Photo credit: Shervin Lainez

Casey Buckley – “Remember Me”: Casey’s main claim to fame at the moment involves a recent summer tour with Howie Day (betcha didn’t know Day was still touring, did ya?). “Remember Me” is a song celebrating nostalgia, in much the same way some might have approached going to a Howie Day show. The simple song tells a former lover to be free to cherish the memories, but not be held back from moving on. It’s common sense advice for all of us, but words that need to remind sometimes. Nostalgia is great, as long as we’re not stuck there. But neither should we forget whom made us who we are.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19gxL9ubPgw[/youtube]

 

Goldbirds – “Empire”: The first phrase that comes to mind when jamming this track is “indie pop with swagger.” The UK band isn’t afraid to soar in this perfect end of summer tune. I sit here on my living room couch trying to think of what this song reminds me of and I keep coming back to how summer is still trying to hang on. This song isn’t about that, but this is the mood it conveys. I wonder how Goldbirds’ fellow Londoners feel about the end of the summer.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/221852558″ /]

Elline – “Smoke and Mirrors”: Man! Barely 250 likes on Facebook and this band is really going for it. They have crafted a song sure to get a lot of hearts on Hype Machine – but wait, we’re on Hype Machine! So that might have sounded negative, hmm. In all seriousness, this is a fun sound to get weird to. Ethereal instrumentals with a smooth, almost jazzy vocal over the top. I dig, I dig. Very little is being revealed about this band (artist?) at this time though. Hmm (again).

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/215692733″ /]

 

Katie Davis – “Another Land”: I first heard this songwriter live, at the first Columbus Songwriters Association event I attended. I’m not really one that follows country music, but being a local musician who plainly puts a lot of heart into her music makes Katie Davis a contender regardless of my personal preferences. If a down to earth personality could be captured in a song, this is it. At it’s core, like most of the songs on her Steal My Heart EP, “Another Land” is a love song – a song of longing for escape, in this case. Don’t be fooled by her easygoing demeanor though – Katie Davis means business in this current music landscape.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YVjLlHnSjA[/youtube]

 

Lewis Fieldhouse – “Goodbye”: I was told that this artist is for fans of Sufjan Stevens, Jason Mraz, and George Ezra. Well, I actually heard George Ezra on the radio earlier tonight so I can confirm that this is true. Mraz, with his poppy hooks, is an astute comparison too – although I’m thinking more of his early era. Sufjan is a stretch, though. Anyway, this song is surprisingly happy given its title.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/213644305″ /]

 

Sara Syms – “Crossroads”: My favorite female vocalists often keep it simple. I can say this because I’m a single guy at the time of this writing – velvety female vocals over a soft guitar just make me melt a bit. Syms has a natural talent. Songwriters like her are a dime a dozen, and yet I’m glad I found this song. I’m oddly reminded of Radiohead in parts.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCuABDm-VzY[/youtube]