Tag: Folk music

Mae Krell Releases ‘imposter syndrome’ EP

Fresh off a North American tour, New York-based singe songwriter MAE KRELL releases her new EP, ‘imposter syndrome.’ The 4-track EP is the culmination of Mae’s artistic and personal development over the past two years: “I’ve grown up, begun to gain confidence as an artist, and had the opportunity to have my voice really listened to in every step of the music making process. With all of this positive change still comes doubt; and often really intense imposter syndrome, at least for me. This record is about pushing through it because you know it’ll all be worth it.”

The EP is named after the final single to be released, “imposter syndrome,” but was actually inspired by an experience working on one of the other tracks on the EP.

Explaining how it came to be, Mae says, “while working on ‘phantom limb,’ Jakob Leventhal (producer) brought in an incredible pianist to play on the track. While sitting in the studio I had this overwhelming feeling of not being talented enough and feeling like I shouldn’t be there. Imposter syndrome is such a common feeling, especially for people from minority backgrounds, and it really hit me like a truck that day.”

That was then followed by going home and writing this song. Over the course of the ‘impostor syndrome’ EP, Mae masterfully and heart-wrenchingly dissects the relatable feeling of self-doubt. The songs are melodic, intimate, and packed with cathartic lyricism that will strike a chord.

At just 22 years old, Mae exudes a musicality wise beyond her years. Influenced by revered singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers, and Gregory Alan Isakov, her songs are intimate reflections that confront trauma, self-love, and personal truths. With a distinct folk-pop sound and introspective lyrical chops, Mae has earned millions of streams across her repertoire with multiple tracks breaking 500K. With a multitude of career milestones already under her belt, Mae is taking it one day at a time and focusing on writing and recording songs that reach new emotional heights.

Have a listen to Mae Krell’s EP below…

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REVIEW: HASTEN MERCY – HEAD FAKE’S MICHAEL BAKER

Fusing indie pop with influences of country and folk music may seem like an odd partnership on paper for many, but this is what fundamentally makes up Toronto artist Michael Baker’s three-piece project, ‘Hasten Mercy.’

The haziness of the 80’s inspired synths softly poke through the hazy backdrop introduces the EP through the single ‘Star You Are.’ The guitar rounds up the three-and-a-half production, giving off a rich Americana sound.

With the driving grit of the electro bassline being the main feature, the second offering, ‘These Things’ (personally) more takes on a trippy downtempo tone, contributed by the woeful presence from the piano and violins.

Offering an appealing imitate setting, the artist invites us into his world through the final single, ‘I Break Everything’. He uses a vocal instrument to give a wholesome folk ballad that works perfectly against the soft electronic backdrop.

Michael Baker, who is the man behind the moniker Hasten Mercy, is known for pushing the boundaries to the extreme when it comes to experimenting with different genres. His solo project is a true testimony of his ability to merge unlikely genres into a very pleasing collection. All three singles have a solid potential for commanding regular attention on contemporary radio stations.

Have a listen to Hasten Mercy’s mini collection below…

Must Listens: I Break Everything, These Things

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Song of the Day: Colorblind – Mae Krell

New York-based singer-songwriter MAE KRELL‘s single, ‘Colorblind’ was written and recorded in quarantine, created remotely from start to finish with the help of producer and multi-instrumentalist Jakob Leventhal. Over swirling, sliding guitars and sparse drums, Mae grieves the end of a relationship in painful and relatable detail: “I squeezed your hand, you flinched / The skies turned black, I blinked / I never practiced my goodbyes / I didn’t think that I had to.” Mae’s sharp lyrics and aching vocals brim with palpable emotion as they call back memories of a love that once was.

“I wrote ‘colorblind’ in the midst of what I thought was going to be the end of a relationship with the first girl I ever truly fell in love with,” Mae says of the inspiration behind the single. “I’ll be the first to admit that I feel everything too much, but during the couple of days that this was going on, I really felt like the world was ending. I was wildly sad while also being very restless in a way that I had never experienced before.”

Following a two-year hiatus, Mae Krell returned in early 2020 ready to embark on a new musical era. With a newfound maturity and understanding, she has perfected her folk-pop sound and introspective lyrical chops. At just 22 years old, Mae exudes a musicality wise beyond her years. Influenced by revered singer-songwriters like Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers and Gregory Alan Isakov, her songs are intimate reflections that confront trauma, self-love, and personal truths. Her singles have amassed millions of streams to date, with last year’s singles “wash,” “home,” and “garden,” all individually breaking over 500K streams.

In addition to her artist career, Mae has worn many different hats in the music industry. She was photographed live music from the likes of Rolling Stone and Sony RCA, founded the online music publication Tongue Tied Magazine and, most recently, started Bitch Mgmt, a multimedia marketing and PR company. With a multitude of career milestones already under their belt, Mae is taking it one day at a time and focusing on writing and recording songs that reach new emotional heights.

Check out the lyric video for ‘Colorblind’ below…

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Penelope Antena Delivers Touching Piece, ‘Back To Say’

Belgian and French singer/songwriter PENELOPE ANTENA is carving out her own genre melding path that has garnered praise from the likes of Rolling Stone, Marie Claire and France Inter. Her mother is renowned singer Isabelle Antena (a pioneer of Electro Samba) and her grandfather is jazz pianist Marc Moulin (the reason Blue Note opened its EU headquarters, and who was sampled by the likes of Jay Dilla).

Her touching ballad, ‘Back to Stay’, which is taken from her glowing sophomore effort, Beamorose (out 19th August on Youngbloods), adapts folk, Americana, and gospel sensibilities. A powerful cover of John Martyn’s 1967 single, Penelope’s soaring vocal work and free-flowing piano arrangement emphasizes the original heartfelt character, casting a resonant ode to lasting love in the face of inevitable change.

Here’s your chance to listen to Penelope’s version of ‘Back To Say’ below…

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Art Block Shares Touching Single, ‘Brother’

I first heard the single, ‘Brother’ on Instagram and the heart-wrenching acoustic arrangements immediately touched my soul (which is a rare occasion!) I had to reach out to the person behind the beautiful single, East London-based folk singer/songwriter ART BLOCK and expressed my admiration for his latest offering and in turn, he submitted his single.

So I’m absolutely delighted to share ‘Brother’ with you guys, among a pool of other talented newcomers here on NEW LEASE MUSIC.

Produced by Ian Barter, who recently produced Gabrielle’s covers album, ‘Do It Again’, piano-led ‘Brother’ heavily possesses Art’s main influences, Radiohead and Jeff Buckley, where I get a sense that this amazing storyteller narratives a story of betrayal, through his magically delicate vocal performance.

‘Brother’ is out now on all good download/streaming sites…why not check out the video for the single below…

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