What better than some wonderful indie folk this Sunday. There’s the odd intimate acoustic moment, to more expansive live arrangements. Every single one’s a bop, so let’s get stuck in 🕺
Tony Arthur – Shoebox
Tony Arthur delivers a direct, honest and reflective indie folk moment built on deeply rooted songwriting traditions
Shoebox has all the warm acoustic tones, direct and honest songwriting that you need this Sunday. It’s steady, unhurried and really brings alive that the forgotten memories of that old shoebox that we’ve all got in a cupboard somewhere. It’s produced beautifully, reminiscent of Knopfler at times, and the light percussion, piano and tasteful backing vocals lead us to a really immersive place.
Tony Arthur, now based in Berlin, draws on decades of musical exploration across genres and continents. This release marks a continued focus on introspective songwriting, rooted in folk tradition while shaped by a wide-ranging personal history. It’s really working, and this was an instant Spotify follow for me. More please, Tony!
Arliston – The Older I Get (Live at 123 Studios)
Arliston capture a beautifully fragile and emotionally direct performance that genuinely stuns
The Older I Get strips things back to its emotional core, with sparse arrangement, beautiful strings and delicate instrumentation that guide the track to a really special place. It’s such an incredible performance, and there’s a glimmer of raw immediacy to this that adds to it’s vibe. I would absolutely have loved to have been in the room when this was made.
Arliston, a London-based duo, use this release to revisit and reshape earlier material through a more intimate lens. It signals a step forward, balancing their cinematic tendencies with a more human, unguarded approach. A stunning indie-folk moment.
The Parachute Testers – Better Be Home Soon
The Parachute Testers reimagine a classic with a wonderfully warm indie folk approach that honours its emotional core
Better Be Home Soon leans into gentle guitar work and expansive vocal harmonies, building a soft, enveloping atmosphere. I’ve been listening to a lot of Mazzy Star recently, and the vocals here feel in similar world. They’re honestly really fantastic and benefit from a patient arrangement, and the tasteful production.
The Parachute Testers, a collective spanning South East Ireland and beyond, bring their collaborative sensibility to the Crowded House classic. The track reflects their blend of folk and atmospheric influences, offering a fresh perspective while staying true to the song’s heart. Incredible stuff.
Conor Maradona – Snowball
Conor Maradona brings sharp lyrical personality to this stripped-back indie folk pop banger
Snowball has a fun, knowing vibe, built on clean acoustic lines and a vocal that carries both humour and sincerity. The studio chat in the intro is reminiscent of Oasis B-sides during the golden years, and the melody isn’t too far off. Curiously, the I Am The Walrus-esque outro hints at a sense of ambition in production that hints at something that I would love to hear more of. Anyway, it’s a bag of fun, and another immediate Spotify follow for me.
Conor Maradona is a Welsh singer songwriter who as well as looking like a right laugh, makes some decent music blending wit with accessible songwriting. This release continues to build towards a debut project, framing his style as both personal and unfiltered. More of this please, Conor.
Lee Switzer-Woolf – I Might Be An Alien
Lee Switzer-Woolf cooks up a stunner of a glitchy, atmospheric folk-tronica banger
I Might Be An Alien arrives with some sparse guitars, ambient textures, and a sort of off-centre, immersive mood. The arrangement stays minimal, a glitchy beat here and there, with space and tone shaping the track’s emotional weight. But unlike some stuff like this, it’s not just all lovely production and sound world, it’s got a genuine zinger of a hook which definitely pulls this into banger territory.
Lee Switzer-Woolf, a Reading-based artist, leans into a folktronica approach that balances acoustic roots with experimental edges. This release signals a continued evolution, exploring themes of disconnection and identity with a restrained, thoughtful touch. Honestly, this is fucking great.