By Shruthika Pochampally
Staff Writer
The singer-songwriter genre is one of the best genres, due to its diversity, and the vast range of music-lovers it appeals to. Whether you listen to indie bands, or pop hits, everyone can always use the occasional emotional song. We often tend to brush off slower songs. However, when we pay notice to the lyrically adept songs describing relatable situations, the listener truly learns to appreciate not only the singer and the lyrics, but the song as a whole, and the emotions the song elicits from them. Listed are nine songs by some of my favorite singer-songwriters, not only because of the amazing vocals these singers obtain, but because of how their music makes me feel as a listener.
1) “Fire Alarms” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran has skyrocketed to fame internationally in the past year. Precisely two years down the road from his debut album, +, being released, he has three Madison Square Garden in New York concerts lined up for this fall. Although I am not going to make it to New York this year, I had the amazing chance to see Sheeran live twice.
Though + was a brilliantly composed album that has topped charts worldwide, Sheeran’s earlier EPs contain some of his best music. They are immensely underrated compared to +, but to me, these EPs contain my most favorite songs. Fire Alarms is lyrically developed, relatable and soft, and Songs I Wrote With Amy will always remain one of the most played EPs on my iPod. The song talks about childish tendencies, comparing foolishness to “[setting] off fire alarms” and how Sheeran was “young and foolish” in his school days, something which I feel like I will be able to relate to even more a couple years down the road.
2) “Burgh Island ft. Monica Heldal” by Ben Howard
British singer-songwriter Ben Howard has been on my iPod for nearly a year now, and I have always appreciated his talent of being able to put me to sleep with his melodious, yet subtle tunes. His voice is soothing to listen to, and one of my favorites. Howard’s EP, Burgh Island, is always playing during car rides with my dad, who has learned to appreciate my singer-songwriter interests just as much as I do.
Even my dad, who only listens to classical music now loves Howard. It is genuinely a feeling of euphoria to listen to his beautiful voice pouring out from the speaker system.
3) “Hearts on Fire” by Passenger
Mike Rosenberg, otherwise known as Passenger, is a skillful lyricist as well as a beautiful singer. Each line of each song has a bigger meaning to it, a story dying to be heard. His hit single, “Let Her Go” has been played on 102.9 NOW FM more than once in the past two months. Passenger’s lyrics truly make an impact on me, and I am looking forward to the day he comes to Dallas. I will definitely be the first in line for that concert.
4) “Simple As This” by Jake Bugg
Jake Bugg’s unique voice and amazing songs still continue to amaze me every time I listen to them. His music has reached number one on the United Kingdom charts, and he is also a hit among girls. His voice is raw, and his voice in this song really is as ‘simple’ as it could get. Rather than focus on the sounds, Bugg tries to get his message across as best as possible, which is what sets apart average songs from amazing ones.
5) “Into the Wild” by Lewis Watson
Lewis Watson stands out to me mostly for his lovable voice. His music is catchy, but not too fast paced, making it perfect for those rainy days. Watson’s EPs are humorously named It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW, Another Four Sad Songs, and Four More Songs. “Into the Wild,” Watson’s most famous song, also happens to be one of my favorites. The simplicity of his songs and the smoothness in his voice make him an amazing artist.
6) “Panic Cord” by Gabrielle Aplin
Gabrielle Aplin is one of my all time favorite female singer-songwriters. Her love songs are beautiful, and her voice more so. I love listening to her into the late hours of the night, and her live performances at festivals and small venues seem like they would be an amazing experience. Contrary to most love-related songs, Aplin’s “Panic Cord” talks about the tendency for humans to ‘panic’ at the first sight of intense feelings, and the emotions she felt afterwards.
The meaning behind the song is always a big deal for me, so I love that Aplin takes a different stand on the love song and the reality of it, as not all loves are perfect and flawless as the movies make them seem.
7) “Ships in the Night” by Mat Kearney
If you are a student or staff member at Coppell High School, you probably know of Mat Kearney. From the last year’s KCBY Senior Show. The “Ships in the Night” clip was emotional even for me being a sophomore, and this song just topped it off. Kearney is one of the few American artists on this list, but I love him nonetheless.
8) “Fools” by Lauren Aquilina
Lauren Aquilina is most definitely the most underrated artist on this list, though I have never understood why. She is a hit in England, and her voice is immensely powerful for an 18-year-old. Aquilina’s vocals are on point in this song, and I love hearing the raw emotion in her voice as she sings. The most important aspect of “Fools” is that I find it admirable for someone as young as Aquilina to feel so passionate about what she sings.
9) “Brooklyn” by Ron Pope
Ron Pope seemed to suddenly come out of nowhere and make it big with his song “A Drop in the Ocean”. I chose Brooklyn, off of his Monster EP because its uniqueness and Pope’s strong vocals in it make it an amazing song. I do not know too much about this artist’s music, but the few songs I have heard by him, I have loved.
