Violinist and singer/songwriter Gaelynn Lea has been a standout musician in Duluth, Minnesota for a number of years but more recently received national attention for winning National Public Radio’s Tiny Desk Contest. Following 2012’s Imperfecta with Alan Sparhawk (Low) as the duo The Murder of Crows, Lea debuted her solo EP, The Songs We Sing Along the Way in 2016, followed in quick succession by a number of releases including the two song charmer, All Changing Tides. While these works are a few years old, as I’m new to Lea’s music, I thought it was well worth writing about them. Lea’s music is an indie folk mix of contemporary classical, bluegrass and Celtic fiddle. On 2015’s All the Roads That Lead Us Home, the collection of spare songs showcases Lea’s melancholic fiddle and sincere, lived-in/weathered voice. That album also alternates between instrumentals and vocal numbers, each song slowly unfolding much like the tone and wordplay displayed in the lovely opening track “Watch the World Unfold.” Other album highlights include: the gorgeous centerpiece, “Someday We’ll Linger in the Sun” and the beautiful instrumental “Tombigbee Waltz.” Similarly, 2017’s single All Changing Tides features the two excellent tracks “Bound by a Thread” and “Dark to Light and Dark Again.” Lea consistently spins captivating, finely crafted musings on love and life. I for one became an instant fan after seeing Lea’s Tiny Desk Concert, and I can’t wait for her next full-length album. If you haven’t heard Gaelynn Lea’s music before, I highly suggest you get acquainted. – Written by JFelton
SIMILAR | Cicada Rhythm, Low, The Murder Of Crows, Retribution Gospel Choir