With the number of singer-songwriters emerging on the music scene every day, I would be remiss to disregard the influence of artists such as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Nick Drake and Tim Buckley on the world of Indie music.  Nick Drake in particular has been cited as being extremely influential on new as well as established artists you are already familiar with.  His somber lyrical melodies and mastery of the acoustic guitar have a timeless quality that continues to inspire contemporary Folk.

This UK singer-songwriter only lived to age 26, passing in 1974, but in his short career he released 3 beautifully subtle albums.  Nick Drake’s voice is even and smooth with a sort of cooing sensibility as the reflective lyrics tumble over his skillful guitar plucking.  The occasional appearance of piano, strings, woodwinds and horns give his music further depth without distracting from his thoughtful crooning.

While he never sold more than a few thousand copies of his albums when they were first released, Nick Drake grows in popularity as prominent artists continue to refer to him as an influence.  From Robert Smith of the Cure (who credits the origin of the band’s name to a Nick Drake song) to James Yuill (a contemporary Folktronica artist), his music continues to be a timeless testament to the impact of the singer-songwriter.

Are there singer-songwriters that you love whom you feel are underrated?  Who are the contemporary singer-songwriters that you think have the potential to leave the same lasting impression as Nick Drake?

If you like: Ray LaMontagne, Simon & Garfunkel ballads, Damien Rice
Check out: Nick Drake (begin with Way to Blue: An Introduction to Nick Drake, progress with Pink Moon and graduate to all other albums)
Feeling brave : Elliott Smith, Jose Gonzalez, Andrew Bird, James Yuill

AI level: Beginner