Some songs just know how to hold down the fort.
We love a good steady track that has a way of recalibrating the mind back to center. Those are the tracks we listen to on a commute, a lazy afternoon, a quiet hike, and just when we need to unwind. So, we’ve started a new, ongoing playlist of these swell and swaying tunes called “steady” so you can find some solid tunes and solid ground with us. Below are the tunes we’ve added this month and why. Shuffle to the bottom for the full playlist and follow the playlist on Spotify to keep up with new additions.
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Lavender Bones – “Quiet Steady Love”
We first heard this band on Various Small Flames because they are the best. This song feels constantly present. The embers of guitar are constantly locked in a slow, fuzzy burn beneath this melody. Much like the love it describes, this tune calmly but bravely grows over time until it becomes fully immersive.
Listen to more Lavender Bones here.
Fox Academy – “Luck”
While we have loved Fox Academy for a long time, we’ve regrettably never posted on of their tracks. That all changes today. This song is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. It is sonically steady and comforting while simultaneous being lyrically anxious. The busy collection of sounds that comprise it loving block out the constant noise and trying times of everyday life in 2019. We hope to see our Portland friends around town soon.
Listen to more Fox Academy here.
Scott Orr – “Fall Apart (Acoustic Version)”
We’ve not known any music of Scott Orr’s before listening to this track but this acoustic version of this song is instantly timeless. It reminds us very fondly of much of the songs that came from Once. Simplicity and sincerity lean against each other to create a love song that holds tightly to Orr’s almost whispered vocals and never wants to let go. The gentle ascension of piano radiates with a soft glow every time.
Listen to more Scott Orr here.
Kate Bollinger – “No Other Like You”
Smoothness is the core of this pop tune from Kate Bollinger where everything seems to melt from the warmth of the tones. Kate Bollinger has been knocking it out of the park with these jazz-infused pop tracks that melodically traverse an eclectic soundscape with ease. It’s easy to sink into the bassline that cheekily coaxes this melody along.
Listen to more Kate Bollinger here.
(Sandy) Alex G – “In My Arms”
It’s hard not to love everything (Sandy) Alex G does but this song just has a lasting resonance. Every bit of this tune feels welcoming and sure-footed. The way the guitars seep in to support the refrain adds power and emotion into this soft but gruff pseudo ballad. In fervent feeling, unexpected structure, and the beautification of a small moment, this song is a wonderful example of what makes (Sandy) Alex G consistently great.
Listen to more (Sandy) Alex G here.
Twain – “Inner Beauty”
This song is just brilliant. It’s a masterpiece painted with patience, grace, and vulnerability. Like a big warm hug that only gets better with time, every tinkle and pound of the piano is a hopeful step in a brighter direction. Despite the song being almost 8 minutes long, the narrative and the melody never tire. It is more than a song but an experience and an escape to the cinematic soundscape of Twain’s heart song.
Listen to more Twain here.
Soak in the whole playlist below:
