Indie Folker is a Transylvanian singer/songwriter who lives and works in Cluj-Napoca, Transylvania, Romania. He has just released his Christmas EP, ‘Monsters In The Christmas Album’, a follow-up to his debut album ‘Monsters In Rome’. His latest offering is being offered as a free download via his Indie Folker website, www.indiefolker.com, throughout December 2010 and January 2011.
Indie Folker hopes to introduce more folks to his music which blends a number of influences from indie and anti-folk to traditional Transylvanian melodies and rhythmn structures which shine through on some tracks including the Transylvanian sheperd’s flute, the Moldavian Caval and several traditional percussion instruments, typical to the region’s folklore.
The theme of the record underlies the spirit of the winter holidays while keeping true to the musical and lyrical influences that govern his creativity through the rest of the year. ‘Monsters In The Christmas Album’ is not a typical holiday release in the sense that, although it incorporates the theme of Christmas and the winter holidays, it tries not to stray from the things that are universally constant in music and art. Child-like melodies and lyrics reveal stories of deception and longing, Santa is portrayed as a self-pitying old man and the twists and turns go on.
The results are unique and heartfelt, vocal comparisons to Dylan are unavoidable, when asked about his musical style and influences, he jokingly quotes from his online biography:
‘Drawing comparison to such imaginary singers and performers such as: Tom Waits in high heels, a more scrupulous and much younger Bob Dylan, a low-tuned Elliot Smith with an aching throat, a less-british Damien Rice – but longing to be more like David Gray on a regular day -, Indie Folker writes scruffy tunes for the underprivileged cool kids of the Internet Generation.’
At the same time, he admits that he has been influenced by numerous artists and genres of music from across the globe, including African tribe music (the results of which can vaguely be sensed in the song ‘Jabulani’, a parody written to the official ball used in the FIFA World Cup 2010), French chanson, most of the music of the Hippie Movement and traditional Hungarian and Romanian folklore amongs many other things.
Make sure you check his other work as well, love this song and video:
Visit Indie Folker’s website (www.indiefolker.com) for more info, videos, photos of him in action, as well as signing up for the mailing list to receive occasional free songs, news and information about upcoming gigs and releases.
Fans can also check out his MySpace page, follow him on Twitter and can even join up to be his friend on Facebook:
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/indiefolker
Twitter: http://twitter.com/indiefolker
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