“Down Day” deals with coming to terms with anxiety in a delicate and compassionate way. It’s heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time, it manages to acknowledge the struggles while also creating a connection. It’s almost as if it was saying “it’s hard, but we’re not alone and we can get through this”. This lovely message is conveyed through a vulnerable vocal performance by Jayd that floats above delicate guitars. The arrangement feels open and spacious, but by no means empty. I’m discovering new sounds with every listen, and that makes me love the song even more. It is one of those songs that can really help you if you find it when you need it. And no matter when you listen, this stunning piece of music is bound to move you.

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Allan Thomas - The Journey (album)

This month I interviewed Allan Thomas as artist of the month on my show, at the time his album was about to be released. I already enjoyed listening to the singles, and now that I got to listen to them in context I can appreciate the artistry behind them even more. It’s a beautiful collection of songs that reflect on different aspects of life, drawing from the experience of this wonderful artist who’s been releasing albums for 50 years now. With clever lyrics and laid back arrangements the songs invite you to listen and occasionally smirk at one of the lines. It’s a musical journey indeed that goes deep into what it means to be on this world, with top notch musicians bringing the songs to live in an effortless way. For me the album feels like a reminder to be present, to quote the title track: “the destination never mattered it’s always the journey”.

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts livestreams.

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ORIAN - What Pulls You

“What Pulls You” is one of the singles of ORIANs debut EP “Before it Weighs us Down”, five beautiful songs connected by their clean sound, catchy melodies, and raw emotional weight. I really love how ORIAN creates a consistent feel while keeping it interesting by exploring different musical directions: “What Pulls You” has a more indie-pop sound, “Jewellery Box” is more folky and “Ask You Twice” has some really nice rock elements. The EP really shows what a great songwriter the Berlin-based artist is, not only is it difficult to get the melodies out of your head after listening, the lyrics also hit hard. It’s the kind of music that speaks to you directly and lifts you up because it comes from an authentic place. In the artist's words: “I wanted this collection of music to be the comfort for me that allows me to climb out of myself, as so much music has been for me over the years.”

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Jenny Colquitt - Dirty Town

The phrase “she sings her heart out” comes into my head quite often when listening to Jenny Colquitt's music. Her heart sings with a beautiful and raw force that makes you hang on to every word. Her latest release “Dirty Town” is an anthem to leaving behind the place and things that keep you small in order to become who you are meant to be. It really feels like a journey describing the darkness and doubts in the verses and deciding to leave them behind in the chorus. “I’ll never let them see me turn around”. It’s the first single off her debut album and it really shows an artist who has found her voice, I can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for us. Listen to “Dirty Town”:

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Tommy Coyne feat. Carla Coyne - Ultraviolet

This is one of those songs that you can put on in your car on a warm summer day singing along and feeling good. “Ultraviolet” tells a love story through a conversation between the voices of Tommy and Carla Coyne, that blend together beautifully. It’s a declaration in beautiful metaphors, my favorite being “Your eyes they shine so bright, It’s almost like they're Ultraviolet” - I don’t think I’ve heard that one before. The song was part of Coyne's Final Major Project in University and completely produced by him in his bedroom. The result is a really fresh sound that drips with authenticity. It’s really exciting to hear how the artist's creativity translated directly into this self-produced track - and his talent shines through every note.

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts livestreams.

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Liam Bruce - Seven Kinds of Lonely

It’s always exciting to hear someone's debut release, especially when it’s as heartfelt and authentic as Liam Bruce’s debut EP "Seven Kinds of Lonely". Throw in the fact that it’s a concept EP and I am 100% on board. Listening to these 7 songs takes you on a vulnerable exploration of 7 different versions of loneliness woven into mostly upbeat arrangements. It’s the kind of record you can dance to but also cry to depending on how you choose to listen to it. The EP was produced by the artist himself and shows off beautiful guitars and emotional vocals - ranging from rock anthems to more acoustic singer-songwriter songs. It shows great craftsmanship and versatility through a wonderfully raw sound that feels really authentic. If this is how his debut sounds, I’m really excited to see what else he has in store for us. Listen to "Seven Kinds of Lonely" here:

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Kaylyn Marie

When I first heard this song by Kaylyn Marie I felt the need to play it on repeat for a couple of times to dive into and appreciate all the little lyrical and musical nuances. "Finally" is an incredibly well crafted song with a production and energy that feels fresh and fearless. Thematically it feels like an awakening, the moment where you finally see yourself as someone worthy of love and recognize the beauty other see in you. "Finally I believe I can see her, she’s the one looking back at me in the mirror". One of my favorite things about the song is the rhythm that carries it and builds beautifully alongside Kaylyns powerful vocal performance. The song was completely tracked and produced by the songwriter and producer Katie Buchanan and it’s part of her upcoming EP „Forget Me Not“ to be released later this year. I am genuinely excited about that release. Listen to "Finally" here:

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Julie Title - After The Sun

"After The Sun" gave me goosebumps from the first listen, it creates a comforting warm space lifting up Julie Titles stunning vocal performance. With delicate beauty this song unfolds like a flower in the morning sun, combining beautiful harmonies, guitars, and light percussions. It speaks of that weight we all carry in one way or another while walking through life and losing things and people while moving forwards. Julie Title finds the perfect balance between the personal and the relatable creating a song that allows the listener to feel understood and less alone. "The smoke flies up and I close my eyes, I know it's hard and I know you tried". Each line feels like poetry in „After The Sun“, a dreamy folk song that invites you into a melancholic introspective world. Listen to "After The Sun":

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Giulia. - Lucky Ones

"We’ve been living in a shit show, aren’t we the lucky ones?" If that isn’t a relatable hook looking back on the last year I don’t know what is. "Lucky Ones" captivated me with its stunning vocals and harmonies and kept me hooked with its brilliant melody and lyrics. At its core, the song is about finding the good in the bad and dealing with the situation in an optimistic way without denying how hard the situation is. Musically Giulia. shows a very unique style defined by the way her vocals and harmonies blend with the rest of the arrangement. It’s very different from the other singles of her upcoming genre-bending EP "Night Before" to be released in late June. This song has become my soundtrack in these past weeks, it’s a beautiful reminder no to take things too seriously and to stay connected to and grateful for the people around us. Listen to "Lucky Ones" here:

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts live streams.

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Ben Meyers - Thunder

This one is a real banger released by London-based folk-rocker Ben Meyers on the 30th of April. With an amazing groove, a stellar vocal performance, and a great hook „Thunder“ will have you singing and dancing along in no time. Meyers performance is bold and unapologetic, just like the premise of the song - looking for something more in life. Whether that is love or something you’re passionate about is open for interpretation, giving us the chance to find ourselves in the narrative. It’s one of those songs you put on in the car while driving away from the ordinary - an awesome soundtrack for a new adventure. Listen to „Thunder“ here:

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Tasha Blackmore - Last Goodbye

Tasha Blackmore is a wonderfully relatable storyteller based in the UK. She speaks from her experience to ours with great honesty. Her latest release „Last Goodbye“ faces the decision to cut ties with someone or something that isn’t good for her. „I know you won’t change, you’ll stay this way. I am worth more, so long, this is my last goodbye“, it’s a clear message of self-love and strength as she lets go of what’s holding her back. The song blends pop and country elements creating an organic and yet modern sound. The hooks are really amazing, and repeat almost like a mantra that grows with the song. Listen to „Last Goodbye“here:

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DREUW - Nothing

Stunning might not be a big enough word for this song. It has a deep emotion that runs through you and washes over you in a truly cathartic way. DREUW sings directly from the heart, and when he hits the high notes in the chorus goosebumps are guaranteed. „Nothing“ carries itself in beautiful layers both musically and lyrically with a message of breaking open to realize that we are already whole on our own. It’s one of my favorite indie-folk songs that have been released this year, listen to it here:

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Hawk and the wild - Lay Down Low

With this release, the Swedish singer-songwriter Hawk and the wild brings a comforting message of peace and togetherness. In these times where people are divided by so many ultimately meaningless things, he encourages us to lay down the argument. It’s a call to reconnect with the earth, ourselves, and the people around us. The song has a light folky feel with beautiful guitars and harmonies that build into crescendos with the rest of the instruments. I am a big fan of the drums that create an awesome groove and add a new dynamic layer to the arrangement. „Lay Down Low“ is the perfect indie summer hit, a soundtrack for joy and human connection. Listen to „Lay Down Low“ here:

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That's all for today! Thanks for reading this column, I hope you enjoyed the songs! You can follow me on Instagram for more music discoveries, during my Musical Hangouts livestreams.

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Mike Robert - Cold

Mike Robert convinces with an incredibly strong vocal performance and beautiful imagery in his latest release „Cold“. It’s one of those songs that you can listen to in two different ways: singing along and letting the upbeat arrangement lift you up, or listening to the lyrics and be moved by it’s story. It uses that juxtaposition to tell a story of numbness and the desire to feel again with a heartbreaking urgency. „Cold“ is one of the songs of Mike Roberts upcoming secret album written after his service in the army and travels through the world. I’m sure he has a lot more to tell through his music, I’m definitely looking forward to hear where his journey takes us next.

Listen to „Cold“ here:

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Mili & Bertie - The Other Side

A good song comes from a personal place but allows the listener to give it its own meaning, „The Other Side“ is a great example of that. With its hook „I’ll see you on the other side“ it conveys that feeling of leaving something behind and lets us give it our own interpretation. The songwriting is not only strong lyrically, the melodies carried by the beautiful harmonies of the british alternative pop duo are incredibly catchy. Mili & Bertie create a polished crossover sound with lovely acoustic elements and clean mix combining the best from the folk and pop world. „The Other Side“ is a bold and powerful musical statement that showcases the artistry of these two amazing creatives, to quote the song „I’m not sorry“ (that I discovered this single).

Listen to „The Other Side“ here:

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Brought Down - Kipani

Kipani showcases a very recognizable sparking indie pop sound that allows for grit and personality while still having catchy melodies and a high quality production. „Brought Down“ pulls you into the song with an awesome groove and a compact sound. The song opens up and builds beautifully in the chorus creating great dynamic movements that keep you hooked from start to finish. The star of the song are definitely the New Yorkers vocals, that have a defiant and confident tone to tell her story. In „Brought Down“ Kipani shows strength both artistically and as a woman singing with an empowered and fearless voice.

Listen to „Brought Down“ here:

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Nel Unlit - Six Nights

There are a lot of fascinating things to write about „Six Nights“, the latest release by Nel Unlit. It’s a beautifully layered and crafted folk song created by collective of songwriters. It started as a christmas gift for one of the members wifes, the result is a beautiful combination of a personal and heartwarming love declaration and a wonderfully intricate arrangement. One of the musical highlights is the rhythm of the song, played by the two drummers of the collective - it really lays a perfect foundation for the beautiful guitars, bass and harmonies to build a unique soundscape. „Six Nights“ has everything I would ask of an indie folk song, its honesty moves my heart and the excellent composition makes my musical soul happy.

Listen to „Six Nights“ here:

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Sam Way - Livin

At the beginning of the pandemic I didn’t really want to hear songs about it. It was everywhere and I wanted to keep it out of my playlists at least. But songs like "Livin" by Sam Way have changed my mind. It’s hard to put the fear, division and uncertainty of the whole situation into words, and hearing an artist process all of that in a song is really cathartic. The song lyrics keep a perfect balance between poetry and direct honesty. "I question if the cure is worse than the disease, if the kicks are empty and the press ain't free, if the smiles are hidden and your touch forbidden it don’t feel like livin to me". "Livin" is not just a song, it’s an invitation for conversation, a call for unity and a reminder of the things that make life worth living.

Listen to Livin here:

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Erika Wester - Nightingale

The moment I heard the chorus of this song I fell in love with it. "Why do we pick flowers instead of letting them grow", a beautiful metaphor that puts into words how we often look at the negative and push ourselves down instead of growing and learning from our mistakes. "Nightingale" has a melancholic feeling. Its arrangement creates a certain lightness and leaves the space for the beautiful vocal performance by Erika to blow you away. It has this beautiful fragility and honesty that invites you to look at yourself without judgement. Some songs don’t need much to tell a story and move you, and this is definitely one of them.

It’s a really really beautiful song and you can listen to it here:

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Izhav - Catch The Sun

This is another song that left me in absolute awe by the first listen. Izabelle Norén has a wonderful voice that hits you with a powerful and yet gentle emotional force. The song pulls you in from the first line and takes you on a beautiful journey through great melodies and a haunting arrangement. The lyrics have a beautiful poetry to them "You said let’s go find the moon, she will kiss those wounds". The imagery expresses a deep sense of connection to nature, and tells a tale of healing and finding your way out of the darkness. "Catch The Sun" is the first single of Izhavs upcoming EP "Saman" to be released on the 26th of this month. The second single "Berätta" is absolutely breath taking and I think I’m not taking a big risk in saying that the EP is truly a release to look forward to.

Listen to Catch the Sun here:

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Jon Sandman - Selfless Isolation

Jon Sandmans latest release "Selfless Isolation" processes the grim reality of the pandemic and lockdown situation in a painfully relatable way. It’s only fitting that the song was recorded, mixed and mastered at home in 2020. The atmospheric track unfolds beautifully alongside its story with a tasteful arrangement combining organic instruments with layered pads. The star of the track are without a doubt the lyrics that really succeed at putting in words all the frustration and sadness these times have brought. "It's funny that in isolation we should lose ourselves when there is no-one else for miles and we hang tightly to our health". Every time I listen to the song another great line stands out to me, it’s just brilliant.
Listen to Jon Sandmans (in his words) "Ode to COVID" here:

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Bits Of Alan - Blue and Green

„Blue and Green“ is the first single of "Slatland", the upcoming album by the indie rock band "Bits of Alan". It’s a raw and honest folk song with a nostalgic feeling. It takes us through memories of a relationship told with beautiful visual metaphors: „I had a dream of color scheme Blue and Green“. The track is defined by delicate guitars that introduce the rhythm later supported by the rest of the instruments that create the perfect backdrop for the vocals. With its relatable lyrics, organic arrangement, and a unique vocal sound „Blue and Green“ has everything a good indie-folk song needs. Bits of Alan has released two more songs of their upcoming album since „Blue and Green“. They are titled „Cooking Barefoot“ and „Queen V Dudley“ and are just as strong as the first single, and if that’s any indication of the quality of the upcoming album I believe we can really look forward to a great project.
Listen to „Blue and Green“ here:

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Cormac Looby - Feel Good

Truly great songs work both with a full arrangement and just with a guitar and a voice. Cormac Looby just proved that when he released a live version of his original "Feel Good", it’s just him and his guitar and it’s absolutely breathtaking. On the show, I featured the fully arranged studio version which had a lovely upbeat acoustic feeling that creates a bittersweet contrast with the moving lyrics that deal with falling back into bad habits. Listening to the more melancholic live version brings those lyrics into the foreground, even more, it feels personal and vulnerable. "It hurts to fall back into the same old routines, especially when you know that it doesn’t even feel good". "Feel Good" is an incredibly well-crafted song, it has great melodies and heartbreaking lyrics that are delivered by an amazing emotional performance.
Here’s the live version, do listen to the studio version too if you have the chance, they are both outstanding in their own way:

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Paperwing - Blackbirds

I know I use the word beautiful very often in my reviews and show, but in this case, I feel like it’s not just an adjective but the definition of this song. I remember discovering "Blackbirds" by Swedish artist Paperwing and listening to it five times in a row, I was a little speechless, to be honest. The singer's angelic voice floats over the delicate arrangement creating a stunning atmospheric folk track with a unique feeling. On my show, Paperwing talked about sitting by the window, hearing Blackbirds sing, and wanting to capture that joy in music. She really achieved that, the song is comforting and reminds you of how wonderful and precious the moment is "We are here, we are now".
Listen to "Blackbirds" here: