New Wave of Folk Music
John Mayer and friends give reason for folk to capture the airwaves.
Dec 15, 2008
In September of 2001, a man who would soon be on the tip of everyone's tongue, proclaimed that he wanted to run through the halls of his high school and scream at the top of his lungs. The mellow tunes of John Mayer, which before his time was considered as "old people" music, was starting to get airplay on radio stations all across America. Hate him or love him, Mayer's international debut Room For Squares got the ball rolling for today's new genre of popular music -- folk music.
Introduction to All Things Folk
Predominantly male, all you need is a guitar and a torn heart on your sleeve, and jackpot, you're in the running to be the next big thing. Artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz broke the trend of boy band music back in 2001 but the explosion of folk rock really impacted the music scene in the last six years. Daniel Powter, Howie Day and James Morrison are getting heavy rotation on radio stations that were once only playing hip hop and pop punk bands such as Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. The demise of these punk pop bands brought back the genre that John Mayer was so heavily trying to implement on the people of tomorrow.
Daniel Powter's Folk
Although the Canadian crooner doesn't sport a guitar strap, Daniel Powter's soulful melodies and piano playing is a sure sign that the trend of that MTV unplugged style, featuring an artist and his instrument of choice is continuing through the New Year and into 2008's new explosive genre. Powter, who counts his influences as Elton John and Robbie Williams, hit airwaves with his poppy, feel good single "Bad Day", after the song hit the teenage show, The OC and American Idol.
Howie Day's Folk
Self taught on the piano and at age fourteen picked up the guitar, Howie Day stays close on the edge of being poppy. Borrowing from the sounds of Mayer and Jason Mraz, his voice features a deep, sultry, lovelorn tone. He attributes his influences in music as Sting and Dave Matthews Band. Day's sound culminates the essence of folk rock, and is clearly heard even more so in Day's single, "Collide".
Once considered a dime a dozen, these soulful artists are practically flying through Hollywood and onto the airwaves. Only time will tell if this genre will last beyond the boy band craze. With the right message, soulful sound and charisma, an artist such as John Mayer might be bringing on a new age of Rock n Roll that will have everyone talking for years to come. Stay tuned.
 |
