Through ambient synth sounds and a soft, dreamy vocal, indie folk-rocker Heather Woods Broderick’s single, “Where I Lay,” transports you to the vast expanse of the Oregon coast where it was created. Cool, down-tempo verses mimic the hazy landscape of the Pacific Northwest, then culminate into an orchestral chorus complete with a slamming baby grand and choir-like backing vocals. It’s a beautifully serene song—capable of being an anthem or a lullaby depending on your state of mind—and thanks in large part to the hooky chorus vocal, one you can listen to over and over. “Where I Lay” is reminiscent of a softer, slightly more colorful Sharon Van Etten. It’s the first single from Broderick’s upcoming album, Invitation, set to be released April 19th via Western Vinyl.

Henry Jamison is a storyteller at heart. It may be in his blood — his father, a classical composer, and his mother, an English professor — but Jamison is a writer and artist in his own right, evidenced by his debut album The Wilds (released October 27th). Beyond writing, recording and arranging the album all on his own, Jamison has a special ability to bring each track to life. Take his song, “The Wilds”: it’s instrumentally rich without being overbearing, letting Jamison’s narrative whisk you away. “The Wilds” sounds like an old-time American love story - unassuming and familiar, but nevertheless, still surprising.

Los Angeles genre-bending artist Moses Sumney released his gorgeous and ethereal debut album Aromanticism into the world this September. Sumney has made a big impression on artists like Solange and Sufjan Stevens for good reason. His infusion of soul and folk come together on this album in a way that leaves us begging for more. A prime example of this heavenly blend is found on the third song of the album, “Plastic.” A previous version of the song can be heard on the first season of Issa Rae’s HBO series, Insecure. This new version serves as one of the more simplistic songs on the album, featuring just a fingerpicked electric guitar, a synth and Sumney’s captivating voice. The hook of the song repeats the line “my wings are made of plastic,” each time sung in a slightly different way than it was before, continuing to imbue the phrase with new meaning. This song of vulnerability, self-awareness and secret-spilling is the kind that you can leave on repeat and get lost in for hours.