From Amai Kuda Y Josephine to Mary-Kate Edwards, there’s been a positive surfeit of Canadian singer-songwriters proving their mettle and bubbling to the tops of their respective scenes. Out of British Columbia, Adam Winn is proving himself to be a very capable up-and-coming artist of similar repute, and he’s doing so with acoustic music that tugs at the heartstrings. In other words, rather deftly, Winn is encompassing the entirety of the folk attitude that we at For Folk’s Sake strive to cover and encapsulate ourselves. His is a raw, musical storyteller’s talent, and one that we are happy to dive into.
Everything about the Fort St. John-based singer-songwriter’s self-titled debut EP screams the definition of “indie music” and ekes it from its pores straight away, and upon first listen. The first track, ‘Creston’, is an appropriately slow-driving track that takes listeners for a classic tale of lovers on the road, knowing once they’ve reached their home. Eventually, they settle down in the titular BC town and everything is gravy. It’s a fine song detailing a hopeful story in pure folk fashion, and it sets the scene for a promising remainder of the EP in its coming four tracks.
“Burnout” comes from an entirely different place of letting go as opposed to cultivating a relationship, and ushers in as an utterly relatable piece that unexpectedly soars once Winn hits the bridge. It’s still a reserved, contemplative piece, but he shows off his vocals and his ability to interpret heartbreak masterfully here, and the end result is an even more compelling tune than what he had to begin with. “Better Friend” seems to be a fan favorite of the moment if Winn’s Bandcamp page is anything to go by, and there is no wondering why in its scorching heart-bearing nature.
“You Are” is an instantly captivating earworm of a track that earnestly sets out exactly what the song’s subject matter (being the love of his life) is to Winn, and “Always You” is a short but idyllic and sweet number that really drives the theme in the previous track home. Realistically speaking, it seems like it could be quite the song to set to a wedding march.
All in all, Adam Winn is much like Canada’s answer to a Robert Gillies. Given that Gillies has been a friend and an artist I’ve looked up to for many years, that compliment doesn’t come easy, but Winn hits all of the right boxes as an earnest artist who embraces every facet of love to be able to own it. His EP is very much worth checking out and giving a purchase if you can muster the cash. Cultivating careers for such consummate artists is at least partly in our hands, and it’s our duty to support indie music if we like what we’re hearing.