Pharis & Jason Romero

Pharis and Jason Romero have been steadily building a loyal following in the folk world in recent years, thanks to a thoughtful, refreshing approach to traditional songs alongside Pharis’s intelligent, articulate, emotionally poignant songwriting. Their last two albums—"Bet on Love" (2020) and "Sweet Old Religion" (2018)—were heavy on new compositions that the pair sought to add to the folk canon. On their newest album, "Tell ‘Em You Were Gold" (released on Smithsonian Folkways), the husband and wife duo from Horsefly, BC, deliver songs that are equal parts traditional and original. The record was made in their barn and the warmth of its wood, the sense of community, and the strong sense of family stretch across it.

There is always a feeling of welcome in their music, and this most recent album somehow feels even more like home. To boot, it is remarkable how seamlessly the duo shifts from old trad…