Zoë Wren
“She's a Highwayman” from the “Gold and Smoke” EP
Folk music is a genre that’s often looking back to its roots more than going forward and explore. Not so much with this new EP from singer-songwriter Zoë Wren.
Zoë is boasting an impressive mastery of her craft for such a young artist, but when someone her age is citing Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell as her influences, you know there’s something special at work. And this EP delivers that special something in spades.
The song “She’s a Highwayman” is one of the song that will stay in your head long after it’s been played. With a pretty simple but tasty acoustic production, acoustic guitar, light percussion and a nice mandolin outlining the lovely melody, you will understand that everything is here to showcase Zoë’s awesome voice. She’s singing here a song of woman’s empowerment as the protagonist dresses up as a highwayman and ends up loving the freedom this gives her. Quite a nice twist to the traditional tale and Zoë delivers it very convincingly.
The simplicity on display here works because of Zoë strong voice, which is not your usual fragile soprano, and with each song you get to love it more as the EP reveals its beauty. Kudos to Lauren Deakins of Didi’s fame for keeping the production to a minimum and letting each song shine and breathe.
Highly recommended EP for everyone who likes to dream and get transported by tales of another time.
Verdict: 5/5 beards
You can buy this song and the EP on Bandcamp: https://folkstockrecords.bandcamp.com/album/zoe-wren-gold-and-smoke