The folk-roots music scene is alive and well here in North America right now, with an ever-increasing circle of artists and music fans alike all embracing this exciting brand of ‘indie-folk’ and ‘Americana’ music. It is also very encouraging to witness the next generation of folk-roots artists appearing on the scene, and making names for themselves at such a young age. From Moscow Apartment to Kaia Kater, and Colter Wall to Madison Galloway, there lies an incredible pool of fresh musical talent bursting onto the airwaves right now. This phenomenon is not confined to North America alone, however, as my fellow countryfolks across the pond would attest to. Stick with me for a while and you too may just be adding today’s featured artist to your streaming platform of choice.
From the city of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, in the far northeastern corner of England, rising indie-folk artist Callum Pitt has quickly become a household name across the UK. Combining finger-picked folk riffs with a stunning falsetto voice and rich harmonies, his music has spread beyond his homeland into Europe, and as far-reaching as Asia too (amassing over three million streams on music platforms in the process). Impressive accomplishments for an artist that burst onto the scene just a few years ago, and more reason to welcome his music to similarly appreciative audiences here on our continent. Callum acknowledges that he is drawn to music with strong vocal harmonies, and cites both Bon Iver and Bob Dylan as two of his primary influences. And with the release of his latest single, “Fault Lines,” Pitt embraces a true folk-music fan favorite, the ‘protest’ song. What’s not to like?
“Fault Lines” tackles the issue of social polarization. “It encourages ignorance and prejudice to be met with love, understanding and education,” Pitt offers. “[And] explores the heightened polarization within the UK’s political landscape.” Don’t allow yourself to be caught off-guard by the typical soft acoustic guitar strumming introduction, as electric guitar and drums appear quickly to quash any ideas that this protest song is going to be a laid-back affair. “Fault Lines is directed at the UK government and right wing press who have incited hatred and division in the public through their rhetoric over the past few years in particular,” Callum adds. “We have been split down the middle as ‘leavers’ or ‘remainers,’ demonizing immigrants and refugees. This has allowed the stain of white supremacy to spread.” Go ahead and click the link below and spend 3:32 minutes with this great new song, complete with a volatile subject matter that will no doubt find a home with the politically minded folk-roots crowd amongst us.
Hungry for more indie-folk offerings from the UK? Be sure to check out music from Emily Portman, Rukhsana Merrise, Sam Lee, and Jade Bird for starters….and hit me up if you need more.
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
