Let me recommend two new gems for you, as a reminder of the vitality in today’s American indie-folk scene. Sadurn and Grumpy are obviously two very different bands, but with some common ground — somewhere at the crossroads of Wednesday, Big Thief and Merce Lemon.

Sadurn hails from the buzzing Philadelphia DIY scene, and I honestly first became aware of them last year when they did a very decent version of Jason Molina’s classic country ballad “The Old Black Hen.” And they have an album out, 2022’s Radiator, that I’ve only recently checked out. Sparse, intimate, and led by assured singer Genevieve DeGroot, “never tell me” is the second single from their forthcoming album, The Underworld. With a richer and more confident sound than before, this is yet another achingly gorgeous song from a band I have high hopes for in the years to come.

I’m embarrassed to say I’ve only recently discovered New York’s Grumpy, even though they’ve been around for a while now. Grumpy is centered around singer and songwriter Heaven Schmitt and, like Sadurn, are expanding into a deeper band sound than before. “OBL” is a catchy, slacker fuzz-pop-and-fiddle anthem, dealing with how to navigate as a trans band on the road — finding love and  joy despite those who would rather not see them exist. Check out the rather telling music video as well.