Within the music writing web-sphere, we are constantly making up new terms to describe an ever-widening pool of genres. One such genre is “folktronica,” an aptly named genre that, you guessed it, blends traditional folk music with electronic elements.
While it often has mixed results, it’s possible that Sydney based singer/songwriter Gordi has begun to master the genre, particularly with her new song “Can We Work It Out.” She makes me think of Joan Baez if Baez came to fruition in 2015 rather than the 1960s, though this probably has more to do with the rich tenor of Gordi’s voice than anything else. It manages to be smooth and soothing, a characteristic which is occasionally juxtaposed by the more electronic aspects of her music. Where a lot of folk music does not bother with drums at all, “Can We Work It Out” makes use of drum machines in a way that is very reminiscent of the kind of heart racing that Gordi alludes to in her music.