In 2023, the music industry will be ruled by these singer-songwriters, who will break new ground with their original sound and perspective. We have high hopes for them because of the way their talent allows them to compose musical backdrops for our lives. These composers have undeniable talent, and their newest works are sure to tell compelling tales.
Songwriting is an Age-Old Art Form
It has been in use for more than 30 years at this point. These authors of our experiences disseminated their works in the past on a wide variety of media, from vinyl to magnetic tape. The advent of modern communication technologies, however, has made it possible for them to publish their works on the web or on their mobile devices.
Jeremy Dion
Jeremy Dion, an Americana singer-songwriter from Boulder, Colorado puts as much passion into his guitar playing as he does his songwriting. With four albums released and another on the way, Dion and his music have been compared to David Gray jamming with Ryan Adams, or John Mayer back porch picking with Jerry Garcia. Dion calls his infectious blend of folk, bluegrass, and acoustic rock “Mile High Americana,” evoking the wide open scenes of the Rocky Mountain West.
Dion has an absurd collection of headwear. He doesn’t just “wear” them metaphorically; he’s also come to value the literal protection they provide against the bald spot he’s developed. Jeremy has many talents: he performs as a songwriter, writes books, is a doting father, and works as a licensed therapist. Near Boulder, Jeremy most often spends his time in his home studio, where he composes music, or in his wood shop, where he makes birdhouses and cribbage boards. He enjoys keeping himself busy.
One of Jeremy’s most popular songs is Golden Some Day, a slow folk tune about love and heartbreak, and ultimately hope for the future. He sings about how the uncertainty and flux of the future mean that things are never truly hopeless, even if they are difficult right now. Our current emotions are only temporary. His tempo is slow, but you can still feel the beat of the music. Though he’s going through a divorce, he still manages to give you the raw emotion he felt at the time and translates his grief into soaring harmonies and passionate lyrics. Golden Some Day is well worth the listen.
Florence + The Machine
In 2022, Florence + The Machine is altering the status quo of what it means to be a singer-songwriter. Florence Welch, Isabella Summers on keyboards, Rob Ackroyd on guitar, Tom Monger on harp, and a few other musicians make up Florence and the Machine (also stylized as Florence + the Machine), an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2007. The new album by Florence + the Machine, titled “Dance Fever,” is a smashing success. During the last ten years, Florence Welch has emerged as one of the most emotionally resonant musicians. The album, which was recorded in London as the pandemic raged around her, veers from the idiosyncratic (“Heaven is Here”) to the completely unrestrained pop-rock (“Free”), with some spoken word thrown in for extra eccentricity (“Choreomania,” named for the Renaissance-era phenomenon in which a group of people would dance themselves into hysteria).
Dance Fever is the kind of album that you should probably listen to from start to finish, not to compare songs or pick favorites but rather to lose yourself in what it has to offer. If you’re looking for a wild ride that’s more akin to a psychedelic stroll through the forest than a fever trip, Welch and her band are your best bet. Promoting their new album, Florence + the Machine has been busy releasing singles.
The song “King” was released as the lead single from Florence + the Machine’s upcoming fifth studio album, Dance Fever. In an interview with Vogue published in April of 2022, Florence Welch explained that the song’s lyrics depict her internal conflict between her desire to continue her career and her secret wish to have children.
Death Cab for Cutie
With the release of “Roman Candles,” Death Cab for Cutie has given fans the first taste of their upcoming 10th studio album, Asphalt Meadows, due out on September 16 via Atlantic.
They said in a statement, “Roman Candles” is a dramatic song about the crippling, existential dread that comes hand in hand with living in a nervous city on a dying planet. And the only way to live in the now is to drop all preoccupations.
It’s been an uphill battle just to open my eyes and say “hello” to the day, and then they vanish like sugar in my coffee.
Benjamin Gibbard, the band’s frontman, elaborated on the song’s inspiration, saying, “The lyrics were cobbled from a couple of different songs dealing with my general sense of anxiety; the feeling that the fabric that weaves a functioning society together was crumbling during the pandemic.”
Phoebe Bridgers
In the video for her latest original song, “Sidelines,” singer and songwriter Phoebe Bridgers gets real. The video uses clips from the Hulu series Conversations With Friends, based on the novel of the same name by Sally Rooney, to untangle a tangled web of interpersonal dynamics.
She croons into a microphone, “Watched the world from the side-lines/had nothing to prove,” on a song written for the show. “Before you entered my life, I had nothing to lose.”
As we move further into 2023, the folk music scene continues to thrive with a diverse array of artists and styles. The genre has remained true to its roots while also evolving and incorporating modern influences, resulting in a dynamic and exciting music scene.
From up-and-coming artists to established veterans, folk music continues to captivate and inspire listeners around the world. As technology continues to advance, we can only anticipate more innovations and possibilities for the genre in the coming years. Overall, the future of folk music looks bright and promising, with many exciting developments and talented artists on the horizon.
