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Artist Spotlight: Mythic Indie Folk, Adventurous Genre-Blending, and Ethereal Modern Rock

By David Weddle
Exploring the raw talent and resonant stories of the independent music scene.
With our regular spotlight articles, we love to highlight a massive variety of independent acts from across the musical spectrum. Today we are diving into three incredible projects that swap rigid, over-polished production for pure, raw human energy: Live Oak, Whoop, and Gabrielle Ornate.
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Bohemian songstress Gabrielle Ornate has brilliantly fused modern mythology with an ethereal rock edge in her spellbinding single, 'Sun And Moon'. Highly praised by BBC Radio 6 Music's Tom Robinson, she looks set for great things. 

The single is a tragic love story written directly for the subconscious mind. The track is a dark, mystical ode to celestial soulmates who are destined by fate to remain apart forever, something that tugs on the heartstrings for sure. Driven by infectious riff and a classic pop sensibility, it perfectly showcases her signature "modern rock with an ancient soul" aesthetic.​

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Listen to Sun And Moon here.

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North Carolina foursome Whoop delivers an absolute masterclass in groove with their playful new track, "Tightrope." Taken from their sophomore album Just What? on Porcelain Records—produced by Grammy-winner Steve Bigas—the song zeroes in on the exhausting games people play instead of having straightforward conversations.

​Fronted by the force-of-nature vocals of Fal, the band effortlessly weaves a sonic tapestry that touches on indie-pop, rock, and jazzy funk. "Tightrope" captures the exact frustration of walking on eggshells for someone who simply loves the drama. Driven by palpable joy and an instinctive musical chemistry, it leaves a massive, unforgettable impression on your ears.
Listen here

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Alternative rockers Live Oak Sunburst have created a breathtaking acoustic dreamscape with their stunning single, 'The Feathered Moth'. This indie folk masterpiece evokes thoughts of atmospheric moonlit imagery. It was inspired by the sacred cycles of motherhood, the track follows a mystical creature raising her velvet winged children before taking one last solitary flight.

The track is packed full of delicate acoustic textures, haunting harmonies and a hypnotic, ancient refrain giving it a folklore vibe that feels like it could be a tale that has been passed down the generations.

Listen here.

​Keep an eye out for more artist spotlights, and if you have any new music that you think deserves a shout-out, feel free to send it our way.

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