Acoustic Souls: The Heartfelt Sound of Modern Folk Rock
Acoustic Souls is a folk rock band from Manchester, England, known for their intricate harmonies and introspective songwriting. The group achieved mainstream recognition with their 2018 album River of Time, which charted in the UK Top 20 and received a gold certification for sales exceeding 100,000 copies.
Early career
Formed in 2012, the core duo of singer-songwriters Elara Vance and Leo Finch met while studying music in Manchester. They began performing as a busking act in the city's Northern Quarter, building a local following with their raw, vocal-driven sound. Their self-released debut EP, Whisper in the Static, arrived in 2014 and led to a development deal with the independent label Willow Records.
Breakthrough
The band's major breakthrough came in 2018 with the release of their sophomore album, River of Time, on Willow Records. The lead single, Bridges to Burn, became a sleeper hit, spending over six months on the UK Singles Chart and peaking at number 32. The album's sustained success was fueled by extensive touring and key sync placements on several popular television dramas.
Key tracks
Bridges to Burn — This breakthrough single defined their signature sound of intertwined vocals over a driving folk-rock arrangement.
Northern Lights — A fan-favorite ballad that showcases their harmonic precision and has become a staple of their live set.
River of Time — The title track from their hit album, noted for its lyrical depth and complex, fingerpicked guitar work.
Paper Wings — A later collaboration with folk singer Marianne Bray that expanded their audience on adult alternative radio.
The Long Road Home — This track from their 2021 album Horizons marked a shift towards a more expansive, atmospheric production style.
Following the success of River of Time, Acoustic Souls solidified their place in the UK folk rock scene with their 2021 follow-up, Horizons. The album debuted at number 15 on the UK Albums Chart and spawned several successful singles. They have since collaborated with artists like Marianne Bray and contributed to a charity compilation for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Fans of Acoustic Souls often appreciate the work of similar artists in the contemporary folk space. Bear's Den shares a similar foundation in anthemic, narrative-driven folk rock. The Staves offer comparable intricate sisterly harmonies and minimalist acoustic arrangements. Ben Howard explores a similarly textured and atmospheric approach to songwriting and guitar work.
The music of Acoustic Souls maintains regular rotation across a network of adult alternative and modern folk radio stations. Their melodic singles and deeper album cuts are featured on independent music radio stations and online folk rock streams, connecting with audiences who value lyrical substance and acoustic craftsmanship.
Listeners can discover the heartfelt music of Acoustic Souls on radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to hear their catalog, from early hits to recent releases, through the folk and rock radio stations available on onairium.com.
