The result of the latest collaboration between Dana Falconberry and her band Medicine Bow is the folksy album From the Forest Came the Fire (Modern Outsider), in which Falconberry tells tales of her days exploring the forests. Released this past April, this effort is one more quality addition to Falconberry’s repertoire of lyrical tunes with vivid imagery of nature and wildlife.

Each song from “From the Forest Came the Fire” is beautifully composed and filled with rich textures paired with elegant harmonies. On these tunes pushed by unbroken rhythm, Falconberry (who has experience playing classical music) effortlessly describes the uniqueness and tranquility of the landscapes in the United States.

Falconberry brings Medicine Bow along with her on this aural journey, said band being a musically diverse group of expert players that consists of Karla Manzur (keys), Gina Dvorak (banjo, guitar), Lindsey Verrill (cello), Christopher Cox (bass), and Mathhew Shepherd. With this group, Falconberry is able to retain the traditional sounds of a folk tune, while also experimenting outside those boundaries to bring out a truly fresh sound.

Along with using strings and humming to enhance her music, Falconberry takes us through an ethereal and passionate experience lyrically, as she takes up the rivers, trees, and mountains as characters to describe her story. One comes away from this lyrically-focused music feeling closer to nature, which seems to be Falconberry’s very point in making it.

If you too would like to vicariously explore the enigmas of nature through music, give three selected tracks from the album a listen below, and check the groups’ Facebook for their current tour dates to hear it performed live.

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Chandana Kamaraj

Smooth as butter on a hot summer day, the groovy bass lines and silky harmonies of The LaRues melt all over you when you listen to their self-titled album, The LaRues. Fronted by three female singer-songwriters, this piping hot band has been turning their personal heartbreaks and original love songs into a funky good time since 2010. Their behind the scenes video will tell you the whole serendipitous story of how the members came together and their process of creation.

For the live act, they've got a sweet spot in the Oh Snap! Festival, 7/13/13, at the Historic Scoot Inn. You can check out the rest of the lineup here also featuring Dana Falconberry, The Hikes, Space Crazies and Emily Wolfe. If you just can't wait until then, Antone's is up next, 7/11/13. -Written by Charise Sowells

Twigs & Yarn, composed of Lauren McMurray and Stephen Orsak, is band of the dream genre. Their concept provides a sound much closer to an emotional journey, than a sing-a-long hit. Their new single Yuurei, recently released in March, sends listeners on a lucid journey through a spectrum of sounds from the soft sigh of the vocals, to the twinkling sounds of the keyboard that collide to evoke a soothing, eerie elation for your ears. It's not a song that you get used to, it's a song that you experience. -- Written by Katy Glass

Dana Falconberry’s beguiling twee vocals instantly captivate as she hums her poetic lyrics with little more than a whisper. But Falconberry’s distinctive vocals are matched by her delicate arrangements – the slender plucks of the mandolins, banjos and harps on her latest EP, "Leelanau," build soft instrumentals for her warm words to float over. While her previous releases were more minimalist, Leelanau expands her pallet without losing any of her trademark enchantment. See Dana live at The Deli's Hangover Hideout at J. Blacks on Wednesday March 13 at 6pm - more info about the event involving 25+ songwriters here. - Listen to a SoundCloud compliation of all the artists playing the Hangover Hideout fest here. - Dean Van Nguyen