Cole Scheifele - “Nostrum”
Photo by @eastenjack
We last heard from Denver-based singer-songwriter Cole Scheifele back in mid-July, after he’d released his single, “Maybe,” from his upcoming LP, Songs of Sleep & Waking. Today, we are completely delighted to inform you that another single from Scheifele has emerged– this time, it’s the heartfelt, indie-folk glory of “Nostrum.”
When we previously featured Scheifele on the blog, we commented on how reminiscent his work was of Gregory Alan Isakov– much to our enchantment, he has brought to the table more of the same. “Nostrum” begins with some confident strums of a raw acoustic guitar, the kind of sound that we often go digging for in our stack of submissions because, quite frankly, nothing comes close to the sensation of a song sounding as though it’s being performed right in front of you. Scheifele has accomplished this emphatically, and pressing play is the sonic equivalent of inviting him into your home.
As we expected, this same vibe rings true for his soft tenor, as it is not the kind of vocal performance that relies on processing of any sort– simply give this man a microphone and get lost inside of his story. Perhaps that’s why we are so drawn to the sounds of indie folk– there’s nowhere to hide and you’re either talented enough to pull it off or you’re not. As “Nostrum” continues, the arrangement picks up the sounds of some ethereal padding and ever-so-delicate vocal harmonies that you may not catch on the first listen, but they will be why you keep returning for more.
Of course, this would not be the Scheifele we’ve all come to know and love without a natural and gradual crescendo. And as the piano breaks the surface, our ears are soon given the thicker tones of some bass before “Nostrum” ultimately (and quite emotionally) bursts into a full-band arrangement. Upon the arrival of the drums, Scheifele soars into his upper register, making it very clear that he A) knows how to write a killer song and B) is exactly what we hoped to find when we first started this blog.
-HD