Born on November 17th, 1966, Jeff was the son of folk legend Tim Buckley (who died at the age of 28 of a drug overdose). Jeff did not really know his father and was raised by his mother. During his formative years, Jeff came into his own as a musician and singer. His haunting vocals were matched by his amazing guitar work and musical arrangements. Much has been written about Jeff Buckley and his short life, and more will continue to be written. As we approach the 17th anniversary of his passing, I feel that an investigation of the songs his peers and contemporaries wrote about him following his death can attest to his influence and impact.

What proceeds is a chronology of those songs, and short blurbs about their connections to Jeff.

October 21st, 1997:
Juliana Hatfield, “Try Not To Think About It” (from “Please Do Not Disturb”)
Quite possibly the very first tribute to Jeff is Juliana Hatfield’s “Trying Not To Think About It,” which appears on her first solo recording, the EP “Please Do Not Disturb.” Jeff was the opening act for Juliana during several shows in 1995. After learning of his passing, she penned this song, even more tender for her sweet angelic voice. She also credits Jeff’s mother Mary Guibert and the strength and fortitude she showed following his passing.

One night when Jeff opened for Juliana he tackled her drummer and then dived off the stage into the crowd. Who knows what was going through his mind that night!

Sometime between 1997 – 1999:
Rebecca Moore – “Live in Blue Sparks” (from “Home Wreckordings 1997-1999”)
According to Lydia Hutchinson’s article “Remembering Jeff Buckley,” the day before Jeff’s fatal swim he called Rebecca Moore and left the following message: “Think of me and smile … I’m gonna work my ass off, baby … I’ll see you on the other side.” Rebecca was an ex-girlfriend of Jeff’s and supposedly his inspiration for several songs on “Grace,” including “So Real,” and “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over.”

April 20th, 1998
Massive Attack – “Teardrop” (from “Mezzanine”)
Elizabeth Fraser contributed vocals and lyrics for several tracks on Massive Attack’s “Mezzanine” LP. Interestingly, Madonna had been a candidate for the track, but in a two-to-three vote, the group went with Fraser. Elizabeth had had a complicated relationship with Buckley, and had previously written songs about him back in 1996. Sadly, while she was writing the lyrics for what would become “Teardrop,” she received news of Jeff’s passing. In theory, this song was written closer to June 1997, but it was not released until a little later.

Here’s a video of “Teardrop,” with a creepy fetus lip-syncing along to Fraser’s vocals:

June 1st, 1998
Heather Nova – “Valley of Sound” (from “Siren”)
This is a fan song. Heather Nova apparently wept after seeing Jeff perform for the first time and wrote this. A date is not known, but it predated Jeff’s drowning. While technically not a tribute song, because of its release almost a year to the day after Jeff’s passing, it unintentionally became one.

September 8th, 1998
Hole – “Boys on the Radio” (from “Celebrity Skin”)
Apparently Jeff and Hole singer/founder Courtney Love had a fling. While the song is not exclusively about Jeff, his passing greatly influenced it. As Courtney told Spin magazine in May 1998, “It’s from our ‘Unplugged’ days. It started out all peppy and poppy, but then Jeff Buckley died, and it became a homage to Evan [Dando] and Jeff and Brian Wilson. It’s all about self-destructive pop boys.”

October 6th, 1998
Duncan Sheik – “A Body Goes Down” (from “Humming”)
Duncan Sheik never met Jeff, so technically this appears to be just a fan’s tribute song. But there’s a connection here: Matt Johnson, Duncan’s drummer on his “Humming” LP, had been Buckley’s drummer on “Grace” and for his Mystery White Boy tour. Sheik gave Matt the option not to play on the track if it was too personal; not only did Matt give Duncan his blessings on the song, he chose to perform on the track, too.

May 18th, 1999
Ron Sexsmith – “In a Flash” (from “Whereabouts”)
This is another song that is simply crafted by a fan — an incredibly talented fan, Canadian singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith.

July 27th, 1999
The Frames – “Neath the Beeches” (from “Dance the Devil”)
Glen Hansard, frontman for The Frames, knew Jeff, pre-“Grace” success. Jeff had served as Hansard’s guitar tech in 1991 when Hansard toured the U.S. with The Commitments (in support of the film of the same name). Hansard and Buckley even performed together at the legendary Sin-e.

September 1st, 1999
Chris Cornell – “Wave Goodbye” (from “Euphoria Morning”)
Another song that technically was written closer to Jeff’s passing in 1997 is Chris Cornell’s “Wave Goodbye.” Cornell and Buckley had been friends since 1993. Following Jeff’s death, Chris helped Jeff’s mother Mary put together the posthumously released album, “Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk” (key word being sketches, as the songs were never completed prior to Jeff’s passing).

January 25th, 2000
Aimee Mann – “Just Like Anyone” (from “Bachelor No. 2”)
Most likely written well before the release of “Bachelor #2,” Aimee Mann’s “Just Like Anyone” attests to her sporadic friendship with Jeff. Probably her most endearing story was a night that the pair spent in a loud crowded bar, and instead of trying to shout so that they could hear one another, they passed notes on napkins.

June 26th, 2000
Badly Drawn Boy – “You Were Right” (from “Have You Fed The Fish?”)
More of just a reference, Badly Drawn Boy’s “You Were Right” places Jeff in the company of Sinatra, Cobain and Lennon.

September 12th, 2000
Amy Correia – “Blind River Boy” (from “Carnival Love”)
Amy had seen Jeff perform back at Sin-e. Her experience was similar to Heather Nova’s…one which she relayed in a touching blog post for Purpleclover. On her debut album, “Carnival Love,” she included “Blind River Boy,” a detailed recounting of Jeff’s final moments, even including his singing of “Whole Lotta Love.”

November 14th, 2000
Elysian Fields – “Tides of the Moon” and “Cities Will Fall” (from “Queen of the Meadow”)
A band with many rotating members, several had performed and/or knew Jeff; it’s been suggested that “Tides of the Moon” and “Cities Will Fall” are in tribute to him.

January 9th, 2001
P.J. Harvey – “Memphis” (B-Side of “Good Fortune” single)
Polly Jean Harvey and Jeff had been friends. This obscure B-side track should’ve been included on her successful album, “Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.” It’s Harvey at her haunting best.

May 22nd, 2001
Mark Eitzel – “To the Sea” (from “The Invisible Man”)
Another friend of Jeff’s, here’s Mark Eitzel and his contribution to the Buckley tributes. “To the Sea” has a similarity to Rufus Wainwright’s complicated feelings regarding Jeff (see below).

June 28th, 2004
Willie Nile – “On the Road to Calvary” (from “Beautiful Wreck of the World”)
Nile, a man with a very storied career (and a significant hiatus), was a friend of Jeff’s. He originally wrote this piece in 1999. Lucinda Williams has called it one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

November 16th, 2004
Rufus Wainwright – “Memphis Skyline” (from “Want Two”)
For years, Rufus had watched Jeff from the sidelines, seething with jealousy. About a month before Jeff’s passing, he ended up at one of Rufus’s shows. When Rufus started experiencing some tech issues, Jeff jumped up on stage to fix the situation. Following the show they shared a few beers. This is Rufus’s tribute to Jeff, with allusion to the Orpheus myth.

November 18th, 2004
Pete Yorn – “Bandstand in the Sky” (from “Live from New Jersey”)
In theory, a song written on the day Buckley died, it originally appeared on “Live from New Jersey.” (A fuller studio version is featured on the 2006 album “Nightcrawler.”) Yorn never knew Buckley, but definitely understood the power of his music.

May 3rd, 2005
Mike Doughty – “Grey Ghost” (from “Haughty Melodic”)
It was Jim Morrison who said “death makes angels of us all and gives us wings.” Many of these songs speak to Jeff’s beauty and angelic nature. But Mike Doughty saw a different, darker side — the side of Jeff that would sniff heroin (yes, SNIFF it). “Grey Ghost” is Doughty’s ode to Buckley.

July 18th, 2006
Lisa Germano – “Except for the Ghosts” (from “In the Maybe World”)
While this song was supposedly written closer to Jeff’s passing, it took the death of her cat and some heavy times leading up to her 2006 album to put it down in the studio. While the two didn’t know each other well, she did serve as his opening act.

July 12th, 2007
Joan As Policewoman – “Eternal Flame” (from “Real Life”)
Joan Wasser was another of Jeff’s former flames. Apparently, she was the inspiration behind “Everybody Here Wants You.” Her former band, Those Bastard Souls, also wrote a tribute to Jeff, “The Last Thing I Ever Wanted Was To Show Up And Blow Your Mind,” from 1999’s “Debt and Departure” album.

Here’s the video for “Eternal Flame:”

Buckley helped expose a whole new audience to Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; he, in turn, dedicated his entire album, “The Supreme Collection Volume 1,” to Jeff’s memory. Although the album’s material was not inspired by Buckley, it could be considered the very first “official” tribute to him. It was released on August 26th, 1997.

The Cocteau Twins’ “Rilkean Heart” and “Half Gifts,” from the album “Milk and Kisses,” are often cited on lists of tribute songs, even though they have more to do with Elizabeth Fraser’s complicated relationship with Jeff (see above). The album was released in March 1996, more than a year before Jeff’s passing.

There are many other Jeff Buckley tribute songs out there, but these are the most easy to locate. For more songs and details on the above tributes, here are some other helpful resources:

“A Pure Drop: The Life of Jeff Buckley” by A. Jeff Apter is a very informative and well-written biography on Buckley.

Heather Browne’s blog, I am Fuel, You are Friends, is incredibly well written and helpful. Click here to read one of her posts about Jeff.

Here are some other posts that contain info on Buckley tribute songs:
Mojopin
Jeff Buckley official website

Finally, here’s Jeff himself, singing “I Want Someone Badly.” It truly exemplifies the beauty of his voice and vocal style.

© Adam Kukic, May 28, 2014
Host & Producer, The Coffeehouse on WYEP 91.3fm
Sundays, 8 to 11 am EST
Streaming worldwide at www.wyep.org

Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle
Sometimes dubbed the “clown prince of song,” Loudon Wainwright III was one of many folk artists of the early 1970s dubbed “the next Bob Dylan.” It was during this period that he married Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle. While Loudon is a brash, idiosyncratic character (as seen in his hit “Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road”), Kate was best known for producing breathtaking harmonies with her sister Anna. The two sang together and wrote indelible folk songs – the most famous of which is “Heart Like A Wheel.”

Loudon and Kate’s marriage thrust them into the spotlight as The First Family of Folk; yet, it was far from a fairytale, and the family drama that ensued played out in their songs. While the marriage only lasted until 1976, it spawned a wealth of confessional, autobiographical songs, and two amazingly talented future performers: Rufus and Martha Wainwright. Rufus was three years old and Martha newly born when their parents divorced. The children stayed with Kate, who relocated them to her native Montreal.

Rufus Wainwright
Rufus has been touring since the age of 13, initially as part of the McGarrigle Sisters and Family. He shares his father’s dark sense of humor,  and — in true Wainwright-McGarrigle tradition — he draws much from his personal life to craft his songs. In 1996 he was signed to his first record deal and released his debut, “Rufus Wainwright” two years later (Sister Martha appears on the album, too). Since then, he’s issued 7 studio albums and 2 live releases — including a recording of his acclaimed Judy Garland tribute show, “Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.” His last studio album was 2012’s “Out of the Game,” a very personal record addressing both the death of his mother and the birth of his daughter. A greatest hits compilation was released in 2014 entitled “Vibrate.” One of Rufus’ most successful songs to date remains his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” (performed in the style of John Cale and Jeff Buckley).

Not limited to pop music, he’s also composed an opera, “Prima Donna,” and is currently writing his second. Like his father, Rufus makes the occasional film and television cameo, and has a good sense of humor, as seen in his “Rufus Does Gum” sketch for the humor website Funny Or Die. Having been openly gay his entire career, he is a staunch LGBT advocate. In 2012, Rufus married his partner Jörn Weisbrodt, in Montauk, New York.

Here’s the official video for “Out of the Game,” which features British actress Helena Bonham Carter:

Who knew that chewing-gum jingles could sound so….sophisticated! Here’s Rufus spoofing himself on Funny Or Die:

And, check out NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” featuring Rufus, from October 2012:

Martha Wainwright
Like her brother Rufus, Martha has also performed and recorded with her mother Kate and aunt Anna McGarrigle. In 1997 she released the self-produced cassette, “Ground Floor,” followed by a self-titled EP in 1999. After a detour to obtain a drama degree, Martha returned to music with the release of the 2005 LP “Martha Wainwright.” Since then, she’s released two additional studio albums (most recently, 2012’s “Come Home to Mama”) and a live album of Edith Piaf covers. She’s also participated on several other compilation LPs. Martha’s songs, like those of her father and brother, have an acerbic wit to them, as well as an autobiographical nature. She is married and had a son in 2009.

Here’s the official video for “You Cheated Me:”

And here’s NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” featuring Martha, from November 2012:

Loudon and Suzzy Roche
Following his divorce from Kate, Loudon had a relationship with another well-known folk artist, Suzzy Roche — also from a group of singing sisters, The Roches. In 1981 they gave the world another musically inclined artist, Lucy Wainwright Roche — the youngest of Loudon’s children.

Lucy Wainwright Roche
Initially not as involved in the music industry as Rufus and Martha (she began her career as an elementary school teacher), Lucy is now a bonafide folk singer, performing on occasion with both of her parents and half-siblings. Loudon felt it best that Suzzy raise Lucy; the influence of her mother and two aunts, Terre and Maggie (The Roches trio) can be heard in her music, as demonstrated in her song “Monte Rosa Range.” Her first EP, “8 Songs,” was released in 2007, followed by 2008’s EP, “8 More.” In 2010 she released her first full-length album, “Lucy.” Her latest release is 2013’s “There’s a Last Time for Everything.”

Here’s a look at the making of “There’s a Last Time for Everything:”

The Cohen Connection
Leonard Cohen, heralded cultural icon and equal parts poet, novelist, artist and singer-songwriter, has led a very full and celebrated life. Volumes have been written about his accomplishments, and he deserves every accolade. But in the midst of his cultural success, he also produced two children with Suzanne Elrod: Adam and Lorca. While growing up under the spotlight of a famous father must be tough, the burden can be shared a bit among siblings who can best relate. A surprise to few would be the friendship between the Wainwrights and Cohens (folk families, Canadian roots, relative proximity in age, etc.).

Of Leonard’s two children, Adam was the one who pursued music. While not a musician, Lorca has pursued the culinary arts, photography, film, and most recently, the world of antiques. But it is her friendship with Rufus Wainwright that has led to the permanent blending of these music royalty bloodlines. For years, Rufus (though gay and married to Jörn Weisbrodt) discussed with Lorca the possibility of having a child together. Finally, it was Kate McGarrigle’s declining health that led to their decision to follow through, as she was able to offer her support of the idea prior to her death in January 2010. Lorca gave birth to Viva Katherine Wainwright Cohen in February 2011. “Deputy Dad” Jörn, Rufus, Lorca and baby Viva are pictured here.

Time Heals All Wounds
As for the families, time seems to have healed many of the wounds. Relationships have been reestablished between Loudon and his children. Losing Kate – the matriarch of the Wainwright-McGarrigle legacy – served to bring the family unit closer. During her fight with cancer, and leading up to her final days, Loudon also did his best to reconcile. Rufus, Martha and Kate’s sister Anna helped produce tribute concerts, as well as the album “Sing Me the Songs: Celebrating the Works of Kate McGarrigle” (which even features Loudon’s sister, Sloan Wainwright). On occasion, Suzzy, Lucy and Loudon perform together (and sometimes, Rufus and Martha join them, too). And as for Rufus, marriage and fatherhood have mellowed him out, making him more focused and responsible.

Here’s a live video of Rufus, Martha, Lucy and Loudon performing Loudon’s “One Man Guy:”

To close out, here is a list of some of the songs that these artists have penned about one another — some endearing, some terrifying, but all steeped in perceived truths and a frankly personal nature.

Songs Written by _____About _____:

Songs by Loudon about Rufus:
“Dilated to Meet You”
“Rufus Is a Tit Man”
“A Father and a Son”

Songs by Loudon about Martha:
“Pretty Little Martha”
“Five Years Old”
“Hitting You”
“I’d Rather Be Lonely”
“That Hospital”

Songs by Loudon about Kate:
“Saw Your Name in the Paper”
“Unhappy Anniversary”

Songs by Loudon about Lucy:
“Screaming Issue”
“Your Mother and I”

Song by Kate about Rufus:
“First Born”

Song by Kate about Martha:
“I Eat Dinner”

Songs by Kate about Loudon:
“Blues in D”
“Go Leave”

Songs by Rufus about Loudon:
“Dinner at Eight”

Songs by Rufus about Kate:
“Beauty Mark”
“Candles”

Songs by Martha about Loudon:
“Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole”
“Father Daughter Dialogue”
“You Never Phone”

For an amazing history of the Wainwright/ McGarrigle connection,  click here to read Jim Windolf’s piece from the May 22, 2007, issue of  Vanity Fair.

Click on the artists’ names below to visit their official websites:
Loudon Wainwright
Kate McGarrigle
Rufus Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
Suzzy Roche
Lucy Wainwright Roche

© Adam Kukic, May 16, 2014
Host & Producer, The Coffeehouse on WYEP 91.3fm
Sundays, 8 to 11 am EST
“Coffeehouse Conversations” airs at 10 am.
Streaming worldwide at www.wyep.org

Hey Adam,

My name’s Becca (Full disclosure: I’m a touring indie folk singer/songwriter from Atlanta). I was driving through Pittsburgh last week, flipping through the low end of the dial looking for NPR and stumbled upon WYEP. Your show was playing and it was WONDERFUL. You played song after song of music that I really love, so much so that I couldn’t believe it was actually the radio. I listened until the signal was 90% static, and then I considered turning the car around.

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Thanks so much for doing what you do!!

hugs,
~becca

Thanks for what I do?! I was incredibly humbled by this email. All I do is play music from talented artists. I do not create the music…I do not even know how to create music! But here was an email from a real artist. I had to learn more…who was Rebecca Loebe? After following in love with her songs on her MySpace page, I was fortunate enough to see her perform live just a couple of weeks later. If you go to Rebecca’s official website, under the Press Quotes tab, you’ll see the following comment I posted, which was my impression of her after seeing her perform live at Howler’s on February 27th, 2009, in Pittsburgh:

“The wit of Dar, the bite of Ani, and the beauty of Norah – it was a treat seeing you perform last night!”
– ADAM KUKIC (WYEP Pittsburgh)

Things to know about Rebecca: she is a non-stop touring machine, she has an amazing voice, she’s great at reinterpreting songs (as with Nirvana’s “Come As You Are,” Smokey Robinson’s “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and Kanye West’s “Stronger”), she’s an amazing storyteller, and she’s one of the nicest people that you’ll ever meet.

It was the combination of Becca’s voice and her determination that landed her on the first season of The Voice (known as the singer who was living out of her 1992 Toyota Camry). Both Adam Levine and Christina Aguilera “turned around” for Becca’s phenomenal reinterpretation of Nirvana’s “Come As You Are.” She’s still riding the fame brought to her courtesy of participating in the inaugural season of The Voice — recently getting to tour in Japan and The Netherlands due to her appearance. Her recorded version of “Come As You Are” was one of the best-selling songs from the first season (and included on the album, “The Voice: Season 1 Highlights”- even though she was eliminated in just the second round).

But The Voice was not the beginning nor the end of Becca’s story. Hailing from Atlanta, Becca went to school in Boston at Berklee College of Music — whose grads include Paula Cole, Melissa Etheridge, Esperanza Spalding, Susan Tedeschi, Diana Krall, Gillian Welch, Aimee Mann, Natalie Maines, and Elizabeth Ziman. Berklee was a good fit for Becca, and while there she was able to work at various recording studios which afforded her the ability to produce her initial releases. To date, the early demos for what would become her album “Mystery Prize” most effectively capture the power of her live performances.

Rebecca has issued five official releases – 3 LPs and 2 EPs. Additionally, she broadcasts live monthly performances. In keeping with the strength of her live performances, Becca will be releasing a live album this summer on Goose Creek Records and performing at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, August 15- 17.

Since 2009, I’ve been fortunate enough to see her live three times — and have taken her out to dinner two of those three times, including a great meal at Pittsburgh’s India Garden restaurant with fellow folkie Brad Yoder. We’ve exchanged text messages when Berklee alum make it through town (such as members of Elizabeth & The Catapult and the band Lucius), and I’ve texted congratulatory messages to her when I saw her on The Voice.

To introduce yourself to Rebecca Loebe, I encourage you to do the following:

1) See her live. She tours constantly. She’ll eventually make it to your town. She’ll even do a house concert for you. Seriously, SEE. HER. LIVE.

2) If you want an introduction, I’d suggest trying to track down the demos for “Mystery Prize.” If you can’t, I encourage you to purchase “Mystery Prize.” I feel it is her most fully realized album to date.

3) Watch her video for “The Bees.” First off, it’s adorable. She’s adorable, the children are adorable, the storyline is adorable (and let’s be honest, Zombies are all the rage). Secondly, it’s a great example of her wit and range. Good song, fun video…what’s not to love?

4) As a self-proclaimed Rebecca Loebe aficionado, here are my top 20 Rebecca Loebe songs:

1.   “Her In That Dress” – from “Mystery Prize”
2.   “Meridian” – from “Mystery Prize”
3.   “Married Man” – from “Mystery Prize”
4.   “Redneck Karaoke Bar” – from “Mystery Prize”
5.   “Marguerita – from “Mystery Prize”
6.   “Mystery Prize” – from “Mystery Prize”
7.   “The Bees” –  from “Bees & Zombies”
8.   “Call Me Baby” – from “The Brooklyn Series”
9.   “High And Lonesome” – from “Circus Heart”
10. “Land And Sea” – from “Mystery Prize”
11. “Trenches Dear” – from “Mystery Prize”
12. “Circus Heart” – – from “Circus Heart”
13. “Darlin’” – from “Circus Heart”
14. “Swallowed By The Sea” – from “Circus Heart”
15. “Lie” (single from Rebecca Loebe & The New Ordeals)

Top Cover Songs:
1. “Stronger” – can be found as a single
2. “River” – YouTube and performed live
3.. “Come As You Are” – from “The Voice, Season 1 Highlights”
4. “Bad Reputation” – from “Circus Heart”
5. “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me” – from “The Brooklyn Series”

Here’s Rebecca’s cool video for “The Bees,” zombies and all!

Check out Rebecca’s totally original and ethereal version of Nirvana’s “Come as You Are:”

For more on Rebecca, visit her website.

© Adam Kukic, May 1, 2014
Host & Producer, The Coffeehouse on WYEP 91.3fm
Sundays, 8 to 11 am EST
Streaming worldwide at www.wyep.org

The focus of this post is to examine the value of today’s neo soul movement by posing the question: are neo soul artists showing reverence, recreating or simply following a formula?

If soul starts becoming stale in the 1970s, it makes sense that it would find new life in the 1990s, only to explode in the 2000s! The artists who were impacting the music scene in the 1990s were children when soul and R&B were peaking in the late 1960s and early and mid-1970s.

Many suggest that the neo soul revival started taking shape with the work of artists like Sade (and her backing band, Sweetback), Prince, Tony! Toni! Tone!, The Brand New Heavies, Lenny Kravitz, Lisa Stanfield and Annie Lennox. What began sneaking in during the late 1980s picked up momentum in the early 1990s. While some of these earlier neo soul albums were more milquetoast than soulful, others truly committed to the sound.

By the mid-1990s, the movement was gaining momentum, as Jamiroquai, D’Angelo, Meshell NdegeOcello, and The Fugees all came onto the scene. However, four albums are identified as the tipping point of the neo soul movement: 1995’s “Brown Sugar” by D’Angelo; 1996’s “Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite” by Maxwel;  1997’s “Baduizm” by Erykah Badu; and 1998’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” by Hill, a former Fugees singer. On these four albums, there is an amazing nostalgic bridge established between the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s, paired with the lyrical content and realities of the ’90s.

Then comes the flood. Courtesy of  Motown Records’ Kedar Massenburg dubbing this musical style “neo soul,” there was now a new musical niche that needed to be filled. At the turn of the 21st century we were being introduced (or reintroduced) to a slew of artists now intentionally incorporating a neo-soul sound: Macy Gray, Jill Scott, India.Arie, Joss Stone, Ray Lamontagne, Ellis Hooks, Billy Miles, Amy Winehouse, Christina Aguilera, Duffy, Adele, Van Hunt, Corinne Bailey Rae  and Amos Lee (just to name a few). Many of these artists dabbled with the sound for an album or two, but then evolved into different musical genres or just fell by the wayside.

Still going strong today are Raphael Saadiq (a former member Tony! Toni! Tone!), Cee Lo Green, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, John Legend and The Roots. There are also those newer to the scene including Jose James, Kristina Train, Allen Stone, Eli “Paperboy” Reed, Jesse Dee, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, The Heavy, Cody Chesnutt, Frank Ocean, James Hunter and Bruno Mars.

While this is an impressive list of performers, some of whom are already legends and Grammy winners, how many of these artists will be little more than minor side notes for a genre that became over-saturated and is now possibly in a state of decline? Is it the sheer number of neo soul artists that is responsible, or is it that some of these artists are just going through the motions and following the neo soul formula? And does it even matter if these artists are merely impostors, if it leads listeners to “discover” the true soul and R&B legends?

Here are some of the more recent additions to the neo soul movement. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if they’re disciples or genre-hopping copycats.

Cody Chesnutt (Marvin Gaye-inspired)

Jesse Dee  (Jackie Wilson-inspired)

Mayer Hawthorne (Curtis Mayfield-inspired)

The Heavy (Sam & Dave-inspired)

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings (Ike & Tina Turner-inspired)

John Legend (Stevie Wonder-inspired)

Eli “Paperboy” Reed (James Brown-inspired)

St. Paul & The Broken Bones  (Al Green-inspired)

© Adam Kukic, April 8, 2014
Host & Producer, The Coffeehouse on WYEP 91.3fm
Sundays, 8 to 11 am EST
Streaming worldwide at www.wyep.org

While we often need to be energized and in a rush, it seems as if Sunday mornings are still an opportunity for many of us to recharge. With that in mind, I often sprinkle “indie folk” into the mix of music I play, as it is the perfect complement to early Sunday mornings. By “indie artists,” I mean those who generally produce non-mainstream music, independent of major record labels.

Indie folk’s entry onto the musical landscape as a genre dates back to the 1990s and the rise of independent labels. Suddenly, it wasn’t just the major labels making an impact, but indie labels and artists that found success through constant touring, coinciding with the rise of the Internet. No longer did musicians need to have the corporate music machine behind them, as accessibility to music grew exponentially.

A prime example of the classic indie folk artist is Ani DiFranco. A singer/songwriter with grit, Ani is a poet, advocate and a CEO. Starting out in her teens, Ani sold dubbed cassette tapes from the trunk of her car following shows. Eventually, she formed her own label, Righteous Babe Records (this is one of the most amazing success stories in the independent music cannon). Beck was another artist who began in the indie-folk scene, but has since become a major part of the established musical landscape. Despite the fact that he’s now supported in full by a major label, his music maintains that “indie” folk sound, as displayed on his most recent release, “Morning Phase” (2014).

Interestingly enough, TV shows, movies and commercials have given indie music its greatest exposure over the past two decades. The Lumineers may have never found the mass audience they now enjoy without having been featured on the Bing commercial. An overwhelming number of artists were first exposed to the masses by “Grey’s Anatomy.” How many artists have iPod commercials to thank for their mass appeal?

So, why do advertisers often choose independent players over established acts? The independent artists are less concerned about “commercializing” their work, instead preferring exposure to as wide an audience as possible. And often these artists charge significantly less for the rights to their songs.

Not all indie folk artists produce relaxing, mellow songs; some make music that’s quite gritty and energizing. But for the purposes of The Coffeehouse playlists, I’m going to focus on three artists that epitomize the gentler side of indie folk. They share many of the same qualities as three indie pioneers: Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith (sadly, none of whom are still with us). The music of these newer artists embodies the quietness and introspective vibe of Drake, the often dramatic appeal of Buckley, and the grit and juxtaposition of Smith’s lyrics versus his melodies.

William Fitzsimmons hails from the Pittsburgh region, and makes his days now in the Windy City. Much of Fitzsimmons’ work is largely biographical in nature. He produced his first two albums in his home studio and has since produced four studio albums, including the 2011 release “Gold in the Shadows,” which features Julia Stone’s vocals on “Let You Break.” (Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer sings on an alternate version of the song.)  While not overtly religious, Fitzsimmons is a graduate of the Christian school Geneva College, and (like Iron & Wine), he sprinkles religious allusions throughout his music. You may be familiar with his songs, courtesy of TV exposure; they’ve been featured on “Grey’s Anatomy,” MTV’s “Teen Wolf” and “Brothers and Sisters,” to name a few. His latest album, 2014’s “Lions,” was produced by Chris Walla of the band Death Cab for Cutie. It features “Hold On” and “Fortune.”

Here’s a great introduction to William Fitzsimmons and his album “Lions”:

James Vincent McMorrow is an Irish singer/songwriter who has just released “Post Tropical” (2014), the much anticipated follow up to his 2010 debut, “Early in the Morning.” Through McMorrow’s own admission, “Post Tropical” requires attention and engagement … perfect for early Sunday mornings (as was his debut album). Maybe that’s what first strikes you about indie folk artists: they appear to produce beautiful background music. BUT, when you are able to focus and truly listen, you find they provide much more meaning and depth, in an unobtrusive way. “Post Tropical” is a similar expansion of sound, along the lines of Iron & Wine’s career progression. Also, an easy way to be introduced to new artists is via cover songs. McMorrow’s version of Steve Winwood’s “Higher Love” is a wonderful cover, as it features his unique sounds, yet it’s also familiar enough for those who are fans of the original (though not on “Post Tropical”).

Here’s “Cavalier,” the first single from “Post Tropical.”

City and Colour is primarily Canadian singer/songwriter Dallas Green (much like Iron & Wine is Samuel Beam). What began as a side venture during his days with Alexisonfire (since defunct), City and Colour is now Green’s sole project. His fourth studio release was 2013’s “The Hurry and the Harm.” While similar in vocal pitch to McMorrow and Fitzsimmons, City and Colour exhibits a more rootsy and hooky sound. Imagine this is Sunday morning after your coffee has kicked in a bit — that’s how Dallas Green’s music might perk you up. While his most recent album is a solid effort, “Bring Me Your Love” (2008) and “Little Hell” (2011) are essential albums in his catalog.

Check out “The Girl” from the “Little Hell” album:

These are three artists I value; they are a constant on my personal playlist. But they represent just a small slice of the indie folk music scene (see my more comprehensive list below). Each and every Sunday I have the privilege of helping new artists find an audience and exposing listeners to deeper album cuts of classic or more commercially-oriented albums. Being the host of The Coffeehouse allows me three solid hours with just my coffee, my listeners, and the music that matters.

Establish indie folk artists:
Band of Horses
Devendra Banhart
Beirut
Andrew Bird
Bon Iver / Justin Vernon
Bright Eyes / Connor Oberst
The Decemberists
DeVotchKa
Dr. Dog
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes
Feist
Fleet Foxes / Father John Misty
Jose Gonzalez / Juniper
Grizzly Bear
The Head and the Heart
Iron & Wine
Jenny Lewis / Rilo Kiley
Damien Jurado
The Lumineers
The Mountain Goats
Mumford & Sons
Alexi Murdoch
Of Monsters & Men
Sufjan Stevens
M. Ward

Up-and-coming indie folk artists:
BOY
Boy & Bear
Basia Bulat
Cold Specks
Deer Tick
Johnny Flynn
Horse Feathers
Gregory Alan Isakov
Jaymay
Kings of Convenience
Lissie
Rebecca Loebe
Lost in the Trees
The Low Anthem
Laura Marling
The Mynabirds
Okkervil River
The Staves
Angus & Julia Stone
The Tallest Man on Earth
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Sharon Van Etten
Vetiver
Villagers
The Watson Twins
Wye Oak

© Adam Kukic, March 25, 2014
Host & Producer, The Coffeehouse on WYEP 91.3fm
Sundays, 8 to 11 am EST
Streaming worldwide at www.wyep.org