First up is Paul Stewart from Vancouver BC, who makes “Defeatist Folk” and definitely deserves your attention. His latest EP, Permanence, was released in late 2011 (so late in fact that I didn’t find it in time to put it in my Best of 2011 Free Music posts) and has been on steady rotation in my headphones for the last few months. Check out the lead track in the player below. Stewart released another EP, called Parkade Songs, back in 2009 and that record is also well worth your time. Both are available on a name your price basis, including nothing at all, but both records are definitely worth a donation, however small.

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Second is Scott Rudd who is a “Lo-fi Indie Folk” artist from Brooklyn, NYC. Rudd’s bandcamp currently has an album, a set of very promising demos and a brand new track (released last month) for your listening pleasure. Check out the track below and then purchase these releases (very reasonably priced too). He is also starting a UK tour at the end of the month which stretches throughout July and sees him visiting an impressive variety of towns and cities (from Edinburgh to Brighton and many places in between – look at his bandcamp for the full list). Why not pop along and support him?

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Next we have Matthew DeLoach, who also has two great EPs available on his bandcamp which were also criminally left off my 2011 Free Music List. DeLoach still has that bedroom vibe but changes things up with some nice samples and beats, creating an experimental cocktail of downbeat Lo-fi vocals and swirling electronics. The closing track contains no vocals at all, instead using a recording of children yelling and playing as a background to the track.  My current favourite track, Son of God, is available in the player below. As with Paul Stewart, the EPs are available on a pay-what-you-want basis and again I’m sure it would be appreciated if you could donate what you can.

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Last but not least is the latest release by The Wandering Lake (who I featured a few weeks ago here) called Maj Deegan. Brian Kupilass (the artist that works under The Wandering Lake moniker) says the album was inspired by a trip he took on the Maj Deegan Expressway, travelling north to meet a new family member. The cool double exposure photograph on the cover was taken by Euan Baker. The album presents a departure from the ethereal nature of his previous record, sounding far more Lo-fi and grungey (and a lot louder). Listen to my favourite track, One Day, in the player below and then download the album for as much as you please on bandcamp.

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