Hello Traveler! This is Elsie, your host of Tunes from the Tavern, the fantasy/ Bardcore show here on WMWC.
This week, I’ll be playing some modern artists whose music tells stories in a way that reminds me of the bards of old. This is music that I listen to in my everyday life, so I’m very excited to play these for you today.
Up first is one of my favorite artists in general, Heather Dale. She has been releasing music since the early 2000s, with her most recent release of “Incantations 3” in 2021.She describes her music as “contemporary Celtic” with a focus on “mythology, legends, [and] folktales”. I discovered her through her song ‘The Maiden and the Selkie’ and I fell in love with her storytelling. Her songs are always on my ren faire playlist, and if I ever met her in person I think I’d cry. So here is;
- Come and Be Welcome
- The Maiden and the Selkie
- Black Fox
Next is a newer band called Small Fools, who describe themselves as a ‘cosmic folk collaboration’ from siblings Nathan and Ruthie Prillaman. They create a “musical sound that allowed them to poke at existential questions with a sense of whimsy and self-awareness”. Their first release was their single “Horseraddish” in March 2023, and since then they have put out 10 more singles. Their blend of historic and modern instruments is a beautiful backing track for the mesmerizing vocals and borderline mythical lyricism. Here is;
- Melt in the Sun
- Bone to Bone
- Violet
Next is German-based artist Nadiife (Nah-dee-fae). She is an influencer who focuses on the aesthetics of Cottagecore, which focuses on images of traditional rural life. Think a cozy cabin in the woods with sheep and an overflowing garden. These aesthetics are shown in her music through natural and mythological symbolism. Here is;
- Litha
- The Siren
Next up is an artist who I see as a staple of the more fantastical side of social media, Cosmo Sheldrake. Cosmo Sheldrake is a “multi-instrumentalist musician, composer and producer from London”. One of the most standout elements of Sheldrake’s music is his utilization of natural sounds. He calls himself a “field recordist” and that is clear in his music, which would be empty without the backing noise of nature. I’m always mesmerized with what he puts out. Here is
- I Did and I Don’t and I Do
- Does the Swallow Dream of Flying
- The Moss
To close out todays show will be another one of my favorite artists. I don’t know the correct pronunciation, and the fandom all seems to disagree. Yaelokre is a fictional band by artist Keath ósk. Yaelokre is the story of ‘The Lark’, an ensemble made of four children, and ‘The Harkers’ who are wandering tale-tellers. This band does actually have lore, but I’m not entirely versed in it. I’m obsessed with the music though. There may be four voices in the band, but its all one singer. Yaelokre blew up online last year with the song ‘Harpy Hare’ and recently opened for the artist Aurora on her tour. Here is
- Bird Cage blue and Yellow
- Harpy Hare
- Neath the Grove is a heart
- Hartebeest
Well traveler, it’s time to go on your way. Thank you for joining me at WMWC and I’ll see you next week for movie and video game soundtracks.
Artist Websites:
Heather Dale: https://heatherdale.com/
Small Fools: https://www.smallfools.com/
Nadiife: https://www.instagram.com/nadiiife/?hl=en
Cosmo Sheldrake: https://www.cosmosheldrake.com/
Yaelokre: https://yaelokre.bandcamp.com/