Grace Woodroofe’s number was called at the early age of 16 when she was singled out as a raw but burgeoning talent, ultimately resulting in the recording of a full-length album after grabbing the attention of some high-profile entertainers. Four years later she has a slew of touring appearances and live shows under her belt, a soulful, introspective wisdom that reaches well beyond her 20 years, and the tools and trappings of potential stardom.

See more Grace Woodroofe on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Years ago, a like-minded friend and I would Sunday drive the undiscovered avenues of Western Massachusetts for the distinct purpose of getting lost, determined to uncover something new along the way. These miniature pilgrimages through our local unknown served to soften our immediate need to see a little further but inevitably left us wanting more.I remember this as I listen to Paleo - a literary troubadour and wandering sage, whose poet/ minstrel sourcebook must surely be wrapped in the sticky fabric of the universe. His profound inquiry into the great unknown seeks to explain a life lived inward by decoding the mysteries that surround him.

See more Paleo on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

James Apollo hijacks Americana: As the tumbleweeds wobble and drunkenly wretch, as the clouds part ways to make room for the sky, James Apollo ushers both whisper and wail, through air so dry, to squeeze a single tear is another lonely chore.So when we dream of wide open places, it’s James Apollo we hear in the distance, a woozy fever with slow burning shoes, carrying all of the sadness of a black and white photograph, tossed aside and forgotten.

See more James Apollo on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

With a haunting and soaring voice that is paired with simple yet seductive instrumentation, Anna Calvi is the type of artist that will have you listening to her entire catalogue before you know it. The music and lyrics have a grungy rock and roll feeling and her vocal performances remind listeners of the lounge chanteuses of yore. Whether you fall in love with her voice, lyrics or guitar playing, Anna Calvi is sure to have you under her spell before you realize it.

See more Anna Calvi on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Singer/songwriters tend to be a depressive lot, staggering through the shallow of their own perversions while at times alienating their followers for getting stuck too deep in the mire. Rather than follow down their overly melancholic path, Peasant provides a welcoming distraction and celebrates our collective sadness with outstretched hands to gladly accept the scattered flecks of light and hope.

See more Peasant on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Bahamas is the nom-de-rock of Canadian singer-songwriter Afie Jurvanen. He produces quiet and haunting acoustic music that is remarkably self-assured, given how unassuming it is at its core. His voice has a distinct restrained sound, sometimes it registers just above a whisper (think Iron and Wine), other times it has a crooner’s coolness – but the consistent star of the show is always his melodies. Bahamas relies on melodies more than any other musical device, and rightly so – they are beautiful. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m convinced Canadians have the most refined senses of melody: Ron Sexsmith, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and now, after discovering Bahamas I’d throw him in there with these masterful tunesmiths.

See more Bahamas on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Ms. Arnalds sings lilting melodies with lyrics that, while frequently in Icelandic, are written in the universal language of chill-the-heck-out. Too many artists in this genre confuse haunting for peaceful, a trap that Arnalds deftly sidesteps. There’s a powerful beauty in Arnalds’ work, and it’s as much the perfect accompaniment to the end of a stressful day as it is the start of a lakeside picnic.

See more Ólöf Arnalds on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Not just another member of the singer/songwriter surge, Unbunny stands out as a veteran in the increasingly crowded world the genre has become. With hooks that bite and melodies that burn, these lyrical stories pierce a lonely core to expose some incredibly beautiful music.

See more Unbunny on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Looking at times like a very young Bob Dylan hand dipped in equal parts estrogen and childlike fancy (and I mean that in the nicest possible way), Sea of Bees spins a vulnerable blend of intimate coffee bean folk and gauzy, patchwork pop with a touch more wine than iron.

See more Sea of Bees on mySpoonful - a taste of new music

Kyle Field is a lazy river, an open field, a whisper at dawn, the lead player behind Little Wings and a breezy, bearded troubadour who takes his time and doesn’t seem to mind getting lost along the way. Kyle and his rotating collection of musical co-conspirators offer a consistent catalogue of easygoing relaxation that stumbles with purpose through a Northern Pacific fog.

See more Little Wings on mySpoonful - a taste of new music