This week on WorkTape, we revisit the rise and rapid fall of the early 2010s folk-EDM craze—from Avicii’s Wake Me Up to the Mumfordification of every millennial burger restaurant playlist. Was it a genuine genre fusion or a corporate sound experiment gone too far? We explore the genre's roots, how acts like Hozier, Edward Sharpe, and The Lumineers spearheaded the movement, and what satire artists like Kyle Gordon are now saying about it. We even manage to unpack indie darlings like Phantogram, Snakadaktal, and Phoenix, the influence of Irish sorrow on rock history, and the unexpected death wave hitting beloved musicians. Gather ‘round as we reflect on hype cycles, Hallmark hits, and hidden gems.

🎧 Episode Highlights:

• Was the folk-EDM trend ever really cool to begin with?
• Is Avicii’s Wake Me Up the perfect blend of EDM and folk rock?
• Is Andy Grammer’s “Honey, I’m Good” corny commercial pop?
• Did Hozier pull off gospel-folk fusion better than anyone else?
• Are The Script and Maroon 5 the pinnacle of sappy millennial romantic “sop” rock?
• Was Maroon 5’s Songs About Jane their peak—and everything after a letdown?
• Is Kyle Gordon the Weird Al of the folk revival era?
• Is John Mayer’s Continuum still one of the 2000s’ most versatile records?