Folk music: Documenting history in unexpected ways
The voice of the people is best served with an acoustic guitar.
History wasn't always passed down through books. For centuries, communities preserved their history through music. When they had no means to record everyday life and major milestones, they chanted songs that carried their traditions and emotions. Today, we call that folk music. Back then, it was a means of communication, a way to allow their stories to propagate across time and space.
What evolved from local oral traditions soon turned into one of the world's most influential musical movements. Folk music is in constant metamorphosis, inspiring protest anthems and contemporary indie records and that ability to adapt is perhaps what explains its longevity. Despite the constant evolution, some characteristics remain central to folk music: honest storytelling, acoustic instrumentation and a deep connection to the communities it represents.
Having been passed down orally and surviving to this very day aren't nearly the most interesting aspects of the genre. Read on to explore where folk music came from, what defines its sound and why it resonates with audiences worldwide.
The history of folk music
The foremost distinction between folk and other music genres is hidden in the name. The word 'folk' itself originates from the German 'Volk,' meaning 'the people.' It was the people who invented these songs, the people who learned them by ear alone and the people who passed them on to make them timeless. This allowed them to be reshaped over time as they were carried forward by communities that sang them and added to them. As they traveled across generations, folk songs were always alive, always changing depending on who and when they were sung.
For so long, folk music remained a strictly oral tradition. Classical music, on the other hand, was written, preserved and performed by the church or social elite. This got in the way of folk music becoming a recognized one. In medieval Europe, the church actively suppressed folk music because it was linked to pre-Christian traditions like paganism.
Over time, this resistance softened until both church music and folk started influencing one another. By the Renaissance, composers felt drawn enough to folk music that they started embracing it as a way of evoking nature, simplicity and the past. This continued into the 18th century, when intellectuals romanticized rural life and incorporated folk traditions into formal compositions that represented distinct cultures and identities.
Folk traditions go mainstream
As it became more widely accepted, folk slowly started transitioning into a commercial genre in the late 19th century. Collectors began documenting even those folk songs that had existed only through oral tradition, memory and performance. Later, the arrival of vinyl records in the 1930s changed the game once again, making the people's music accessible to the very people who created it. Now, listeners could revisit songs repeatedly, study their lyrics and connect with a growing audience. Folk festivals and recorded music helped establish folk as a commercially viable genre while preserving traditions that may otherwise have disappeared.
In its early days as an established genre, folk was shaped by remarkable individuals who furthered the genre. Woody Guthrie is one of the most influential figures of American folk music and perhaps one of the first major voices of the genre. He's often credited with making the first connection between acoustic guitar and storytelling vocals. Meanwhile, Lead Belly occupied himself with preserving songs that had previously been passed down orally. Still, Odetta gave a new voice to traditional work songs, earning recognition as the voice of the American civil rights movement.
Modern voices in folk music
Another inflection point came in the 1960s when folk saw a revival against a backdrop of social change and political activism. As a genre built by the people, it only made sense that folk music became a vehicle for protest. Musicians like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs and Peter, Paul and Mary drew on folk's honesty to create music that critiqued modern society. On the other hand, artists like Simon & Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young showed that folk music could also express deeply personal emotions. Through such pieces, folk managed to reach an ever-broader audience.
The very nature of folk music helped it expand beyond geography and genres. Although the term 'folk music' is often synonymous with American folk music, folk was also shaped through cultural exchange. British music (particularly ballads from English and Scottish immigrants) influenced the music of Appalachia; enslaved West Africans introduced rhythms and call-and-response traditions that paved the way for work songs, spirituals and the blues; while settlers contributed a touch of French music to the development of Cajun music in Louisiana. Today, contemporary music blurs the boundaries between genres, making way for modern folk to intersect with indie, electronic and Americana. Artists like Rosalía use the folk traditions of their cultures to forge entirely new sonic landscapes. The result? An evergreen genre that remains rooted in its traditions.
What does folk music sound like?
It can be difficult sometimes to distinguish traditional folk from modern takes on it or music merely inspired by it. At its core, folk music is defined by three main pillars: simplicity, storytelling and structure.
Simplicity
Folk does not rely on elaborate production or heavy instrumentation. To clearly carry the stories of the people, it needed to be simple.
Acoustic instruments such as the guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, harmonica and accordion helped translate the emotion and character of folk music into simple melodies that were easy to learn and teach. These stripped-back arrangements were key.
Through this interaction between instrument and voice, folk came to be associated with sincerity and quiet intimacy. In short, this is what made folk feel so personal, comforting and reflective.
Storytelling
Folk music gave communities a voice to express their inner yearnings, preserve local legends and turn fleeting experiences into timeless ones. Without it, many of these stories may have never traveled beyond the communities that first shaped them. This storytelling tradition still defines folk music today.
Structure
With repetitive choruses and changing verses, the songs were easy to learn and remember, which made them easier to perform collectively. For laborers, these repetitive rhythms served a functional purpose, helping workers synchronize their movement as they pushed through physically demanding work.
Folk music subgenres
As it travelled, folk absorbed local traditions and merged into other musical styles. This paved the way for a family of subgenres that carry the essence of folk but develop it into a distinct sound and a unique means to tell new stories in new ways.
Bluegrass
Origin: Post-WWII United States
Distinctive sound: Syncopated rhythms, tight harmonies, high lonesome vocals
Signature instruments: Mandolin, fiddle, three-finger banjo
Pioneering artists: Bill Monroe & the Blue Grass Boys, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, The Stanley Brothers, Alison Krauss
Landmark release: "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys (1949)
Lasting influence: Inspired rock bands such as Grateful Dead and The Byrds, later revived by artists like Mumford & Sons and Rhiannon Giddens
Folk rock
Origin: Mid-1960s, during the second folk revival
Distinctive sound: Folk melodies, socially conscious lyrics, electric rock instrumentation
Signature instruments: Acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drums
Pioneering artists: The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young
Landmark releases: "Mr. Tambourine Man" by The Byrds (1965), Bringing It All Back Home by Bob Dylan (1965), Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan (1965)
Lasting influence: Opened the door for generations of singer-songwriters, including Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne
Indie folk / Freak folk
Origin: 1990s and 2000s
Distinctive sound: Dreamlike atmospheres, unconventional song structures, psychedelic elements
Signature instruments: Acoustic guitars, experimental textures, unconventional vocals
Pioneering artists: Animal Collective, Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Elliott Smith, Neutral Milk Hotel, Mazzy Star
Landmark releases: For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver (2007), "Fade Into You" by Mazzy Star (1993), "Winters Love" by Animal Collective (2004)
Lasting influence: Demonstrated that folk could merge with electronica, soul and pop music while preserving its storytelling roots
Featured folk music playlists
Reading about folk music is one thing. Using it to set a mood at your business is another. Whether you're looking to create a relaxed atmosphere, highlight the roots of folk or infuse the vibe with more contemporary interpretations of the genre, these playlists are for you.
Chill Folk
The quieter side of folk music. Through relaxed acoustic classics and hidden gems, this playlist helps create a calm and intimate atmosphere.
Includes music by Andrew Bird, Judy Collins, Barbara Dane, John Denver, Jackson C. Frank, Gordon Lightfoot, Dave van Ronk and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Women in Folk
Explore the voices that helped shape folk through defiance and honesty. This is the perfect playlist if you want to pair thoughtful storytelling with understated arrangements.
Includes music by Courtney Marie Andrews, Joan Baez, Bedouine, Feist, Florist, Aldous Harding, Abigal Lapell and Bonnie Raitt.
Folk Revolution
Experience the artists who turned folk into a medium for protest, social change and cultural conversation. For spaces looking to celebrate the genre's most influential voices.
Includes music by Jim Croce, Karen Dalton, Donovan, Bob Dylan, Bert Jansch, Joni Mitchell, Bridget St. John and Crosby, Stills & Nash.
Folk Rock Haven
The magical moment folk met electric guitars. From pioneering classics to modern favorites, this playlist explores the bridge between traditional storytelling and rock instrumentation, versatile enough for businesses that want a familiar yet unique sound.
Includes music by the Avett Brothers, Bright Eyes, Andrew Combs, Father John Misty, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, the Lumineers and Paul Simon.
New Indie Folk
Blending acoustic instruments and poetic songwriting with contemporary production, this playlist offers a modern take on folk that works well for businesses looking for a fresh, laid-back atmosphere.
Includes music by Big Thief, Cut Worms, Lucy Dacus, Fleet Foxes, Flyte, Kevin Morby and Kurt Vile.
Folk music lives on
For a genre that's mostly been passed on orally, folk has shown resilience, surviving for centuries and still earning its place today. Crossing generations, continents and cultures, folk music has retained its defining characteristics while opening the door to modern influences and interpretations that continue to redefine the genre.
From timeless classics to the voices of the folk revival and today's indie artists, Soundtrack's folk catalog brings together the genre's sounds and styles, making it easier to find the right atmosphere for the type of business you're running. Whether you're after relaxed music, socially conscious storytelling or a contemporary take on folk, there's a playlist to match your space.
