Alex’s Top 10 Songwriters
Finding quality music in this digital, auto-tuned age can be hard, but I have a few favorites to treat your ears.
–Alex Makris
Really great music is a rare thing. I’m talking about the kind of music that doesn’t just entertain us or set the right mood for driving in the car. I’m talking about music that touches us and connects us, artist to audience.. This connection fuels my love and deep appreciation for singer-songwriters. A well-written song can feel like I’m reading someone’s journal–maybe it’s the artist’s, maybe it’s my own.
The list of artists and titles below includes songs that have plucked my heart strings, given me chills, inspired me, told a compelling story, reinforced my own story, made me cry, made my smile, and taken me back through memories of love.
(Side note: I made this list and sent it to Liz to publish. She got so excited about all this music she had never heard that she made a bunch of notes, some of which are included.)
1. Gavin Degraw, “Warerfall” and “A Song For You.”
Gavin has some influence of John Mayer, and his floating voice and sparse phrasing will pull you in to the music and under the waterfall before you even know it’s happening. His cover of “A Song For You” shows off his soulful voice, and the live version is captivating.
2. Noah Gunderson. “Cigarettes”
Noah introduces the live version of “Cigarettes” with this little thought: “this is a song about the relationship between a person and a substance that you tend to abuse and then get over, and then so easily fall back into.,” and I imagine you’re already thinking of what that is for you,
3. Lianne La Havas, “Gone”
Lianne’s straight-forward and conversational lyrics are reminiscent of Adele’s first album, but with a sprinkling of gospel. “Gone” starts immediately with vocals and has minimal accompaniment, giving Lianne’s voice freedom to move and take you along for the ride.
4. Sara Bareilles, “Gravity” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”
The first few notes of “Gravity,” like many of Sara’s songs, evoke a quiet jazz club buried in a vibrant city. There isn’t much else to say about this song except that I invite you let her voice and beautiful piano harmonies take hold. Her cover of this classic Elton John tune is also gripping to say the least. Gives me chills every time I hear it.
5. The Lone Bellow – I couldn’t even choose a song to represent The Lone Bellow, so this link takes you to a full concert. This amazing three-piece band has heart-punching harmonies that get me with every single song.
6. Lou Rawls “You’ll never find a love like mine”
A classic love song that you can’t help but dance and sway to. While you’re at it, hang out with Al Green after you’ve listened to this song.
7. Avril Lavigne “Why”
It’s so refreshing to hear Avril, whose voice is already raw and full of emotion, sing without a full band. This song almost has a country or folk flavor to it, another change from her typical punky teen angst.
8. The Civil Wars “Barton Hollow”
Maybe it’s overplayed by now, but when I first heard this song I couldn’t stop listening to it. It just makes my head bob thinking about it. Grace Potter’s “Nothing But The Water Part II,” particularly the last minute or so, is also exceptionally good in a similar way.
9. The Avett Brothers “Murder In the City”
The first line, “If I get murdered in the city/don’t go revenging in my name/a person dead from such is plenty/no need to go get locked away” pulls you in and sets you down to hear the story from the start. The rest of the song doesn’t disappoint, with raw and unprocessed honesty in their harmonies and lyrics.
10. Lauren Pritchard “Not The Drinking”
Another powerful and soulful voice added to this list, along with her obvious musical chops and great showmanship, she’s easy to watch and fun to sing along with.
Although some of the links to these songs are live performances and some are not, I find most inspiration in the raw stripped versions of these songs. If you’re hungry for more great music, NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts are a great resource for acoustic sessions. I also love The Mahogany Sessions channel.
I hope you found these as moving as I did or find something else just as great along the way.
Happy listening!
-Alex
