A San Francisco psychology doctorate dropout, a London singer-songwriter who took Help Musicians funding and turned it into a debut album, a Sydney lawyer who changed lanes, a deeply personal Irish acoustic song about nonverbal autism, and a sparse piano-led track that simply lets the melody do the work: indie folk this week is five songwriters who arrived at music from somewhere unexpected.
Alana Silver – Patio Door
Alana Silver’s “Patio Door” is a stunning debut: the first song she ever wrote, recorded with just two guitar chords and it’s completely compelling
“Patio Door” was written before Alana Silver had any connection to musicians or collaborators, before she identified as an artist at all. It’s not your regular backstory; she was preparing to start a doctorate in psychology, and the song came from the specific vulnerability of that moment. The results are beautiful, it’s produced like a dream, and Alana’s vocal and songcraft defintely standout. it building somewhere genuinely beautiful into the second verse and chorus. Extra points for a zinger of a middle eight.
Silver is a San Francisco-based singer-songwriter and clinical psychology doctoral student who came to music sideways, through the kind of life disruption that tends to produce genuine songs rather than performed ones. Her band Tomboy gave her the musical infrastructure to develop her instincts, and her solo material strips that back to what the song requires. “Patio Door” is her debut solo single and the beginning of a catalogue that we can’t wait to hear. A fantastic single.
William Walsh – So Many Things
William Walsh’s “So Many Things” is an lovely piece of Sydney country-folk: late-blooming, honest, and proof that twenty years practising law does not stop a good melody from finding its way out.
“So Many Things” was written about the feeling of a Monday morning and the weight of a working week arriving again: a modest, specific subject handled with the directness that comes from someone who is writing for himself and other people who will recognise the feeling. And we’ve all been there, right? I get the sunday scaries a bit less these days, but it’s nice to reflect with Mr Walsh. His songwriting sits in the smart country tradition, melodic and unpretentious, and the track’s honesty is its strength.
William Walsh is a Sydney-based singer-songwriter who spent most of his working life as a lawyer before turning seriously to original music. He draws from country folk and the singer-songwriter tradition, working with the instinct of someone who has been writing for himself for years and is only recently presenting those songs to the world. I love ‘So Many Things’ and here’s hoping we get to hear more from this artist in 2026.
Patrick Quinn – Silent Voices
Patrick Quinn’s “Silent Voices” is a gorgeous piece of cinematic folk: a song about his 13-year-old nonverbal autistic son, building from quiet acoustic intimacy into something genuinely overwhelming.
“Silent Voices” was written about the emotional reality of parenting a 13-year-old nonverbal autistic child: the love, fear, hope, exhaustion and deep connection that exist entirely beyond words. And as someone with a child on the way, it’s struck something that few songs have done this year. The arrangement matches that subject structurally, beginning as a spare acoustic piece and building gradually into a cinematic, orchestral finale that very much earns its scale. Musically, it’s a bit folky, a bit orchestral and a touch ballad-y, but it does what it needs to; getting the message across in style. Early responses from autism and special needs communities have been particularly strong, and we’re not surprised.
Patrick Quinn is an Irish singer-songwriter whose previous work includes a Eurovision entry representing Ireland in 1993 alongside Niamh Kavanagh, who won that year with “In Your Eyes.” He is also known as a classical tenor, which gives “Silent Voices” an unusual quality: a voice trained in the operatic tradition applied to deeply personal acoustic material, and the combination is incredibly striking. This one’s a stunner, and its definitely reached the heart of this listener.
Tale of Giants – somewhere
Tale of Giants’ “somewhere” is a brilliant piece of El Paso acoustic folk: honest, unhurried, and a beautiful observation on loneliness and travel
“somewhere” is built around the specific fear of missing the moments that matter while in motion: the tension between the drive to keep moving and the suspicion that life is happening somewhere you are not. Damn, we’ve all been there, and the song captures the vibe expertly. It’s produced brilliantly, rolls along in real style and then starts to really kick off half way through. I love the vocals here, and the background vocals add tension at all the right times.
Tale of Giants is the solo acoustic project of El Paso-based singer-songwriter Javier Martinez, who has refined his craft across years of US touring and international dates, building audiences through direct, emotionally honest performance. You can tell there’s live experience here, it’s clear that this banger is all the better for it. Our verdict? An essential indie folk listen for 2026, we love it.
Every Other Weekend – Resolution
Every Other Weekend’s “Resolution” is a beautiful piano-led indie folk single: sparse, deliberate, and straight to heart in all the best ways
“Resolution” was written on piano and kept spare by design: the production exists to let every element breathe rather than to fill space. I love indie that knows exactly when to pull back, just as much to push forward. . The vocal melody and guitar motif are the clear standouts here, both driving things forward wonderfully. The subject? The universal anxiety of connection and the effort of not taking life too seriously. It is the latest release from a forthcoming album, which is very, very exciting to hear.
Every Other Weekend is the solo project of a songwriter whose music centres on the ordinary difficulty of being alive and present with other people. The project takes its name from a feeling of intermittent access, in relationships, in the self, in the effort of showing up consistently, and the songs reflect that theme without dramatising it. We’re glad this music exists in the world, and I can’t wait for the album. Give this track a go this week.