When it comes to the stripped down style of Nashville’s Ariel Bui, less is definitely more. Her 2016 self-titled LP is a look into who she is as an artist, offering edgy folk-twinged tracks driven by the haunting vocals of the singer-songwriter. Her mesmerizing alto is unique for the Nashville scene; she doesn’t belt out soulful choruses or sing with an exaggerated country twang (despite having track titles like “To All the Cowboys” and “Moon Over Kentucky.”) There is a relaxed quality to this album, but emotionally it still progresses with the honesty of a country album. Ariel Bui isn’t trying to prove she’s the best or brightest star. She’s just bearing her soul and hoping it’s enough. (Spoiler alert: it is.) She has three local shows coming up: the Mad Valley Lodge on August 19th, Radio Cafe on the 23rd, and Cobra on September 8th. – Lilly Milman
Listen to our favorite track “Sycamore Tree” streaming below.