Blending authentic songwriting with modern indie flare, Braden Lam is forging the path to a new 21st century folk and americana sound. The young artist from Halifax, Canada meets the moment on The Cloudmaker’s Cry, an album that makes good on the promise of this indie-folk wunderkind, with music reminiscent of a bygone era set to lyrics pulsing with the urgency and anxiety of today. The titular Cry evokes many kinds—cries of joy, of sorrow, of protest, of rage, of grief—as Lam pushes his voice to new edges exploring these expressions, and then some. He hones in and drills down on the complexity of relationships, the mundanity of adulthood, and the lasting impact of history. The Cloudmaker’s Cry is available April 11, 2025.