Notes on Folk
Photo: Gabrielle Hope (Via Instagram)
Trends come and go frequently, especially in the music industry, but some things never change. In the last few years, there has been one timeless genre that has begun to make a resurgence in popular music: folk. A folk revival has been a long time coming, with the media practically ushering it back into the culture. Movies such as A Complete Unknown and the Hunger Games prequel, A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, began pushing the general public closer to the warm and raw sounds of folk music. Joan Baez’s cover of “It Ain’t Me Babe” now trends on TikTok alongside Amanda Seyfried’s cover of “California.” All of this begs the question: why now? As ‘Brat Summer’—a period of largely electronic music—nears its first anniversary, the shift to one of the country’s oldest genres could indicate a culture shift.
A Brief History Lesson:
American folk music has no one specific origin. It derives from folk brought over from pre-established countries, as well as Native American music. Its location within the states is widespread as well, but it can be primarily traced back to Appalachia, as well as the southern United States, specifically in Cajun communities. Folk music has often been used as an alternative method of storytelling, especially those that aren’t often discussed on a wider scale. Through its evolution, its popularity has been largely dictated by political and cultural climates. Folk music’s last and most notable revival began in the 1940s and reached its climax towards the mid-1960s.
Outside of film, there have been small waves of the folk revival continuously cresting on the horizon. Often, these ‘waves’ were categorized as indie music, which isn’t entirely dissimilar in sound. Phoebe Bridgers' albums Stranger in the Alps (2017) and Punisher (2020) introduced listeners to a newer sound, with her vocals layered on top of gentle melodies played on the electric guitar and the keyboard. The albums are more haunting than those of some other artists who attempted to popularize the genre during the same time, and they take a modernized approach to the idea of folk.
Taylor Swift, known for her ability to drift between genres and stylistic choices, also tried her hand at the genre. In 2020, she released her album, Folklore, and months later released its sister album, Evermore. A stark contrast from her previous albums, these tracks lend themselves to romanticized storytelling and acoustic instrumentals. Its aesthetic was based on natural elements as well as nostalgia and escapism—themes that are constant within most folk music. While these albums grossed highly among her fans and earned her new listeners, she eventually returned to the style she is more known for.
Bridgers and Swift are no doubt musical forces of nature, with the two of them having a total of eighteen Grammys combined. However, the releases of these albums, as well as other artists who have released similar (and arguably just as popular) pieces, never sparked the revival of ‘classic folk’ that is being seen currently. Perhaps the KE$HA comeback had to arrive before we, as listeners, were ready for a more traditional form of musical storytelling
Now, as the new year opens its arms to new musicians, up-and-coming artists are spearheading the genre’s comeback. Gabrielle Hope, a breakout folk musician based in the Shenandoah Valley, recently released two singles, “me and you” and “the hummingbird’s nest.” Online, where she gained viral recognition, she has been praised for her classic take on the folk sound, and fans are eagerly awaiting the release of more music. Click here to check out her new releases.
With the United States’ social and political climate so often being a dictating factor in what music persists, the resurgence in classic folk music suggests likely what it has always suggested: America has something it wants to say. Unrest and emotional disarray are common influences for artists, and when it comes to folk, there is no story and no emotion that will be left unexpressed.