Theo Kandel

Standing at about 59,000 monthly Spotify listeners, the Under 1M Spotlight for this week is Theo Kandel! Theo is an indie folk artist who is rapidly growing in popularity and is set to release his second album, A Horse Named Friday, on August 21st. He has already released five singles off the album, and honestly I’m glad he has because it really gives people a gateway to catch onto his talent before the full release. Theo has clearly been working on this one for quite a while considering his last album came out back in September of 2024. His sound is calm, earthy, and comforting, making you feel like you’re laying in a patch of dandelions somewhere in the country. He’s also touring this summer in the U.K. with three July dates already set to perform. With that being said, let’s get into some of the details.

The title track off the album starts with sharp and optimistic finger picking. Theo opens up with us immediately, revealing parts of his identity right away by telling us “I can’t sit still.” It instantly gives off the feeling that this guy is always excited about something and constantly searching for what’s next. The song carries this great countryside feel mixed with a soft aspect of love. He is completely smitten, and this relationship seems to make him feel settled and finally at peace. The lyrics stay simple, leaving us wondering where Theo is headed exactly, but he reassures us that “On Friday we’ll leave again.” The outro strips away the lyrics entirely and leaves us with finger picking that makes us want more while wondering where this story is going to end up.

Another single released off the album is called “Right This Time.” This one has an enticing pattern as well, keeping that clean acoustic feel, but it sounds fuller and a little less stripped back than the title track. There are more banjos, more confidence from Theo, and an overall stronger feeling of comfort. He reminisces on the good vibes of August with the person he loves, appreciating simple things like sitting on the porch, smoking, and reading a good book together. It’s light, warm, and filled with love. Theo seems happy to finally be giving something his all after maybe falling short in the past. This time feels different to him. There’s effort, trust, and reassurance from the person beside him making him feel safe and reminding him that they’re fully in it together.

The fifth track off the album honestly feels like a Hunter Hayes song. It tells the story of a chaotic, detail filled trip packed with little mistakes and setbacks, yet Theo never seems anxious about any of it. After every downfall he casually reassures us, “But I’m feeling alright.” He’s drinking, having stupid fun with his friends, and of course there’s still that side of banjo thrown in there to keep the track feeling grounded and warm. The feeling of togetherness throughout the song makes the whole thing feel so fun and full of life. Even the laughter in the background adds to the atmosphere, creating this feeling of genuine joy that feels impossible not to smile at. 

Theo Kandel is honestly just a ball of positive sunshine and overall good vibes, and I already know I’ll be revisiting this album on August 21st.