Throughout the pieces on IEYL I try to put the magnifying glass over the artist. I’m virtually absent from the majority of the articles on my page. If listeners are going to truly understand the musicians that they’re paying attention to then they need to read about them without the interference of the writer. Otherwise, the album review you’re reading is more about the writers dog or trip to the grand canyon than the artist’s intent.
This piece is a change of pace.
I’ve had readers ask me to write more about myself. After some thought, I’ve decided to share some more! As the page grows and the year continues I think its important for the readers to learn more about me and where I’m coming from. This will allow the page to be more personable and interactive.
Therefore, while the album reviews and research-heavy music essays remain artist-centric, I’m going to sprinkle in more personal music stories and pieces in the mix for fun.
With that, I’ve crafted a list of my top 10 favorite artist. For each artist, I reveal the following:
Who they are
Why they’re loved by me
How I discovered them
Some of my favorite songs by them.
Enjoy the list! These 10 are a special bunch. If you vibe and connect with some of them feel free to dive deep into their discographies. I promise you that its worth the trip!
Artist #1 - The Staves
The Staves are a folk-leaning sister group from England. Their music mostly centers around soothing harmonies and stripped down instrumentals. I love this group’s ability to stop time with their dreamy voices and lyrical transparency. Their songs usually center around the importance of family, connection, unconditional love, and sometimes the tension between the three.
Thanks to Justin Vernon, in about 2014 or 2015, I became aware of The Staves. The Wisconsin, Grammy Award-winning artist was producing the trio’s sophomore project, If I Was. The sonic sophistication Vernon brought to the Stave’s beautifully calm world was mesmerizing. These felt simultaneously gorgeously complex and eerily simple.
Some of my favorite Stave tunes are “In The Long Run”, their cover of Sufjan Stevens “Chicago”, “Outlaw”, and the Be Kind Version of “Good Woman”.
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