Top Picks

Vic Allen is one of our brightest homegrown talents and I truly believe 2023 will be her year! The tone of her voice is quite simply beautiful, she exhibits such control and delivers each line with perfectly weighted emotion. ‘Pictures of Us’ is the standout track for me, the lyrics are so cleverly written, the harmonies add a depth to the song and the melody tugs on the heartstrings. Inspired by her travels and those she met whilst exploring the world, the album very much feels like it takes you on a journey with songs such as ‘Drive’ and ‘Barcelona’ the perfect soundtrack for a road trip. The dreamy soundscapes she creates in the arrangement and production further solidify the themes of the record. New single ‘Suitcase’ with an accompanying video shot in California with the help of her brother is a flagship song for the record which showcases her strong songwriting ability alongside her brilliant voice. I can’t wait to see Allen go from strength to strength over the next year! 

The musicianship on this record is outstanding. Walker is famed for his award-winning finger style guitar picking brings to life tales of ghost stories, philosophy, alchemy and science on this record which showcases him at his very best as he presents a collection of instrumentals, traditional material and reimagined poems as well as his first attempts at songwriting. Opening the record with the title track we hear a simple stripped back production build with orchestral strings framing Sophie Jamieson’s vocals and harmonies. A haunting synth adds to the atmospheric soundscape Walker has created. Instrumental ‘Starlings’ paints the picture of birds in flight, capturing their elegance in his classical guitar style and delicate arrangement. Meanwhile, ‘King Storm’ shows a whole new side Walker particularly with the slightly heavier production. It’s a far cry from the country music that I usually listen to and write about, but good music is good music and Walker’s album deserves to be heard by the masses.  

With Jessie G working under the guidance of her idol Gretchen Wilson at Redneck Records, it is no surprise that this latest single packs a punch. Leaning heavily towards rock opposed to her usual country sound, ‘Martyr’ showcases Jessie G’s epic vocal ability as she belts out that chorus. The production is tight and complements the song perfectly with its heavy drums and distorted guitars. I like the heavily EQ’d guitars as the production drops between sections in the song. It is the next single taken from the record that Jessie G has been working on for the past five years and which is set to be released later this year. Jessie said it would draw influence from across genres and this song certainly shows us the feisty, rock edge that can be injected into her music. 

New York based singer-songwriter, Arielle Eden, has drawn comparisons to Taylor Swift and LeAnn Rimes with her mix of country-pop songwriting. The debut EP has seen her work with the likes of hit songwriter Forest Glen Whitehead who has worked with Kelsey Ballerini and Brandy Clark and you can see why he’d want to work with someone like Eden. As she explores the typical themes of an ill-fated love on this record, she does so in an unusual way with quirky and clever lyrics telling the stories. Her vocals are unique – soothing with a lovely tone to them. The EP opens with the title track which has a lovely melody and dreamy backing vocals. ‘One Way’ starts with the warm sound of a pedal steel, it’s an insightful track touching on the theme of self-discovery. It’s a really well written EP, I’m excited to hear more from Arielle Eden and see how her career blossoms. 

The 21-year-old has had a whirlwind couple of years, impressing Black River Entertainment and being surprised with a recording and publishing contract live on air during a radio interview. She released her debut EP with them in the summer of last year and it’s a belter. Her blend of country-pop is upbeat and relatable, and her voice is both powerful and sweet. The production blends traditional country instrumentation like the banjo and fiddle with a drum machine whilst lyrically she refers to typical country themes, referencing Johnny Cash in EP opener ‘Sounds Like Something’. Melodically the whole record is riddled with catchy hooks that get stuck in your head. My favourite track on the record is ‘Slow Dance in Headlights’, it’s a beautifully written tune and her vocals really shine. I expect 2023 to be even bigger for this fast-rising star! 

Drawing influence from the likes of John Mayer, Carole King and Prince, Wolf Moon’s second record is full of carefully crafted songs that were mainly written in lockdown. It’s not an album that would appeal to a typical country fan but the songwriting and vocal harmonies can be appreciated by all music lovers. The production, built upon the acoustic foundations of the tracks, is purposeful and effective. The album opens with ‘Variations On A Feeling’, the chorus, with those dreamy vocals intertwining and blending so beautifully to create a lovely soundscape, really adds character to the song. The standout track for me is ‘Tell Me What I Don’t Know’ with its skillful finger style guitar, the foundation of the song and it’s eerie vocal melodies is a unique addition to the collection.