When it comes to music everyone likes different things and has different opinions on it. But no matter what your favorite kind of music is or what thoughts you have about it, it is undeniable that folk music is making its comeback.
The first sign of folk music coming back was when Taylor Swift released her album Folklore in 2020. Six months later she also released Evermore, another folk album.
This was a new side of Taylor that we hadn’t seen before. She had tried pretty much every other genre from country to pop, and then eventually she dipped into indie folk.
Indie folk is a music genre that arose in the 90s with guitar melodies of traditional folk music and some contemporary instrumentation. This gave a new feel to folk music making it more relevant and centered to catch the attention of the younger generation while still keeping its original feel.
If anyone can catch the attention of the younger generation it’s Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is very powerful in the music industry so once she does something others tend to follow.
On both Taylor Swift’s album Folklore and Evermore an indie folk band by the name Bon Iver is featured. Even though Bon Iver has been around since 2006 I, as well as many others, first heard of them through their feature with Taylor and from the moment they came on the song I was hooked.
Bon Iver’s music has a very heartfelt feel, you can feel the exact emotions that they sing about. Their experimental soundscapes, layered harmonies, folk influences, and willingness to explore new musical styles make them stand out.
My personal favorite song is For Emma from their debut album. Bon Iver is an older band that has recently begun to gain popularity but there are also some artists that are just now starting out.
Noah Khan is a rising artist who has just released an extended version of his folk album Stick Season (Stick Season Forever). Stick Season was released in 2022 but just recently began to gain popularity within the last year.
Stick Season is also the name of the hit song that TikTok has gone wild over. People have begun to fall in love with Noah Khan’s unique voice and sound and his way of connecting to his audience, as well as folk music as a whole.
I haven’t even begun to scrape the surface of all the amazing folk singers from the past or ones that are just starting out. I could sit here all day and tell you about all the amazing artists and bands that have perfected the indie folk/ folk sound, but this story would never end if I did that.
So just know in a world of rock and roll, hip hop, and rap it may seem like all hope is lost on the music industry but, in the sea of darkness folk music acts as a light to pull us out.
While the music has strayed away from the traditional folk style, it has still kept its heartfelt, emotional touch that allows listeners to truly connect and feel the music. Take it from me and give folk music a try, you wont regret it!
